Using gift certificates/cards as part of your monthly budget

**AspiringToBeFrugal** · 06-10-2008, 11:46 PM

Do you count the use of gift cards for things in your usual monthly budget? I'm asking because I was given some gift certificates from our local Chamber of Commerce for Christmas and to me, these are just like free money. I know the person who gave them to me probably intended for me to use them for something fun for myself, but I just can't see "wasting" these on myself when I could put them toward groceries, gas, utilities, etc.

So, if I use a gift certificate, let's say a $15 certificate, for groceries, do I count that as part of my food budget for the month? I just can't seem to wrap my head around an answer for this.

Thanks!

**justpeachy92** · 06-10-2008, 11:53 PM

Nope I don't count gift certificates as part of my budget. Though if given a gift certificate to a grocery store I would use it on my stockpile, I am just not going to deduct that amount from what I budget to spend on groceries for the month.

**Jskell911** · 06-11-2008, 06:14 AM

I don't get enough of them to count them towards the budget. But, I do like the idea of using them towards the stockpile! Even ones to other stores could be used this way (batteries, candles, etc)

**rachelMcK** · 06-11-2008, 07:28 AM

I've actually thought of getting gift cards at the beginning of the month for gas/food, just so we don't go over in our food budget (set amount, can't go over). But because you got them given to you, I would not include it and do what JustPeachy said, put it toward your stockpile!!

**tryingtodobetter** · 06-11-2008, 08:07 AM

I would count it in the budget and then use the $15 or whatever to pay down debt or in my case I would put in our savings account.

**freebs** · 06-11-2008, 08:23 AM

either way is good. do like the pp said take it outta the budget and put that money somewhere else! or dont count it at all!

**The Muse** · 06-11-2008, 09:43 AM

I do count it as part of the budget if it's for the grocery store, Target, etc. Then I add the extra to my savings or investment contribution for the month.

**eyrehead** · 06-11-2008, 03:57 PM

I probably wouldn't put it towards my budget either. I'm actually considering buying a Kroger gift card while they are adding 10% more to the amount. The only down side is it has to be at least a $300 card, which would make it $330. They're offering them in these amounts: $300, $600, & $1200. I'm seriously thinking about taking some from our savings and getting the $1200 one with the added $120 to it. I dunno though...what would you do!?!?

**monkeywrangler71** · 06-11-2008, 04:03 PM

I track my gift cards as an account in Quicken just like real money, so it does count towards our total spending.

**itsahumanzoo** · 06-11-2008, 04:06 PM

Originally Posted by eyrehead

I probably wouldn't put it towards my budget either. I'm actually considering buying a Kroger gift card while they are adding 10% more to the amount. The only down side is it has to be at least a $300 card, which would make it $330. They're offering them in these amounts: $300, $600, & $1200. I'm seriously thinking about taking some from our savings and getting the $1200 one with the added $120 to it. I dunno though...what would you do!?!?

Well, you are eventually going to spend the money anyway, but are you comfortable spending that much up front? Obviously 10% back is more than your going to get by keeping it in savings, so if you're comfortable with it, it's a good idea.

**eyrehead** · 06-11-2008, 04:10 PM

Originally Posted by itsahumanzoo

Well, you are eventually going to spend the money anyway, but are you comfortable spending that much up front? Obviously 10% back is more than your going to get by keeping it in savings, so if you're comfortable with it, it's a good idea.

Yes, I'd be comfortable with it, as it would most likely get us through till at least the end of September, maybe longer, if I were extra cautious and really watched what I was spending, etc. My goal is to ideally get our budget back to $400, but it's been hard with the prices of everything going up!!

**itsahumanzoo** · 06-11-2008, 04:17 PM

Then I say go for it!

**DonnainME** · 06-11-2008, 05:27 PM

I wish I had the extra money to invest in Gift Cards with a bonus % on them. I saw it at Shaw's (I think) but we don't have hardly any extra $. We're in survivor mode - other than Food Stamps there is not really any $ coming into our house.

**eyrehead** · 06-11-2008, 09:13 PM

Originally Posted by itsahumanzoo

Then I say go for it!

I mentioned it to Brian and he just rolled his eyes, but then I explained to him that it would probably last us until the end of September, at least, and he just said, "well, I guess it does make sense." Then I said, "It'll probably be the last time that Kroger ever gives away money."

I'm also going to wait until July to start using it, since I've already gotten June's grocery money budgeted. So it might even get us into October!!! *fingers crossed*