Gift Cards - My ticket to free gas

Gift cards are an essential component of my supermarket 
modus operandi.  Every month I know I'm going to do some specific things:  go to the movies, buy some new kitchen gadget, eat out, etc.  Instead of paying cash for these activities, I buy gift cards at my local Huge Bird (some names have been changed to protect the innocent).

Depending on the time of year, every $50 spent on gift cards earns a $0.20 discount on each gallon of gas.  With a fuel tank that holds 22 gallons, a small amount of planning leads to a large amount of savings.

WOSU's, Ann Fisher, addressed the ins-and-outs of gift cards on her show All Sides today. While I tend to be a gift-card ninja, using the cards to my benefit and avoiding many of the common pittfalls, Fisher invites Michelle Jun (Consumers Union), Michael Hursta (First Data Corporation), and Judd Lillestrand (ScripSmart.com) to answer some of the most pressing questions concerning giving and using this increasingly popular plastic.

Here's how I use gift cards to my advantage:

1. Give gift cards as gifts (radical, right?) - Forget the romantic notion of picking out the perfect gift for each recipient; instead, let the thought be in choosing the best category of gift that fits

2. Pay for things you need that the supermarket doesn't sell - the variety of stores issuing gift cards increases monthly

3. Upgrade your apartment/home - Home Depot giftcards add up quickly when you need a new appliance or a bathroom renovation

4.  Have dinner out - "local" sections have sprouted up recently on gift card displays; your dining options are no longer limited to the giant national chains

5. Go to the movies - AMC and Cinemark are two national theater chains that offer gift cards

6. Pay for flights and hotel rooms -  several airlines and most national hotel chains issue gift cards; one flight or three nights in a hotel room can easily earn you $1.20 off each gallon in your next fill-up

7. Go ride roller coasters or visit Mickey - Universal Studios theme parks and Disney parks/resorts both offer gift cards; local theme parks and concert venues often sell their tickets via the customer service desk (restrictions apply and not all tickets earn fuel rewards, but it doesn't hurt to ask, right?)

8. Consider pre-paid cellular service - if it's time to renew that contract, consider going prepaid; Verizon, T Mobile, Net 10 and TracFone all have gift card-based prepaid services

Consumer Reports suggests the following cautions:

1. Think twice about bank cards. While bank cards generally can be used at more retailers than store cards, they’re often loaded with fees and restrictions.

2. Check the merchant’s prices. It’s annoying to get a $25 gift card for a store that sells little at that price. When selecting a store-issued card, find out how much things generally cost and get a card with at least that value.

3. Send along the receipt. Some issuers require the original receipt to replace a lost, stolen, or damaged card.