Three ways to get gift cards for less
- Holiday bonus offers. Between Thanksgiving and New Year many restaurant chains offer a bonus card when you buy a gift card, for example a $10 bonus with a $50 card. Bonus cards usually have short use-by windows and restrictions, so read the terms.
- Warehouse clubs. Costco, Sam's Club and BJ's sell multi-packs of restaurant gift cards below face value to members.
- Gift card resale sites. Some sites sell unwanted gift cards at a discount. Buy only from reputable sites with a balance guarantee.
Pitfalls to avoid
- Bonus card expiry. Promotional bonus cards often expire within a few months, and many cannot be used on holidays.
- Location limits. Some cards work only at company-owned locations, not franchises. Check before you buy.
- Scams. Never pay anyone with a gift card. Government agencies, utilities and legitimate businesses do not ask for payment by gift card.
- Buy what you will use. A discount on a card you never spend is no saving at all.
Offers, programs and fees change often. Check current terms before you buy or sign up. This is general information, not financial advice.
Frequently asked questions
When are restaurant gift card bonus deals?
Mostly from late November through December, when many chains offer bonus cards with gift card purchases.
Do restaurant gift cards expire?
Under federal law, most purchased gift cards in the U.S. cannot expire within five years of the date they were issued or last loaded with money. Free promotional bonus cards are different and often expire quickly.