Discounts

Stay informed about discounts and deals from your favorite stores. Gift Card Granny goes beyond discount gift cards to save you even more on your gift-giving and everyday shopping needs. This is also a good place to find out about giveaways, sweepstakes and freebies from www.GiftCardGranny.com and some of the most well-known brands in the world.

Discounts and Deals for Your Favorite Stores

January 3, 2012 |

Teacher in front of blackboard

Teacher discounts don't often receive the same hype and attention as those for students. But be confident, oft-neglected educators of the world -- businesses haven't forgotten you.

 

Along with classroom supplies and other learned goodies like books, numerous teacher discounts are offered nationwide, running the gamut from laptops and Photoshop to museum entry and wedding favors. Yes, wedding favors.

 

While eligibility changes based on where you purchase, most offers are redeemable by kindergarten teachers and college professors alike. Also remember seasonal promos, particularly back-to-school sales and Teacher Appreciation Week in early May. Merchants without regular promotions often roll out limited-time offers.

 

To add much-needed oomph to your spending, Gift Card Granny compiled a top-notch list of the 66 most lucrative year-round discounts for teachers. Keep in mind, however, that policies vary greatly by location. Some give a different percentage off, others shift education discounts over time, still others simply don't honor deals. Call ahead before making a purchase to avoid frustration.

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May 26, 2011 |

Military Discount

Nearly 1.5 million Americans actively served in our military and armed forces as of 2010, whether in the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force or Coast Guard. Another 800,000-plus served in the Reserves. With so many men and women defending and aiding our country under difficult conditions, it’s not surprising retailers, restaurants, service providers, and travel and entertainment companies now offer a wide variety of discounts in grateful thanks.

As our way of thanking those who serve, we’ve compiled a detailed list of ways to save for veterans, all active branches and, in some instance , the families who stand behind them. Participation may vary at different locations, so check first.

 

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April 15, 2011 |

Gift Card Granny is stashing Easter Eggs all over our website, but what you find inside could be a lot more valuable than chocolate treats!

Beginning April 20th and ending on the 22nd, selected pages on our website will be embedded with a special "Easter Egg" found next to the Twitter button.  Give it a tweet, leaving the custom-copy intact, and you'll be entered for a chance to win one of SIX daily gift card prizes ranging from $25 to $100 in value!

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March 30, 2011 |

Phew! I had clammy hands walking into Target with my receipt-less wall frames I intended to return. There's always a big chunk of me that feels guilty for making a return--ever--but especially without proof of purchase. I have this creepy feeling that the customer service Nazis suspect a pregnant, child-toting thief--the worst kind around. Target is among the more strict in regulations regarding returns.

But the frames had to go back and I needed some other home goodies with the difference. So I load up a cart with kids and rectangular breakables and roll on in. Thank goodness the strawberry blond is off today! She's always looking to make someone cry in the returns department. I have good vibes from the hemp-necklaced dude behind the counter.

"So...I'm a terrible Target customer. I bought these a while back and was so confident about them that I tossed the receipt. What are my options for returning them?" Do I have the card I paid with? No, I paid with a gift card. He shakes his head a bit, not good. But then says, reluctantly, "Well, the best I can do is give you a gift card for the lowest amount of each item within the last 90 days. Gulp. How low are we talking?

A few scans later, we discover I'll only lose around $4 for the return. Fantastic! He issues a gift card in the nearly full amount and we gleefully wander the store until my Irish twins start ejecting themselves from the cart. I found out some other good-to-know tips about returns with gift cards:

  • Keep the card--they can look up a purchase on an empty gift card as well as on a credit card. That would have given me the full money back. I'm not sure how I feel about this though. With nearly 2 1/2 inches of gift cards I doubt I'll keep empty ones!
  • Target only allows $75 per year of receipt-less returns, per driver's license. Laid-back customer service dude gave me permission to recruit the Hubs for a return if I go over that limit to bypass the rule.
  • Among the many perks of shopping at Target is their issue of gift cards for certain purchases. Usually corporate picks a "theme"--dog products, baby items--for the week and offers $5-10 in gift cards for a qualifying purchase. When baby items bingo, their prices (including the rebate gift card) can't be beat.
  • All products returned without a receipt are issued a refund for the lowest price within the last 90 days. For items like home goods and toys, this can be a huge price gouge, especially after bargain-crazy holiday season.

And what did I find in lieu of frames? A delightful side table and lamp for the Zoolander Hunk. Now we can read all about bugs and cars with some mood lighting. I didn't want to fork over a load for a kid's lamp--they tend to break, especially in boys' rooms--so at $14.99 (discounted from $16.99) I was happy with the purchase.

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March 28, 2011 |

Somehow, in my not-so-clear pregnant brain, I figured this past Saturday would be the best time to have a garage sale. So in the midst of watching the Zoolander hunk like a hawk for any recurring seizure episodes and taking on the bulk of our exquisite gift card landscaping project, I was collecting home rejects for our yard sale extravaganza. Thanks to Sweet Grandma and Bubba we got things in order, otherwise I would have had to run on fumes and four-letter words to get the job done.

The resulting crop? $569.10. Holy cow! That's some serious lawn sale cash. To be honest, I'm not even sure how we made that much, although we did have a Wii game system, several large furniture items, and some nice baby things. It was well worth the push.

Some of our proceeds were spent for us within an hour after the garage sale. Sweet Girl and I were cuddling on her bed before naptime, snuggling up to her favorite literature, when she readjusted herself on the pillow and shoved a corner of the book smack into my eye. After excruciating pain for two hours I sucked it up and headed to the optometrist who first commented "Oh boy, oh boy!" and then remarked that most people close their eyes faster than that. So encouraging. $155 later for the office visit and antibiotics we are down to $300 in profit. At least I can finally open my eye now.

We did spend some money later that day, but not from the garage sale. I still had $52.45 in Home Depot gift cards, so we purchased a fancy hose roller, watering wand and another decorative hose attachment for the other side of the house--all of which ran just $2 over the gift card balance. I also need to return a flat of begonias, which will add another $14.70 to my credit.
With my remaining garage sale cash I plan on catching up for next month's expenses with:

  • 20% off Footlocker at Plastic Jungle, $48 in value for $38. Hubs needs new sneakers.
  • $85 for $100 in food at Omaha Steaks. We've ordered from Omaha before and are impressed with the quality.
  • 7% off a Lowe's card valued at $40.16. They have the best knock out roses.
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March 23, 2011 |

We are close to full lock-down on gift card spending at this point! My last dime has been spent at Albertson's on groceries and we only have two restaurant cards left. And this amount has to go for another 8 days. Sheesh.

Even with the cards I have, we have some options on how to maximize them.

Cracker Barrel $3.63—A friend of mine has a birthday coming up and Cracker Barrel sells decent greeting cards. I think I can score a card for about this amount...or at least a side of sausage if I get desperate.

Bed Bath and Beyond $16.66—On the last purchase I bought some lovely acrylic cups a welcome mat for the back patio. The cups get the job done nicely (we bought 12 @ $2.99 ea.) but the mat is just plain puny. I accidentally bought a removable mat that goes into a larger rubber piece. With a 20% off coupon I can buy the rubber part with my remaining balance.

Shell Gas $25—No problem here. We aren't planning any more random Lady Gaga road trips, so around town piddling can be limited as needed.

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March 4, 2011 |

Couponing for food stinks. No, I haven't taken a class on it from the latest Coupon Diva and I don't intend to. I'm sure she truly does help folks save 50% off the food they typically buy. And while the Grocery Game totally rocks, I don't do that either. I may be in the frugal living minority here, but I have totally sworn off clipping for food discounts.

Here's why; Coupons aren't for fresh produce and meats. We're trying to ingest more nutritious food, and by that I mean Primal Blueprint/Paleo Diet foods. If it looks like it did when it sprang from the earth or got slaughtered, it's on the good list. I eat however much of it I want 80% of the time and accept the 20% of meals and restaurant occasions where I have to deviate for social reasons. Since starting I haven't had nearly the stomach problems and crazy pregnancy weight gain I experienced before when I ate more processed foods.

So this means (virtually) no dairy, gluten or grains. Which, in turn, means meats, veggies and fruits. Anyone see a coupon for $1 off apples in your P&G brand saver lately?

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February 7, 2011 |

Senior Discounts

Despite what those "age defying" wrinkle creams might tell you, getting older needn’t be a negative.  Grandchildren, social security checks and lots of awesome mail from the AARP are all perks of our "golden years."  Plus you can nod off at any family gathering you choose, and nobody will wake you up!  But perhaps the biggest bonus of all for frugal seniors like Gift Card Granny is an onslaught of discounts on everything from groceries and clothing to travel and, of course, restaurants. (And no, not just for the early bird special.)

The age threshold for cashing in varies, but many start at only 55.  Since 50 is the new 40, that means you'll have plenty of years to rake in the savings!

Other deals require a bit more grey hair and life experience, but many are well worth waiting for. Take a look and let us know if you find any other senior discounts we should mention.  And if you're too young for this list, respect your elders and pass it on to grandma or grandpa.Please call your local store location before visiting because offers are subject to participation. 

 

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February 2, 2011 |

Save an extra 8% on Sephora gift cards when you shop at Gift Card Castle. This means you are able to get Sephora gift cards for 20% off thier total value! To take advantage of this great offer shop before February 11, 2011.

ABC Gift Cards has more great savings with an extra 4% off your purchase of Kohl's, Banana Republic, and Elephant Bar gift cards. Your total savings on these gift cards will range from 8-21% off their total value. In order to enjoy these great savings order your cards before February 9, 2011.

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February 1, 2011 |

Thanks to the over 400 people that created gift card alerts over the past 8 days.

We're happy to announce that Marcia C. has won the $250 gift card to the retailer of her choice. Marcia choose to receive a Kohl's gift card. We purchased a $258 gift card for Kohl's from Gift Card Rescue for $219.

Look for new promotions from Gift Card Granny very soon.

See what all the fuss is about and create a gift card alert today.

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