How many gift cards did you get for Christmas this year? They're one of the most popular gift ideas because let's be honest, you don't want someone to have to return the present you got them. So what's the solution? A little plastic rectangle filled with money so they can buy whatever their little heart desires.

You know when you've used it all and the cashier asks if you want them to throw it out? SAY NO! According to Delish, here's why you should save your empty gift cards -

  1. They come in clutch when you're signing up for free trials. You recall how nearly every site that offers a free trial of something (Amazon, Hulu, Netflix etc.) ask for a credit card number so they can begin charging you once your two weeks or thirty free days are up? Well, those sites recognize universal Visa gift card numbers as credit card numbers. You'll get your free trial, and you won't have to worry about setting 7,264 reminders to cancel the minute the trial expires for fear of being charged. The charge won't go through on an empty gift card.
  2.  You might actually need them again. Every store has a different policy when it comes to returns. Some will require you to present the card you paid with, which might be your empty gift card. In that case, you'll want to keep it until you're positive you won't be returning or exchanging the product you purchased. And if you bought something big that comes with a rebate offer, there's a good chance the money will go onto the empty gift card.
  3. You'll be saving the world. Ok, ok—that's a little dramatic, but saving empty gift cards is actually kind of good for the environment. CreditCards.com points out, the number of gift cards created annually has "the potential to add 75 to 100 million pounds of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) material to landfills."

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