Can you get money out of a gift card

Money-making has never been easy, but spending money is so easy that I sometimes wish we could have that in reverse. What if I told you that you might have free cash lying around you but don’t see it?

Let me ask: how many unused gift cards do you have in your wallet? What about your reading table or bag? Are you aware that you can get cash from gift cards? That is money lazing around in your home, and you should put it to good use.

There are several ways to get cash from gift cards, although sometimes, it might end up as liquid cash or an equivalent of cash more than as cash at hand. It’s all practically the same; the only difference might be a trip to the ATM.

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1. How people get gift cards

People get gift cards mainly from these sources:

·         Gifts: birthdays, anniversaries, and graduations, among others.

·         Money-making apps: Sometimes, survey apps like SurveyJunkie and Inboxdollars pay in gift cards. Other money-making apps will also pay you in gift cards, which you can turn into cash.

While you might be able to get real cash at hand from your gift cards, most methods involve an equivalent of having real money, including using it to pay bills and reselling on specific platforms.

Here are ways to get real cash from gift cards:

1. Use a Gift Card Exchange store.

Gift card exchange stores are yellow stores in supermarkets and malls. Gift card exchange is one of the easiest and most guaranteed ways to earn real cash from gift cards.

When you get to the kiosk, you have to enter your gift card information, and when you are done, you will receive a series of offers on how you want to get paid.

After you have decided, you will get a voucher to take to the cashier and get your cash in your hands.

1. Sell in person.

You can sell your gift cards directly to others who need them and get cash instantly.

1. Buy and resell products.

This reselling method is all about using your gift cards to buy things from a store and then reselling them on selling platforms like eBay and Etsy to earn money. Although it is an indirect way, you still end up with real cash.

1. Sell on Facebook

The Facebook marketplace has allowed selling several items, including gift cards. Using the number of audiences that Facebook has, you can sell your unwanted gift cards and get money deposited in your bank accounts.

1. Buy a money order with it.

You can purchase a money order at some Walmart locations using your gift card. If you are unsure of your location accepting gift cards for money order purchases, you can always call ahead or ask.

You can then deposit your money order in the bank and withdraw it as cash. But, you must be careful of the number of deposits to avoid being shut down.

1. Sell it on an app.

Apps like Raise and Prepaid2Cash will allow you to sell your gift cards in exchange for money. The most important thing is the information they will require from you. Some apps tell you their commission percentage, while others do not.

1. Sell it on a website.

Sites like Raise, Gift Card Granny, GiftCash, and CardCash are among the top sites for selling gift cards. But, you have to check and confirm these sites and their accepted merchants. 

Also, some sites are strictly for Visa gift cards, while others allow you to sell any gift card.

1. Add it to your PayPal account.

PayPal has made it easy to get cash from gift cards by allowing users to use the CardCash website to transfer gift cards to their PayPal accounts directly. The only hassle will be that you need to buy another gift card with your Visa gift card because the website only accepts gift cards from their accepted stores and restaurants.

However, it is pretty easy to navigate the CardCash website. All you need to do is sell the gift cards on the site and get the cash through the PayPal Express option. Connect with your PayPal account and fill in the required details, and you will see your balance sitting pretty.

You might want to be mindful of the bill because you get charged a certain percentage for every sale you make.

1. Add it to your Venmo account.

Like PayPal, Venmo allows users to add gift cards to their accounts. You can transfer your Venmo balance to your bank account and withdraw the money after three working days without any additional fee.

First, you need the Venmo app. Then, go to settings and select your payment method. Add the card to your account by inserting your Visa card details, and that is all.

1. Use it to pay bills.

This option depends on what bill you are paying and to which company. Some companies allow Visa gift card payment options, while some do not. You can verify this through the customer service team.

1. Gift it out.

If you do not want to exchange the gift card as a way to earn a few bucks, you can also make it into a birthday gift. You can make a unique money tree with it or a money pizza. Check out my blog post on creative and unique money gift ideas.

1. Buy another gift card.

This is pretty easy. If you want to pay bills or make payments with your gift cards and it is not being accepted where you are, you can easily use your gift card to buy the accepted gift cards and use it to pay your bill.

1. Use the Jour Cards store.

Jour Cards is an online payment store that allows you to sell your gift cards in exchange for real cash. The twist is that you can get your money via your Crypto wallet or account.

The con is that the company gets 20% of your gift card value, so you only get 80%.

FAQs on Converting Gift Cards To Cash

Q1: How Do I Get Money From a Gift Card?

All the steps highlighted in this post show how you can get cash from gift cards. You can sell, resell, add to your PayPal or purchase a money order.

Q2: How Do I Transfer a Gift Card to My Bank Account?

There is no direct way to transfer gift cards to your bank account. However, you can sell your gift cards on PayPal or Venmo and transfer the proceeds to your bank account. You can also buy a money order with a gift card.

Q3: Can I Use My Visa Gift Card at an ATM?

You cannot use a Visa gift card at an ATM stand; these gift cards are to be used at stores and restaurants. Except if you try exchanging them, you won’t be able to get any real cash directly from the ATM.

Q4: Can I Get a Refund if I Pay With a Gift Card?

You might not get a refund if you buy directly with a gift card; some companies don’t even accept gift cards as a payment option.

Q5: Can I Get Real Cash From a Gift Card?

Yes, you can get real cash from gift cards directly, using a gift card exchange store, or indirectly using the reselling method.

Q6: How Do I Get Cash From a Vanilla Gift Card?

The same way you get cash from a Visa gift card is the same way you get cash from a Vanilla gift card. The Vanilla gift card is a prepaid gift card with varying prices, and if you follow the steps in this post, you can get up to 95% of the total value of the gift card.

Q7: Where Can I Use My Gift Cards To Pay Bills?

Major companies and brands might not accept gift cards as payment options, but some small businesses, gas stations, and grocery stores will accept them as a payment option.

Q8: How Do I Prevent Overbuying on a Gift Card?

To prevent overbuying on a gift card, you want to ensure that you know the card's value and create a budget around it.

Q9: Can I Buy Another Gift Card Using a Gift Card?

Yes, you can buy a gift card using a gift card.

Conclusion– Gift Cards To Cash

You probably get gift cards on your birthday, and I think it’s great when you know how to convert them to money. It is almost the same as getting a monetary gift, just that it needs some extra steps depending on how you want to spend it. 

My top pick for getting cash from a gift card would be selling it and transferring the balance to your PayPal accounts. It helps when you need urgent cash or want to engage in money-saving challenges like the 100 envelope challenge trending right now.

Regardless, be wary of gift card scammers and avoid disclosing sensitive bank details over the phone. Also, verify every website and app before attempting to sell your gift cards.

Which of these methods are you going to use? Do you think you might want to request gift cards for your next birthday?

READ ALSO: 14 Best Paid Online Survey Sites for Earning Extra Income

Michael Dinich

Michael launched Wealth of Geeks to make personal finance fun. He has worked in personal finance for over 20 years, helping families reduce taxes, increase their income, and save for retirement. Michael is passionate about personal finance, side hustles, and all things geeky.