JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – We all get them at some point: Gift cards we know we are never going to use.
If that's happened to you, Karl Rogers of 121 Financial Credit Union has some ideas for you.
More than $1.7 billion in gift cards went unused last year, according to estimates from research company CEB Tower.
The first thing you should do when you receive a gift card is register it on the company's web site.
"You can see what the balance is on the card and it also protects you in case the card gets lost or stolen," said Rogers in a live interview on "The Morning Show".
If you don't want the card for the particular retailer, there are websites which will pay you up to 92% of the card's value, depending on how easy it is for them to resell the card for that to work.
He said you need to have at least $20 in value on the card.
Rogers suggests GiftCards.com, CardPool.com and Walmart.CardCash.com.
If you can't sell the card for cash, Rogers said to look closely at the card and see if it may be good at other stores owned by the same company.
For example, an Old Navy card can be used The Gap and Banana Republic.
Trading is also an option for people who want to put unwanted gift cards to use.
Sometimes you can trade the card for air miles.
Rogers said United Airlines accepts cards from more than 100 stores.
At the moment, a $25 gift card converts into 1,000 award miles.
Charity is always an option.
Rogers said Goodwill, for example, accepts gift cards.