Cheap Date
All that talk of gift certificates yesterday made me remember that we have quite a few of those we have never cashed in. In my effort to find things for my husband and me to do together that don’t cost much money, I proposed yesterday that we dig them out and go on some cheap dates sometime soon, hopefully before any more of them expire.We could go shopping at Nordstrom’s to spend the $100 gift card we won in a raffle at the Temple Micah auction.
We could buy $100 in books at Politics and Prose with a gift card I received from my office when I retired.
The real adventure would be the hot air balloon ride some other coworkers gave me at my retirement (certificate above -- nonexpiring WHEW!).
There’s a certificate for tickets to Arena Stage (with an expiration date in 1988), which might take some convincing to make good. But then they might think it was somewhat cool that we kept it all these years, as though it might appreciate in value like a fine wine.
But alas the certificate for movies at Skyline Mall will go unused because the theaters were closed many years ago when Target moved in.
I am very anal and Type A about filing all these certificates away in categorized envelopes. The unfortunate thing is we never seem to remember to use them.
But in these hard times, we have a treasure trove of freebies to call upon while we wait for the stock market to rebound.
I’ll bet I’m not the only one with a pile of gift certificates, some of which are no longer usable, right?
posted by Barbara at 2:42 PM
19 Comments:
I have no gift certificates, as my Christmas downsizing this year was reciprocated in kind. But I like your new photos with the personal touch!
MC -- I've been missing you and your Blog recently. Yes, I am a mostly reformed photo stealer. I can't compete with Google Image, but at least I'm not going to get sued over anything I post from here on!
As for gift certificates, it's hard to believe you don't have at least a Starbucks card sitting around with some cash on it!
The idea is sort of like going on a treasure hunt in one's car, where I once picked up close to $100 in random coins after my son drove home from California.
I put all gift cards and certificates on my dresser or my refrigerator until I use them. That way I don't lose track! It helps to have them in a very visible place.
I, like Steve, keep mine visible in a wicker basket on my kitchen counter that also holds clipped coupons in an envelope. But much to my delight there was one gift card I had not used. I rarely use a credit card except for travel but I do have a Macy's card that I pulled out for a recent Christmas purchase. Imagine my delighted surprise when I found a gift card hiding behind it for $50!! and it had not expired. Put to my purchase I owed Macy's $4.32. A real boost to my Christmas budget!
I just relocated a bunch of gift cards a few days ago. They are for various restaurants and bookstores and most of them are for $40.00. Since we are just about out of money I guess we'll be using them all very soon. I also found 23(!) expired Bed Bath and Beyond coupons for 20% off that Doug has been hoarding since last August. They are now in the trash.
I mean in the recycling container!
I was told by a Bed Bath and Beyond employee that they still honor past date store coupons for 20 percent off, so I hope you can dig them out of your trash!
Personally, I have used out of date coupons there with no difficulty.
hi barbara!
you know, you're right. when i was packing up the house to move, i found all these different gift cards in various locations .... alas, all expired.
obviously my filing system could use some improvements. i blame my brain!
xxx
rdm
Cyndy -- E is absolutely right. You can use BB&B coupons forever despite their expiration dates. You can also use more than one at a time. I'm thinking they just jack up the price to allow for the fact that we all think we're getting a bargain, but they beg you to use a coupon on every purchase, and I do! I keep a stack in my glove compartment and just whip them out when I need something.
So pull those BB&B coupons out of the recycling bin! They may actually be worth something.
E -- I'm hoping to make good on the Arena Stage certificate and also on a cooking class at L'Academie de Cuisine (also grossly expired). But I figure if they think it has the potential to bring them more business, they may turn a blind eye to the date.
RDM -- There is that tinge of guilt when you come across an expired certificate for something really good. I pitched quite a few $1 coupons to McDonald's (from various kids' sports teams) with no regret, but the full body massage at a place that no longer exists, now that made me wish I had cashed in sooner.
I tried to use an expired $50 gift certificateat capitol grille. I called ahead and they said they wouldn't honor it! So I didn't go there...seems like a poor decision on their part as I probably would have spent a couple hundred!
Thanks for missing my blog posts. I try to post only when something is really on my mind about which I feel like I have something relevant to say, and that hasn't happened much lately. I did post today (Wed.) though.
But I do have Tiffany's and Chiasso gift cards after all, from items I returned. The problem with the one from Tiffany's is that, with the amount involved, I'd be lucky to eek out a pencil from them.
It's too bad the balloon flight isn't for Sonoma County!
I once got all ready to go on a hot air balloon flight, all the way to the pre-flight champagne breakfast and then they said it was too windy to fly and refunded everyone's money... :::sigh::::
MC -- Hopefully your gift cards are non-expiring! See, I knew you had some stashed away somewhere.
Kellyann -- Yes, I can imagine flying over Sonoma County would be quite wonderful. How "deflating" to cancel your trip after you were already served the champagne! Do you get another champagne breakfast when you try again? :)
Aileen -- Actually if I was in a business serving the public these days, I would be inviting anyone with any sort of gift certificate to come on in. You are right that in most cases, we would spend way more than the certificate is worth.
We once won a free helicopter ride, and our whole family went except youngest daughter, because there had to be an heir left, just in case... It was fabulous but scary. I don`t think I`d enjoy the balloon ride, would you?
I subscribe to the same school of thought as steve, whatever certificates I'm given I keep out and try & use in a timely manner. I'd hate to think that someone spent money to give me something & I blow it.
sometimes I have pass a certficate on if I don't think I get round to cashing it in before it expires....I do take expiration dates seriously! discount coupons are a different matter - the stores just want you to spend your money....and everything is marked up, so.....
Thanks for the BB&B info, e and Barbara - the coupons have been rescued!
I've really appreciated most of the gift certificates I've been given -- books, an event at a meditation center, a show at a jazz club, even food when finances have been unusually tough. In every case I could tell that the giver thought carefully about my interests or needs, and despite my old-fashioned misgivings, the gift cards ended up feeling more "personal" than many a bauble or disposable gift. I'm confident your son will feel the same way, Barbara!
-- F.
all we ever get are gift cards for bookstores and we use them right away. Once I got a $500 cert for Saks--used it right away!
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