Savings idea for WDW expenses before & after trip

[Liz]

Today I was buying a gift card at WalMart and I was thinking I could get one and add to it whenever I shop there, saving for all the pre-trip expenses like film, suntan lotion, etc. All those things really seem to add up. Then after the trip it could be used for film developing.

 

[TiffJ]

That is an awesome idea! I dont have a definate trip planned yet(hopefully Dec) but I think I'm going to start doing that. Worst case I have cards to spend at WM-which I will always be able to use.

 

[DiznEeyore]

That's a cool idea! Since we usually stop at Target after arrival, I could do this w/Target gift cards.

My only question would be do the cards have an activity expiration date? I only ask because the local news did a story recently on gift cards that either expire and/or have "inactivity fees" that reduce the available amount over time. I know not every card does this, but I wonder if Walmart or Target do ....

Has anyone else ever heard of this?

 

[Cyndo723]

Why not buy the Target giftcards from Hotwire and then you would also save 20% on the purchases.

 

[miche61]

I've been buying Target GCs since Feb. for Christmas. I love this idea. I was also thinking of buying other GCs for other gifts for Christmas too, McD's for the nephews,etc. I love this idea.

I don't know if Target has the fees or not. I know they "expire" two years from date of purchase though.

HTH

 

[DiznEeyore]

Originally posted by Cyndo723
Why not buy the Target giftcards from Hotwire and then you would also save 20% on the purchases.

I'd love to know how this works - is there a thread somewhere on this? I couldn't find it ....

 

[Liz]

I don't know about Target cards because we don't have a Target nearby. I don't think the WM cards expire because they are reloadable. Anyway as long as you were regularly adding to them I think that would be showing use and not inactivity. But I'm pretty sure they don't expire.

 

[Cinders]

Don't forget you can earn free WalMart and Target cards through MyPoints. I plan to use a couple of my cards to fill up on fuel before we leave since using the card gives you a 3 cent discount.

 

[TBLaube]

We joined the Safari Club for RFC which gives a free appetizer with each meal and discounts. I also have two $5 coupons for our trip. One for my b-day(they send one every year) and one that I received in the mail(just because?). I also bought two $25 gift cards so our 2 meals there will be pretty much covered.

I bought 10 QC vouchers to save on meals.
I put money aside each payday and have the hi-tech method of using envelopes. I have an envelope with $5 in for each day for mousekeeping, envelope for transportation to and from the airport, envelope for the carriage ride. etc....


This way a lot of things are covered and I don't have to stress.

 

[DonnaSue]

This is funny that this topic is surfacing now. My 2 DSs had about 6 Walmart giftcards that they had been saving, so they went the other day to use then. They were all from my Mother and Sister. They went to Customer Service to check on the value, and only one of them had any value left - and that was only $6.00!!! They were all $20 and $10 GCs!!! They told my DS17 that there is itty bitty print on the back of the card that says after acertain amount of time (I don't remember how long - but when you are a kid and saving for something, it is an inappropriate amount of time!!!) they start "depreciating" !!! I am a business owner and cannot believe this. If a GC expires AT ANY TIME, both the purchaser and the gift recipient need to be totally aware of it from the start. IMHO that is stealing. You paid them money for NOTHING!!! I will NEVER buy any type of GC from WalMart!!!

Donna

 

[TBLaube]

I agree. Unfortunately it does happen all of the time.
It is illegal in California for gift certificates to expire so that doesn't happen out here. Thank goodness for that.

 

[DiznEeyore]

Originally posted by DonnaSue
This is funny that this topic is surfacing now. My 2 DSs had about 6 Walmart giftcards that they had been saving, so they went the other day to use then. They were all from my Mother and Sister. They went to Customer Service to check on the value, and only one of them had any value left - and that was only $6.00!!! They were all $20 and $10 GCs!!! They told my DS17 that there is itty bitty print on the back of the card that says after acertain amount of time (I don't remember how long - but when you are a kid and saving for something, it is an inappropriate amount of time!!!) they start "depreciating" !!! I am a business owner and cannot believe this. If a GC expires AT ANY TIME, both the purchaser and the gift recipient need to be totally aware of it from the start. IMHO that is stealing. You paid them money for NOTHING!!! I will NEVER buy any type of GC from WalMart!!!

Donna

That is rotten!! I'm going to check into Target and see if they do the same thing.