My Own Stimulus Package: Unused Gift Cards

Yesterday was big day here at Recessionista HQ. Why? I actually cleaned out…..gasp…my handbag! At times my handbag is akin to a black hole. Jimmy Hoffa could be found there, or even a UFO. Its full of clutter. So, during my annual, ah hmmm, cleaning, I discovered two unused gift certificates. Hiding in the bottom corner of the bag, I have a Starbuck’s gift certificate and a $50.00 gift certificate for movie theatre tickets. Eureka, savings on the way! After making this discovery (not on the same scale as the Rosetta stone, but still significant.) I did a few Google searches. I wanted to know, am I the only one sitting on my gift cards? The answer is a resounding NO. A great article from The New York Times notes that many gift cards and even gym memberships are purchased and then go unused. A few years ago the Tower Group did a report on this noting ” that of the $80 billion spent on gift cards in 2006, roughly $8 billion will never be redeemed.” This year, as we find ourselves in the throes of a worldwide economic downturn, the gift cards you may be saving take on a new urgency. Why? Well dear readers, stores are closing all over the country. Here in Los Angeles, every time I drive to work I see people out waving signs to remind me that Linen’s & Things is closing. And they are not alone. Another Google search reveals that many stores around the world are closing. There are stories about Circuit City, Radio Shack, Mervyn’s and many more. Retailers are closing in Asia and Europe as well. And that brings me back to the gift certificates, if the store you have a gift certificate for is closing, remember use it or loose it! So check your handbag, your wallet, desk drawers and where ever else you might store these things. You might just find your own stimulus package at your fingertips! 🙂