Smart Ways to Turn Your Visa Gift Card into Cash: Whenever you receive a Visa gift card as a gift then you have an idea of how it feels like to be grateful and disappointed at the same time because although the intention of the one giving it to you may be heartwarming sometimes having money in the form of Cash inside our wallets feels much better than prepaid cards most times.
While gift cards provide a high level of convenience, cash is the preferred form of currency because of its flexibility. When you have cash on hand, you are not restricted to any one store or type of item, instead, you have the options of wonderful things you may want to buy across every corner of the city.
Furthermore, cash allows for effortless budgeting and financial management.
11 Ways to Convert Visa Gift Cards into Cash
- Visit an ATM
- Sell Your Gift Card Online
- Purchase Money Orders
- Add Balance to Digital Wallets
- Buy and Resell Products
- Gift Card Trading
- Invest the Funds
- Donate to Charity
- Use for Paying Bills
- Sell Locally to Friends and Family
- Reload Other Cards
1. Cashout at ATM (Quickest Way)
If you need money immediately, locate an ATM that accepts Visa gift cards. The procedure is very simple all you have to do is just put the card in the machine and then type in your PIN (if necessary) to obtain any amount of cash that you require and this will give you instant access to money that you can spend anyhow you like.
There are some charges for both the ATM and the card issuing company. You must therefore check on the charges associated with it before you take this way to find out if that is fine with you.
2. Sell Your Gift Card Online (The Hassle-Free Option)
The process of selling your unwanted Visa gift cards online is very simple and quick. It is possible to swap your cards with money on various reputable websites including CardCash, GiftCardGranny, and Raise
It’s quite a simple process: you enter information about your gift card and see a sum of money the site is willing to pay you. Usually, this amount varies between 75% and 92% of what it has on it in total amount. If you agree with the conditions, then you can mail in or transfer the gift card balance, after which you’ll receive your cash via check, PayPal, or direct deposit within a week or two.
This option is particularly appealing if you’ve received a gift card from a retailer you rarely frequent or have no intention of visiting. Rather than letting it gather dust, why not turn it into cash that you can use?
3. Purchase Money Orders
Here’s a clever hack that essentially converts your gift card balance into cash: Many grocery stores, retailers, and money transfer services allow you to purchase money orders using a gift card as payment.
Buy a money order using the card and then cash or deposit it at your bank. Notably, by using a gift card to pay, you can obtain a money order from various grocery stores, retailers, or money transfer service agents that accept gift cards as payment.
There is normally a small fee to buy the money order, but, so long as it is below the Cash value, then it is the fastest way to convert a gift card into Cash.
4. Add Balance to Digital Wallets
One of the most convenient fund transfer methods involves simply moving the Visa gift card balance to Venmo or PayPal, Cash App, etc. These platforms will securely authenticate your card payment details before the amount is moved into your account balance.
From there, you can cash out that balance directly to your bank account or spend it online and in person anywhere that particular app is accepted. While PayPal and Venmo may charge a small fee (usually around 3%) for transferring from a credit/debit card balance, it’s a straightforward way to access your gift card cash through the convenience of your mobile apps.
5. Buy and Resell Products
You can also consider using your gift cards to purchase inexpensive products and then resell them online or locally for a profit. Sites like eBay, Facebook Marketplace, and Craigslist present opportunities to flip product inventory for cash.
For instance, a Visa gift card can be used to pay for items at a discount and then sell them at a higher price. Although more energy is needed using this method, one could have more money rather than the initial amount of the gift card if they bought it cleverly and put the right price on it. Ensure that you include any charges charged when selling or delivering products.
6. Gift Card Trading
You can also explore options to trade or sell your Visa gift card balance directly to others looking to acquire cards.
For example, CardCash websites allow users to trade their cards with others. Consequently, you can get cash for the card or at least someone will use it at a much cheaper price in the form of a gift voucher.
Alternatively, you could sell an unwanted gift card to friends or family at a slight discount. For example, offer a $75 cash price for a $100 Visa gift card. They save a bit, and you walk away with cash in hand.
7. Invest the Funds
If you plan to hold on to your investments for a long period and have a passion for investing, then you might want to use your Visa card money. These days, some brokers permit you to start investing with very tiny sums, as little as $5.
Transfer your unwanted gift card balance to your brokerage account and apply these funds to create an investment portfolio. Though it might look like a meager start, given consistent contributions over time, those amounts could potentially increase into a higher balance with compound growth.
8. Donate to Charity
If you’re looking to give back while decluttering your life of unwanted gift cards, consider donating the balance to charitable nonprofit organizations. Many charities allow supporters to donate gift cards as a cash equivalent contribution.
Not only can you claim the cash value as a tax deduction, but you’ll also have the satisfaction of putting that gift to good use by supporting meaningful causes. It’s a win-win situation that combines financial savvy with altruism.
9. Use for Paying Bills
Many firms that provide services, including utilities, telecommunication services, and insurance, enable clients to settle bills with Visa cards or other branded cards. Use the amount on your Visa gift card to pay for any subscribed services you receive once in every month, instead of using the money for the same.
This approach ensures that your gift card doesn’t go unused and forgotten. You can productively spend it on mandatory expenses each month until the balance runs out, freeing up cash for other purposes.
10. Sell Locally to Friends and Family
Use local networks and groups like community forums or social media forums to inform people. Some are searching for particular brands of gift cards for personal use or later gift-giving purposes.
If you can find an interested buyer within your circle, you can pocket a nice chunk of cash value while they save a bit off the card’s balance. It’s a win-win situation, and you get the added benefit of building stronger community ties.
11. Reload Other Cards
Some major retailers like Walmart and Dollar General allow customers to use gift cards like Visa to refill or reload other prepaid debit cards they may have. If you have a reloadable shopping card, payroll card, or gift card for those stores, you can apply for any new Visa gift cards to increase the balance on those payment methods.
This approach allows you to consolidate all those random gift card funds into just one card or account making it easier to spend the balance conveniently. While it doesn’t give you cash directly, it’s a way to remove the headache of unused gift cards from your life and streamline your spending.
When you come across unwanted Visa gift cards, you can maximize them by utilizing these 11 ways. Instead of leaving your funds idle on a card, reclaim them all and use cash at your will.
So, the next time do not be worried when someone gives you a Visa gift card. But accept it as an opportunity to show your financial intelligence by turning this useless piece of plastic into the most desirable form of money: cash in hand. This cash will make you richer and happier tomorrow.
Can you buy Bitcoin with a Visa gift card?
Yes, you can buy Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies using a Visa gift card, but you’ll have to go through third-party services that allow it. Major exchanges don’t accept gift cards directly due to fraud risks.
Using a gift card for crypto purchases often involves higher fees, worse exchange rates, and additional verification requirements compared to using a bank account or debit card. While possible, buying crypto with a Visa gift card requires more effort but can be done through legitimate third-party platforms and services that facilitate it.
Frequently Asked Questions-
Can I combine Vanilla Visa Gift cards?
No, you cannot combine the balances of multiple Vanilla Visa gift cards into a single card.
Can you use a Visa gift card at a dispensary?
No, Visa gift cards won’t work at dispensaries.
Can you buy crypto with a Visa gift card?
Some exchanges allow buying crypto with a Visa gift card but with higher fees.