Are you tired of constantly overspending and struggling to stick to your budget? You're not alone. The average American spends thousands of dollars more than they budget each year. But what if there was a simple, effective way to take control of your finances and achieve your financial goals? The answer might surprise you: gift cards.

In this blog post, I'll guide you through how to use gift cards to manage your budgeting and limit spending. I'll share some personal insights and practical exercises to help you take control of your financial flow. The idea for this blog post came from a text conversation I was having with one of my good friends about gift cards. We both use gift cards to limit our spending and track it most effectively. 

Pre-Work: Understanding Your Spending Habits

I know that you know about gift cards. We all love getting them, but we can sometimes forget to use them only to find them later. Before diving into the world of gift cards, it's essential to understand where your money is going. Take a close look at your budget and identify areas where you tend to overspend. Are you constantly scrolling on social media and seeing the latest drink from Starbies? Do you find yourself impulse buying at Target? Pinpointing these spending habits is the first step to creating a successful gift card budgeting plan.

Why The Gift Card Strategy?!

Gift cards can be a fantastic tool for budgeting. In the same way that you would have multiple bank accounts, using gift cards allows you to control your spending.  By preloading a set amount of money onto a gift card, you can limit your spending and stick to your budget. 

By allocating specific amounts of money to gift cards for different spending categories, you can create a tangible limit on your expenses. For example, if you spend $100 a month on coffee, load a $100 Starbucks gift card. This physical constraint can prevent impulsive purchases and keep you accountable.

Finding The Best Deals

Gift card bundles can offer significant savings if you know where to look. Retailers like Sam's Club and Costco often sell gift cards at a discounted price. For example, you might find a $100 gift card bundle for $90, giving you an instant $10 savings. It's crucial to compare prices and see which bundles offer the most value for your money. My take is if you’re not saving at least $10 or more from the cost of buying the card(s) right out vs in a bundle - you’re moonwalking away from what your intentions are on buying them at these stores. Another thing, be mindful of terms, conditions, and expiration dates. 

Tracking Your Spending: Spending Challenges

To effectively use gift cards in your budgeting, start by understanding your spending habits. I recommend doing a no-spend or low-spend challenge for roughly two weeks. Track how much you spend at places like Starbucks, Target, and other stores. I have a detailed blog post on how to do this, which can be a helpful guide. To gain a clearer picture of your spending, consider a two-week no-spend or low-spend challenge (I talked about how to do them here). Track every dollar you spend, from groceries to entertainment. This exercise will highlight your spending patterns and help you determine which gift cards could be beneficial.

Here's How It Works:

1. Identify Your Spending Categories: Determine where you tend to overspend, such as dining out, shopping, or entertainment.

2. Set A Baseline Budget: Allocate a specific amount of money to each category based on your income and financial goals.

3. Purchase Gift Cards: Buy gift cards for the stores or services you frequent within your chosen categories.

4. Reload As Needed: For stores you visit regularly, consider purchasing reloadable gift cards and automating deposits from your paycheck.

5. Monitor Your Spending: Keep track of your gift card balances to ensure you're staying within your budget. You don’t measure what you don’t track. If you don’t see and be the system you’re trying to build, this will make you lose steam from your intention. 

Automating Your Budget With Gift Cards

Once you have a clear picture of your spending, set a budget for each category. Decide which cards make sense for you to get. Automate transferring money from your paycheck to your reloadable gift cards. For example, if you usually spend $50 a month at Starbucks, load $50 onto a Starbucks gift card at the beginning of each month. This method helps prevent overspending and promotes mindful consumption.

Mindful Spending And Alternatives

Using gift cards doesn't mean reloading them whenever they run low. Be mindful of your spending patterns and find alternatives to stay within your budget. For example, if your Starbucks card runs out before the end of the month, consider brewing coffee at home for the remaining days. Do you even know that you can reload gift cards on Amazon to keep you focused on those ‘add to cart’ days? Gift Card Budgeting will allow you to build the discipline to learn and leverage your money even more. 

Setting Financial Goals

Gift cards can also help you save for larger purchases. I once told one of my old nurses about buying gift cards to save up for her Louis Vuitton Neverfull. By purchasing a gift card each month, she could gradually accumulate the amount needed without dipping into her regular budget. I also gave an example over on “X” how you could use Apple gift cards to pay for subscriptions because no one knows the day or hour in which they will tap your account like a “pay” transaction. 

The Importance Of Cash Flow And Budgeting

Effective financial planning relies on understanding and managing your cash flow. Budgeting with gift cards can significantly help you achieve your financial goals. According to a recent study, Americans spend an average of $1,200 a year on coffee. I’m sharing to help you not only be intentional with your money but also use insights from your bank and/or credit card statements to implement the money you do have better. Imagine how much you could save by setting a budget and sticking to it!

Let’s Recap:

• Start Today: Begin tracking your spending with a no-spend/low challenge.

• Audit Your Wallet/Budget: When you understand how much you spend, where, how often, and more -you’re able to see how using gift cards to be a gift to your budget and money management. 

• Determine Your Cards: By looking at your budget/spending, you can look to see where you could benefit from using gift cards to curve your spending and stay on budget. Don’t get overwhelmed with many, until you understand your system. 

• Analyze Your Habits: Set a budget based on your findings. You can’t measure what you don’t track. Understanding your spending habits will allow you to budget more effectively. 

• Automate Your Savings: Transfer money to your gift cards each month and move saved money into a HYSA (you know I love Marcus by Goldman Sachs, Ally, American Express, and Capital One).

• Stay Mindful: Be aware of your spending and find alternatives when necessary.

• If You Need Additional Help: I offer cash flow and budgeting planning services to help set the foundation for your financial planning journey. 

• I was recently asked on a podcast to discuss how to use gift cards to help with your budget a bit more in depth. Check it out here.

Conclusion

Using gift cards to manage your budgeting is a simple yet effective method to limit spending and achieve financial goals. By setting a budget, automating your savings, and being mindful of your spending, you can take control of your finances and make informed decisions. Start today and see the difference in how your bread flips! Get it, bread = money? Dad joke.