Make use of unwanted gift cards

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – They're a popular gift during the holidays but research shows, more than a billion dollars is wasted every year on unwanted gift cards.

People love gift cards around the holidays, especially at a place like Target where you can buy just about anything. But not all gift cards work for people, and many of them end up in the back of your wallet without ever being used.

So what can you do make sure you're getting the most out of yours?

• you can always "regift" your gift card—that’s a popular and easy option. 
• you can donate them to a charity
• or, if you want to earn a buck, sell them. There's a number of websites which allow you to do this including,  Raise.com or cardpool.com
•  Keep in mind, you won’t get back the full value of the card.

Cardpool allows you to sell your gift cards and also buy some. The website says you can get up to 92% cash back for selling.  There’s an option there for getting instant cash payouts. They also have an app for your mobile device.

Don’t try to sell or buy a gift card online yourself because there’s no way of knowing for sure if you’re being conned.