Hi Lynne,
If the answer to the question "What's in your wallet?" includes gift cards with a useless balance -- say $2.34 -- you'll be pleased to hear about a bill passed May 25 by the Oregon legislature. Fed up with the serious amount of unused plastic in their wallets, house members voted to require businesses let customers exchange their gift cards for cash, if the balance is under $5.
According to The Oregonian, the state's citizens are presently encumbered with $100 million worth of unredeemed gift cards.
It may not be long before other states follow suit but, until then, here are five ways to deal with pesky balances on those glorified plastic coupons.
1. Know The Balance
This is easier than it sounds. Check your gift card balance to determine if your balance is $2.50 or $25. GiftcardGranny.com, which also allows you to buy and sell discount gift cards, offers a simple method of checking your balance for more than 300 merchants. You could also call the retailer's 1-800 number, but this method could mean a lot of time spent on hold.
Some cards require you to register your card to check your balance, but this can be useful if that piece of plastic is lost or stolen.
2. Keep Track of the Balance
Some gift cards have a little box on the back where you can note your remaining balance. If your card doesn't have one of these, write the total amount on a sticky note and wrap it around the card.
3. Add to the Balance
Amazon and Walmart allow you to add any increment to a gift card, so if the balance is $2.95 and you want to make an online purchase, calculate the total cost at checkout then go back and buy a gift card for the remaining amount. With any luck, this policy will catch on with other merchants and services.
4. Know a Merchant's Policies
Some stores allow card holders to pay for purchases in multiple ways, so you can empty the card and fork over cash or use a credit card to complete the transaction. You'll also want to check whether a store takes less-frequently accepted gift cards, such as Discover and American Express.
5. Know Your Spending Habits
Will you likely spend $50 at a store and never visit again? Then purchase a card with a $50 balance and avoid a dangling balance. Merchants with whom you shop more frequently, such as grocery stores, may call for a $100 gift card, since you know you'll use up the balance. Keep in mind you can buy discount cards for less than the face value, which can save you anywhere from 15% to 50%.
Feel free to share these 5 tips with your audience.
Consumer Savings Expert, Andrea Woroch, is available to share "5 Tips For Using Up Your Gift Card Balance" with your audience for an in-studio, satellite or skype interview. Andrea has been featured as a media expert source on NBC's Today Show, FOX & Friends, MSNBC, ABC News NOW and many more.
VLE-B
Thursday, June 16, 2011
To Give Away
If you are in the market for mailboxes, we have two to give away in front of our front yard. They belonged to our neighbors who have left town for good. They'll be there for a couple of days. The mailboxes come complete with posts. One is wooden and the other one is made out of steel.
VLE-B
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LadyBug Flower Shop
For all of your floral needs, please call the girls at the LadyBug in Leoti.
620.375.2172.
They'll deliver!
VLE-B
620.375.2172.
They'll deliver!
VLE-B
Dale Joseph Biel--Leoti
(May 22, 1954 - June 14, 2011)
Dale Joseph Biel, age 57, lost his battle with cancer on Tuesday, June 14, 2011 at Harry Hynes Hospice in Wichita, Kansas. Dale was born May 22, 1954 at Leoti, Kansas, the son of Eugene & Billie Macku Biel. He had been a returning resident of Leoti since 2009 moving from Wichita, Kansas, and several locations in Wyoming and the United States. Dale enjoyed golfing, fishing, hunting and socializing with his friends. He was an avid reader and was very proud of his work “growing” Wyoming thru construction.
Dale was a member of St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus both of Leoti, Kansas.
On April 7, 1972 he married Carol Carpenter in Leoti, Kansas. Dale’s surviving family includes- His wife Carol Biel- Wichita, Kansas A daughter- Jennifer & Gary Hartley- Wichita, Kansas Two grandsons- Levi Foust- Wichita, Kansas Josh Foust- Wichita, Kansas His parents- Eugene & Billie Biel- Leoti, Kansas Six brothers and sisters- Geri & Kenneth Lerman- Wichita, Kansas Jeannine Ross- Bar Harbor, Maine Dennis & Jean Biel- Wichita, Kansas Tina & Mark Swift- Gunnison, Colorado Rebecca Carter- St. Johnsville, New York Paul & Anita Biel- Hutchinson, Kansas
Vigil services will be held at 7:00 pm Friday, June 17, 2011 at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in Leoti, Kansas. Funeral Mass will be held at 10:00 am Saturday, June 18, 2011 at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in Leoti, Kansas, with Father Benjamin Martin officiating. Burial will be in St. Mary Cemetery in Marienthal, Kansas.
Friends may call from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm Friday at Price & Sons Funeral Home in Leoti, Kansas.
Memorials may be given to the Leoti E.M.T.’s or Victory in the Valley, Inc. in care of the funeral home.
Obituary courtesy of Price and Sons Funeral Homes of Garden City, Scott City, Leoti and Tribune.
VLE-B
Dale Joseph Biel, age 57, lost his battle with cancer on Tuesday, June 14, 2011 at Harry Hynes Hospice in Wichita, Kansas. Dale was born May 22, 1954 at Leoti, Kansas, the son of Eugene & Billie Macku Biel. He had been a returning resident of Leoti since 2009 moving from Wichita, Kansas, and several locations in Wyoming and the United States. Dale enjoyed golfing, fishing, hunting and socializing with his friends. He was an avid reader and was very proud of his work “growing” Wyoming thru construction.
Dale was a member of St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus both of Leoti, Kansas.
On April 7, 1972 he married Carol Carpenter in Leoti, Kansas. Dale’s surviving family includes- His wife Carol Biel- Wichita, Kansas A daughter- Jennifer & Gary Hartley- Wichita, Kansas Two grandsons- Levi Foust- Wichita, Kansas Josh Foust- Wichita, Kansas His parents- Eugene & Billie Biel- Leoti, Kansas Six brothers and sisters- Geri & Kenneth Lerman- Wichita, Kansas Jeannine Ross- Bar Harbor, Maine Dennis & Jean Biel- Wichita, Kansas Tina & Mark Swift- Gunnison, Colorado Rebecca Carter- St. Johnsville, New York Paul & Anita Biel- Hutchinson, Kansas
Vigil services will be held at 7:00 pm Friday, June 17, 2011 at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in Leoti, Kansas. Funeral Mass will be held at 10:00 am Saturday, June 18, 2011 at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in Leoti, Kansas, with Father Benjamin Martin officiating. Burial will be in St. Mary Cemetery in Marienthal, Kansas.
Friends may call from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm Friday at Price & Sons Funeral Home in Leoti, Kansas.
Memorials may be given to the Leoti E.M.T.’s or Victory in the Valley, Inc. in care of the funeral home.
Obituary courtesy of Price and Sons Funeral Homes of Garden City, Scott City, Leoti and Tribune.
VLE-B
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Rain
We had another storm early this evening. There was a considerable amount of wind, some hail that was very small and some much-needed rain. Here at the Blau's house, we received .50. And, of course, we are so thrilled to have gotten it!!!
Thank You, God!!!
VLE-B
Thank You, God!!!
VLE-B
Thursday's Meeting
This is to notify our group that yesterday's postponed social hour has been rescheduled for tomorrow evening, same time, same place. See you then!
VLE-B
VLE-B
Life in Small Towns
We've already established the fact that there is basically no comparison between small towns such as Leoti and much larger towns and cities. I just wanted to post a couple of more pieces of proof.
Last week, a new home was moved into the country. The home was set up just off of the highway about 3 or 4 miles from Leoti. In cities and many other small towns, little notice would have been paid. That was not the case in Wichita County. As soon as people in town received the news, they loaded up their spouses, kids, the dog and cat and headed out to watch the entertainment. LOL! I'm not gonna lie to you. The girls and I picked up Mama and headed out to have our own look. People parked their vehicles just so that they could keep an eye or two or three or...on the situation. Work is continuing still today. Plenty of us are still making trips out to see what kind of progress has been made.
I have mentioned this before on here. You may have thought that I had found "peace" with it. I thought that I had too until this afternoon. I took Driver's Education in high school. At that time, we were told that it was illegal to make u-turns in the middle of a block. We were also told that we were not to be driving down the right side of the street or highway and then park on the left side. If it was against the rules in the latter 1970s, who legalized it now???
VLE-B
Last week, a new home was moved into the country. The home was set up just off of the highway about 3 or 4 miles from Leoti. In cities and many other small towns, little notice would have been paid. That was not the case in Wichita County. As soon as people in town received the news, they loaded up their spouses, kids, the dog and cat and headed out to watch the entertainment. LOL! I'm not gonna lie to you. The girls and I picked up Mama and headed out to have our own look. People parked their vehicles just so that they could keep an eye or two or three or...on the situation. Work is continuing still today. Plenty of us are still making trips out to see what kind of progress has been made.
I have mentioned this before on here. You may have thought that I had found "peace" with it. I thought that I had too until this afternoon. I took Driver's Education in high school. At that time, we were told that it was illegal to make u-turns in the middle of a block. We were also told that we were not to be driving down the right side of the street or highway and then park on the left side. If it was against the rules in the latter 1970s, who legalized it now???
VLE-B
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