This is the one time of the year when it pays to give gift cards because of all the bonus offers. The end dates vary by offer, but most expire on or about December 31. In addition, some are available online or in-store only, while others are for sale online and in-store. We have posted some of the more popular national deals here. However, there are many local deals, too, so check your favorite neighborhood shop. There are lots of them, so let’s get started:
♦ Applebee’s $50 = $10 Bonus Card
♦ Bonefish Grill $100 = $20 Bonus Card
♦ Boston Market $25 = $5 Bonus Card
♦ California Pizza Kitchen $100 = $20 Rewards Card
♦ Carl’s Jr. $5 = FREE chocolate chip ice cream sandwich
♦ Cheesecake Factory $25 = FREE slice of cheesecake
♦ Chili’s $100 gift card for $90
♦ Chipotle $30 = FREE burrito, bowl, salad or order of tacos
♦ Cici’s Pizza $25 = FREE buffet
♦ Cinemark Theatres $30 = $5 Movie Dollars
♦ Del Taco $25 – $100 = FREE Food
♦ Elephant Bar $25 = $5 Promo Dining Card
♦ Fazoli’s $20 = $5 Bonus Card
♦ Harkins Theatres $25 = FREE medium popcorn
♦ Jamba Juice $25 = FREE 16 oz. smoothie
♦ Joe’s Crab Shack $25 = FREE Winning Game Ticket
♦ Little Caesars $25 = FREE Crazy Bread + 2-Liter Pepsi
♦ Macaroni Grill $25 = $5 Bonus Card
♦ Maggiano’s Little Italy $100 = $20 Bonus Card + FREE 1-year Food & Wine Magazine subscription
♦ Mimi’s Café $25 = $5 Bonus Coupon
♦ Murdoch’s $30 gift card for $25
♦ Native Foods Café $100 = $25 Gift Card
♦ Ocean Prime $100 = $25 Bonus Card
♦ Olive Garden $25 = $5 Bonus Card
♦ Outback Steakhouse $100 = $20 Bonus Card
♦ Panda Express $30 = FREE 2-entrée plate
♦ P.F. Chang’s $100 = $20 Bonus Card
♦ Qdoba Mexican Grill $25 = $5 Q Voucher
♦ Quaker Steak & Lube $25 = FREE bottle of sauce or $5 Bonus Card
♦ Red Lobster $25 = $5 Bonus Card
♦ Red Robin $25 = $5 Bonus Buck Reward
♦ Ruby Tuesday $50 = $15 Bonus Coupon
♦ Smashburger $25 = $5 Smashbucks
♦ Sweet Tomatoes $50 = FREE buffet
♦ Taco Bell $20 = FREE menu item (up to $5)
♦ Ted’s Montana Grill $100 = $20 Thank You Card
♦ T.G.I. Friday’s $25 = $5 Bonus Bites Card
♦ White Castle $25 = $5 Promo Card
Remember, price and participation may vary. It’s also important to note that many of the freebies are “bonus cards” – not gift cards. As a result, be sure to check the fine print for possible limitations, including minimum purchase requirements, date restrictions or menu exclusions. LOTC Tip: If you have a favorite restaurant on the list, consider buying gift cards for yourself (by law, they no longer have an expiration date) and “cash in” on the bonus. Plus, get more bonuses by breaking down a large, single purchase. For example, if the bonus is for a $25 (or more) gift card and you’re buying a $50 gift card, why not purchase two $25 gift cards instead? You just doubled your bonus.
Bryan Chavez
LOTC National Deals Editor Bryan K. Chavez carries his purple coupon binder with pride everywhere he goes because he knows it's as "good as gold." His deal-seeking skills are so sharp that he regularly saves upwards of 75% on his grocery receipts. One of his passions is helping others save money. When he's not clipping coupons or sniffing out the next great promotion, his professional background is in public relations & marketing for non-profit organizations. Bryan is an editor at Mile High On The Cheap.2 Responses to “Buy a gift card, get a gift for yourself”
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Bryan, your bio at the end of your article really piqued my interest. Do you ever share how you manage to save up to 75% off your grocery bill? I would love to learn your secrets for how to do that.
Lisa in Colorado Springs
Lisa – Thank you for your interest. Fortunately, I started saving money in college and have never stopped. It’s now second nature for me to always be looking for deals, promos and discounts. It’s really a matter of matching up a sale with coupon for maximum savings. Plus, I’m not brand loyal, which helps more than you know. I also encourage people to stock up when they find a great deal on a household staple. (Recently, I found Planters peanut butter for 50¢ each, so I bought 10.) It takes some work, but, once you see the savings, you’ll be hooked. -BKC in Denver