Frugal? Buying one gift card getting another "free"? (sell, sale)

[galaxyhi]

Hi all:

Applebees ( i think)- anyway many restaurants- are now offering a "buy a $25 gift card for someone and get an extra $10 gift card for your self".

Another local restaurant offers a $30gift card for just $25.

One of the chain stores offers another such deal.

Fast food restaurants frequently offer the $25 gift card/certificates for either $20, or get a bonus $5 certificate with the purchase of one.

We dont eat out often, and when we do. We usually eat a $4 menu item at denny's and use our AARP card fir 15% discount off total. Total check comes to around $6 for two of us with ice water as a drink. Under 10 if one has coffee.

But, do you use such gift cards programs as part of your "frugalness"???

Do you consider using them as being "frugal"?

What say you all?

Lets debate civilly please....

[Aredhel]

It's like any other sale. IF you were going to buy the item anyway it's frugal. But it's foolish to buy something only because it's on sale. So with these sorts of gift card deals, I think it comes down to whether you either eat at that restaurant frequently, or need a gift for someone else. If you do, great! If you don't and buy the gift card anyway, you just wasted money that could have been used to buy something else more useful to you.

[Quietude]

Originally Posted by Aredhel

It's like any other sale. IF you were going to buy the item anyway it's frugal. But it's foolish to buy something only because it's on sale. So with these sorts of gift card deals, I think it comes down to whether you either eat at that restaurant frequently, or need a gift for someone else. If you do, great! If you don't and buy the gift card anyway, you just wasted money that could have been used to buy something else more useful to you.

Sam's Club and others sell gift cards that are discounted from face value. If you patronize those restaurants or whatever, you may as well buy in bulk and take the discount. But buying cards only because they're a slight savings is to simply fall for a marketing shuck. The medium (in this case, prepaid cards instead of coupons or whatever) doesn't change the rules.

[Gerania]

"But, do you use such gift cards programs as part of your "frugalness"???"

Not really, meaning I don't constantly search for discounted cards or those with a bonus card. If I stumble on a deal which I know that I'll use, I'll certainly take advantage of it.

[city living]

I only think it's a good deal if I was getting something for what I wanted anyway.

For example, I prefer the offers at Shop Rite, where they have gift cards for certain places (that I am buying for Christmas) and then I get $15 off my next purchase at Shop Rite.

[NJmann]

I do that all the time