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Beef Up Your Holiday Budget: Easily Turn Change into Gift Cards Average Household has $99 in Overlooked Cash
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Sep 12, 2005, 22:51

(ARA) – The average household has $99 worth of change lying around – and this time of year, everyone can use some extra money. “Many people don’t think twice about the change they have at home, and they’re surprised to find out what their pile of coins is worth,” says Gretchen Marks, vice president of marketing for Coinstar, Inc., the leader in self-service coin counting. Now, thanks to innovation, that change can add up to a lot of help for the holidays.
Beginning this year, household “found money” can be easily converted into the number one gift choice for the holidays – gift cards. Perfect, when you need to come up with gifts for everyone from your babysitter to your sister to your Aunt Sophie.

Coinstar has made buying gift cards as simple as a single trip to the grocery store. Their coin counting machines now allow customers to redeem their coins for gift cards from leading national retailers such as Starbucks, Linens 'n Things, Pier 1 and Hollywood Video. And there’s no service charge or counting fee when you redeem your coins for gift cards at thousands of supermarket locations nationwide.

New information from Coinstar’s 2005 Gift Card Survey can help you determine the perfect gift card for everyone on your list. The survey shows that Americans welcome gift cards for all types of celebrations, including birthdays, holidays, graduations, showers and wedding. “Instead of picking out gifts that may or may not be a fit, Americans are looking to empower their friends and family to choose for themselves,” says Marks.

But not all cards are created equal. The survey found that the most desirable cards include universal gift cards, department store cards, dining or entertainment cards, clothing store cards and electronics cards. And gift cards are most popular with recipients in the 18 to 44 age group (the survey didn’t include anyone under 18).

Not only is it convenient and easy to purchase a gift card at one of Coinstar’s machines, it’s an opportunity to put your loose coins to good use. Simply take your change to a Coinstar machine at a grocery store near you, select the gift card you want to purchase, put your coins in the machine, and that’s all it takes. That means you won’t be running from store to store at the mall trying to find the right gift.

Gift cards have the added benefit of being easy to mail to out-of-town friends and relatives. And since recipients can use the card to buy what they want, you can be sure no one will be returning your gift. So this holiday season, make everyone on your list happy and make it easy on yourself by giving gift cards.

Gift cards are available at select Coinstar locations. It’s easy to find out which machines stock the cards you want by visiting www.coinstar.com.

Courtesy of ARA Content

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