Coinstar Exchange :: Get CASH for Your Unused Gift Cards

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Coinstar. All opinions are 100% my own.

By now you've heard of Coinstar and their grocery store kiosks that turn your spare change into cash or no-fee eCertificates. But what about those gift cards laying around that are simply of no use to you?

Did you get a gift card or two this holiday season that is for a retailer your don't shop at? Enter Coinstar Exchange, an easy solution that will take your unused or partially used gift cards (minimum value of $20), and give you a cash offer on the spot. These new, bright yellow Coinstar Exchange kiosks are now available in select markets and they accept gifts cards from over 150 stores and restaurants.

Boost Your Budget
With the new year upon us, get a fresh start with a little more cash in your budget with Coinstar Exchange. Stores are filled with products to help you organize your home and reach your health and fitness goals in the year ahead, so it's the perfect time to exchange those useless gift cards that will just clutter your wallet or junk drawer in the near future. I don't know about you, but I'd much rather have some extra cash than a little card that's likely to get lost!

After scanning your gift card, the Coinstar Exchange kiosk will give you a cash offer. Payout rates do vary by retailer. Upon verifying your identity and taking your gift cards, the kiosk will print your cash voucher for you to redeem at customer service for cash. It was a very simple process and I was able to cash in two gift cards in the same transaction.

Stop Throwing Away Money

Coinstar's recent survey in October 2014 reveals that 58% of Americans have at least one gift card in their possession - perhaps lying around for quite some time before being used, or even lost! In fact, 48% of Americans say that when they receive gift cards they wait to use them, or never use them at all.

I'm sure many of you can relate to most other Americans that have a gift card or two hanging around in their wallet, especially with the holidays very recently behind us. Several weeks ago as I was organizing our new baby's catch-all closet, I came across an REI gift card at the bottom of a bunch of old paperwork. I almost tossed it but thought, why on earth would I have kept it if it were used? So, Hubby called the number on the card and we learned it had $23.xx on it. I remember receiving that gift card over three years ago! 

Hubby went out and spent it, but this is just a great example of where using a Coinstar Exchange kiosk (had they been around back then) would have been smart. I nearly threw away a gift card - that's just like throwing away cold hard cash! Instead of resorting to stashing unused gift cards, either make an effort to spend them right away, or take them to a Coinstar Exchange kiosk for cash.

Learn more at Coinstar.com/holiday and connect on Facebook and Twitter.