Gift Card Churning

[spaghetticat]

Does anyone do this? I'm wondering if there's any other options I'm missing and figured I would share since I saw people saying they buy Disney gift cards to pay off parts of their trip.

I use Swagbucks to get Target cards and then use those to get Disney cards at 5% off. If anyone wants any Swagbucks tips, I've gotten pretty good at it. I've earned $200 in Disney gc in about 2 months.

I have also used Raise to buy Target gc and then bought Disney gift cards with those (using ebates for all of the Target purchases as well). I think I bought a $600 Target card for $561 on Raise so after Red Card discount and ebates, got $600 in Disney GC for $520.

I have heard of a way to use eBay to get better deals, but I'm not sure how that works. Does anyone do that?

Does anyone use Perk? I signed up for an account but I don't really know what I'm doing.

I know Sam's sells discounted Disney GC.

None of it is HUGE amounts of money, but I think by the time of my trip I can save about $600 through these methods. Anybody have anything else that works for them?

[ilikedonuts]

We buy our gift cards when there is 20 cents per $50 fuel perks at our local grocery store. In November I got 20 cents per $50 plus $10 grocery gift card for every $100 in GCs.

[spaghetticat]

Mar 11, 2016 12:04:01 GMT -5 ilikedonuts said:

We buy our gift cards when there is 20 cents per $50 fuel perks at our local grocery store. In November I got 20 cents per $50 plus $10 grocery gift card for every $100 in GCs.

How does that work? You get your gas for 20 cents off?

[ilikedonuts]

Mar 11, 2016 12:07:32 GMT -5 spaghetticat said:

Mar 11, 2016 12:04:01 GMT -5 ilikedonuts said:

We buy our gift cards when there is 20 cents per $50 fuel perks at our local grocery store. In November I got 20 cents per $50 plus $10 grocery gift card for every $100 in GCs.

How does that work? You get your gas for 20 cents off?

Yeah. The grocery store (Giant Eagle) has their own gas stations (Get Go). Kroger does too. I get 10 cents off per $50 spent at the grocery store. And then they run the promo where they double it for some or all gift cards at various times through the year.

Its good for up to 30 gallons worth of gas. So I fill my car (20 gallons) and 2 5 gallon gas cans.

So I bought $800 before our December trip to cover food and I saved close to $100 off my gas. Then I also got my regular credit card rewards (which Discover is currently doubling because we switched to their new It card). And then they had the special grocery gift card too (which was a first) so I had $80 off groceries to use too. 

[spaghetticat]

Thanks ilikedonuts. I'm going to see if any places by me do that.

[zarapipe]

Mar 11, 2016 12:37:25 GMT -5 spaghetticat said:

Thanks ilikedonuts. I'm going to see if any places by me do that.

How do you get 5% off at target?

[spaghetticat]

Mar 11, 2016 12:49:06 GMT -5 zarapipe said:

Mar 11, 2016 12:37:25 GMT -5 spaghetticat said:

Thanks ilikedonuts. I'm going to see if any places by me do that.

How do you get 5% off at target?

Using a Target Red Card. It includes Disney GC.

[lurknomore]

Mar 11, 2016 12:50:24 GMT -5 spaghetticat said:

Mar 11, 2016 12:49:06 GMT -5 zarapipe said:

How do you get 5% off at target?

Using a Target Red Card. It includes Disney GC.

But if you're buying Target gc, you're not getting your 5% off....What am I missing?

[bronxgirl]

We use our Target Red Card to buy Disney GCs and pay for everything with those. Last year the money we saved was equivalent to one night of our hotel stay.

[spaghetticat]

Mar 11, 2016 13:03:58 GMT -5 lurknomore said:

Mar 11, 2016 12:50:24 GMT -5 spaghetticat said:

Using a Target Red Card. It includes Disney GC.

But if you're buying Target gc, you're not getting your 5% off....What am I missing?

It doesn't work for Target GC but it works for Disney. So I buy discounted Target GC off of Raise. I have my RedCard saved to my account. I put the Disney cards in my cart and the 5% is automatically deducted. Then I use the discounted Target card to complete the purchase.

Eta: if you are purchasing online, you get he 5% off whether you pay with your Red Card or not.

[lurknomore]

Mar 11, 2016 14:34:23 GMT -5 spaghetticat said:

Mar 11, 2016 13:03:58 GMT -5 lurknomore said:

But if you're buying Target gc, you're not getting your 5% off....What am I missing?

It doesn't work for Target GC but it works for Disney. So I buy discounted Target GC off of Raise. I have my RedCard saved to my account. I put the Disney cards in my cart and the 5% is automatically deducted. Then I use the discounted Target card to complete the purchase.

Eta: if you are purchasing online, you get he 5% off whether you pay with your Red Card or not.

Hmmmm. Thanks! I did not know that you got 5% regardless online. Thanks!

[arch01]

Mar 11, 2016 14:34:23 GMT -5 spaghetticat said:

Mar 11, 2016 13:03:58 GMT -5 lurknomore said:

But if you're buying Target gc, you're not getting your 5% off....What am I missing?

It doesn't work for Target GC but it works for Disney. So I buy discounted Target GC off of Raise. I have my RedCard saved to my account. I put the Disney cards in my cart and the 5% is automatically deducted. Then I use the discounted Target card to complete the purchase.

Eta: if you are purchasing online, you get he 5% off whether you pay with your Red Card or not.

Hm this might be a game changer for me and convince me to get the Red Card. Good to know, I use Raise as well.

Card Cash also has Disney parks GCs at 8.3% off. 

[arch01]

We also do a majority of our shopping at Target. Each time they offer a GC deal on items we use I save those GCs. I was up to over $200 so the last time they did a $5 off $50 Disney GC I bought $200 worth of Disney GCs. I have about $75 saved up to do it again whenever they do it next. I'll get another GC soon since we need toilet paper and they're constantly running GCs on those.

[swarley]

The only one I do, which you mentioned, is Sam's. It's $142 for $150. Doesn't seem like a lot but those $8 add up!

[arch01]

spaghetticat, what tips do you have for Swagbucks? I am averaging about $50/mo right now (solely for my spending ) through just using the apps and letting the TV run. Unfortunately my nCraves rarely work.

[bronxgirl]

Mar 11, 2016 14:34:23 GMT -5 spaghetticat said:

Mar 11, 2016 13:03:58 GMT -5 lurknomore said:

But if you're buying Target gc, you're not getting your 5% off....What am I missing?

It doesn't work for Target GC but it works for Disney. So I buy discounted Target GC off of Raise. I have my RedCard saved to my account. I put the Disney cards in my cart and the 5% is automatically deducted. Then I use the discounted Target card to complete the purchase.

Eta: if you are purchasing online, you get he 5% off whether you pay with your Red Card or not.

good to know! what is Raise?

[arch01]

Mar 11, 2016 17:45:59 GMT -5 bronxgirl said:

Mar 11, 2016 14:34:23 GMT -5 spaghetticat said:

It doesn't work for Target GC but it works for Disney. So I buy discounted Target GC off of Raise. I have my RedCard saved to my account. I put the Disney cards in my cart and the 5% is automatically deducted. Then I use the discounted Target card to complete the purchase.

Eta: if you are purchasing online, you get he 5% off whether you pay with your Red Card or not.

good to know! what is Raise?

Raise is a discount GC website-I have alerts for Target set to tell me when they're selling for 7% off or higher. 

[spaghetticat]

Mar 11, 2016 17:42:28 GMT -5 arch01 said:

spaghetticat , what tips do you have for Swagbucks? I am averaging about $50/mo right now (solely for my spending ) through just using the apps and letting the TV run. Unfortunately my nCraves rarely work.

I have the same problem with NCraves. Did you try opening an Incognito window? That works for me sometimes. 

I do the apps every day, try to complete a survey or two, and I always have something running. I will do LTG and Ngage at the same time and try to get 20 points or so before leaving for work. Then I let a Watch playlist run. I go to the Disboards Swagbucks thread and to Reddit to see what works for other people. I also try to search things as much as possible through them. 

Do you use the Watch list through the Swagbutton? That usually works pretty quickly. 

I have one referral that helps and I always try to reach my first bonus so I can get the 300+ point bonus the following month. 

Swagcodes add up too so I try to stay on those every day. 

[arch01]

Mar 11, 2016 22:25:35 GMT -5 spaghetticat said:

Mar 11, 2016 17:42:28 GMT -5 arch01 said:

spaghetticat , what tips do you have for Swagbucks? I am averaging about $50/mo right now (solely for my spending ) through just using the apps and letting the TV run. Unfortunately my nCraves rarely work.

I have the same problem with NCraves. Did you try opening an Incognito window? That works for me sometimes. 

I do the apps every day, try to complete a survey or two, and I always have something running. I will do LTG and Ngage at the same time and try to get 20 points or so before leaving for work. Then I let a Watch playlist run. I go to the Disboards Swagbucks thread and to Reddit to see what works for other people. I also try to search things as much as possible through them. 

Do you use the Watch list through the Swagbutton? That usually works pretty quickly. 

I have one referral that helps and I always try to reach my first bonus so I can get the 300+ point bonus the following month. 

Swagcodes add up too so I try to stay on those every day. 

I do the watch through the Swagbutton on/off. It hasn't been reliable for me, but that probably has more to do with my work computer than anything else. My 1st goal is usually right around 100, but I've been struggling to get to that some days since they dropped the SBTV down to 10 from 36-yesterday it was 44 videos to get 2 bonus SB. Crazy!!!

[spaghetticat]

arch01, I was just thinking that I didn't mention this- I also try to do a few NCraves (often have to use an incognito window) bc it unlocks the autoplay NCraves

[sent]

I had an offer on my Amex last fall for "make a $250 purchase, get a $75 statement credit." So basically 30% off. I could do it at Staples and Home Depot and could do the offer upto 5 times. I bought lots of different gift cards and stockpiled some Disney ones too since I'm sure we'll go there sooner or later.

[arch01]

spaghetticat, you know, I just realized something. I've been looking into Kmart discounted gift cards and didn't find much, but drug stores also sell the Disney gift cards. I need to check around me and see which ones sell them so I can put alerts on Raise. Not too long ago Rite Aid was 15+% off on Raise.

[mmmomof2]

Mar 15, 2016 13:18:32 GMT -5 arch01 said:

spaghetticat , you know, I just realized something. I've been looking into Kmart discounted gift cards and didn't find much, but drug stores also sell the Disney gift cards. I need to check around me and see which ones sell them so I can put alerts on Raise. Not too long ago Rite Aid was 15+% off on Raise.

Most stores will not let you buy a Disney gift card with a store gift card. Target is the anomaly. I would research doing this before putting a lot of money into Rite Aid gift cards.

There is a long thread on the Dis Boards (on their "Budget Board") about all the nuances of buying Disney gift cards at a discount. Ebay bucks are popular but I was never able to understand it. For me I find buying Target Gifts Cards with my Amex at Ralphs (3% cash back for grocery stores) and then getting scrip from my preschool and money off of gas, and then turning around and going through Ebates and buying Disney cards at Target with a 5% discount was the easiest method for me. 
 

[arch01]

Mar 15, 2016 18:22:20 GMT -5 mmmomof2 said:

Mar 15, 2016 13:18:32 GMT -5 arch01 said:

spaghetticat , you know, I just realized something. I've been looking into Kmart discounted gift cards and didn't find much, but drug stores also sell the Disney gift cards. I need to check around me and see which ones sell them so I can put alerts on Raise. Not too long ago Rite Aid was 15+% off on Raise.

Most stores will not let you buy a Disney gift card with a store gift card. Target is the anomaly. I would research doing this before putting a lot of money into Rite Aid gift cards.

There is a long thread on the Dis Boards (on their "Budget Board") about all the nuances of buying Disney gift cards at a discount. Ebay bucks are popular but I was never able to understand it. For me I find buying Target Gifts Cards with my Amex at Ralphs (3% cash back for grocery stores) and then getting scrip from my preschool and money off of gas, and then turning around and going through Ebates and buying Disney cards at Target with a 5% discount was the easiest method for me. 
 

Good to know. The things I don't know since a majority of my shopping is at Target 

[Deleted]

So do you think the same concept would work for Southwest airlines? I see Target sells their gift cards too, can you use a redcard on all gift cards they sell?

[arch01]

Mar 16, 2016 10:43:05 GMT -5 @lindy said:

So do you think the same concept would work for Southwest airlines? I see Target sells their gift cards too, can you use a redcard on all gift cards they sell?

I would assume it does. 

However. I've learned something with Southwest in the past 8ish months. It is FAR cheaper to pay with points than it is with dollars. The last flights I purchased (5.5 months out) I transferred 70,000 points from my Chase Sapphire Preferred card ($700) and flew 5 people round trip to FLL (4 from RDU, 1 from MKE). The dollar value of the flights was right at $1400.

[ribollita]

Mar 16, 2016 10:43:05 GMT -5 @lindy said:

So do you think the same concept would work for Southwest airlines? I see Target sells their gift cards too, can you use a redcard on all gift cards they sell?

I believe it does not work on gift cards but Disney cards are classified as "entertainment" so it works? Or something like that.

[arch01]

It does appear to work on SW gift cards. I'm thinking all of their gift cards may be classified as entertainment, but who knows. I'd try a small amount first.

www.disboards.com/threads/target-now-sells-southwest-gift-cards-use-redcard-for-5.3133223/page-4

[spaghetticat]

Mar 17, 2016 7:14:31 GMT -5 arch01 said:

Mar 16, 2016 10:43:05 GMT -5 @lindy said:

So do you think the same concept would work for Southwest airlines? I see Target sells their gift cards too, can you use a redcard on all gift cards they sell?

I would assume it does. 

However. I've learned something with Southwest in the past 8ish months. It is FAR cheaper to pay with points than it is with dollars. The last flights I purchased (5.5 months out) I transferred 70,000 points from my Chase Sapphire Preferred card ($700) and flew 5 people round trip to FLL (4 from RDU, 1 from MKE). The dollar value of the flights was right at $1400.

Can I ask you something about this? I'm looking at SW now and I see you can book with points. The flights I want are 86,736 points. Is that the same as my Chase Rewards Points? Or are these different SW points?

Eta: do I have to redeem the points at booking or when it's travel time?

[arch01]

Mar 17, 2016 8:29:12 GMT -5 spaghetticat said:

Mar 17, 2016 7:14:31 GMT -5 arch01 said:

I would assume it does. 

However. I've learned something with Southwest in the past 8ish months. It is FAR cheaper to pay with points than it is with dollars. The last flights I purchased (5.5 months out) I transferred 70,000 points from my Chase Sapphire Preferred card ($700) and flew 5 people round trip to FLL (4 from RDU, 1 from MKE). The dollar value of the flights was right at $1400.

Can I ask you something about this? I'm looking at SW now and I see you can book with points. The flights I want are 86,736 points. Is that the same as my Chase Rewards Points? Or are these different SW points?

Eta: do I have to redeem the points at booking or when it's travel time?

Yep, same amount of points-but with Chase you transfer in 1k increments if I remember correctly. You redeem the points at booking. The Chase UR transferred to my SW account in less than 10 minutes, I was very impressed. Essentially for those flights you're paying $867.36-what is the price if you paid cash?