Personal Finance News
National Use Your Gift Card Day Returning January 18th
A retail holiday that reminds consumers to claim forgotten funds is just around the corner.
About National Use Your Gift Card Day:
On January 18th, National Use Your Gift Card Day will return. Celebrated on the third Saturday of January, this retail “holiday” was coined in 2020, with 2025 marking the sixth installment. On this day, consumers are encouraged to locate and redeem any gift cards they may have acquired during this past holiday season or any other time.
According to a press release (citing figures from Bankrate), 43% of Americans report having at least one unused gift card in their possession. The average value of these near-forgotten cards is $244. In total, it is believed that $29.3 billion in gift card funds given this year will go unused.
What they’re saying:
Commenting on this year’s retail holiday, the founder of National Use Your Gift Card Day Tracy Tilson stated, “Everyone loves getting gift cards, which let you treat yourself after all the time you spent shopping for others. But in all the excitement of the holidays, it’s so easy to forget you received them. That’s why we created a gift card holiday – to urge consumers to find and use the cards that are meant to be spent.”
My thoughts:
While this is my first time hearing of National Use Your Gift Card Day — and I think that many “National Day of X” holidays are silly — I can absolutely identify with this one. Even though I’m usually quick to use gift cards I purchase myself (normally acquired in a bid to earn bonus funds or take advantage of other promotions), that’s not always the case for those given to me. In fact, when I read this story, I was immediately reminded that I have $15 to Applebee’s sitting downstairs. Perhaps I should get some takeout dessert this Saturday?
I should also note that the founders of National Use Your Gift Card Day also offer some tips for keeping track of and making the most of the gift cards you’re given. For one, they suggest having a specific, designated spot where you keep gift cards. Second, in terms of maximizing, they recommend looking for special deals on the merchant’s website as well as finding other ways to save money on your purchase. Similarly, they state that consumers should make a plan for how they’ll use their gift cards, including what exactly they’ll buy.
Ultimately, even if you don’t technically participate in National Use Your Gift Card Day on the 18th, let this upcoming date serve as a reminder to round up your various cards and make a plan to redeem them sooner rather than later.
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