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Free and Cheap

Janine Dorsey

Janine is a 20-year veteran journalist who puts her sleuthing skills to use unearthing deals and discounts for families in the Tampa Bay area. Raising her own two daughters has taught her that some of the best things in life are “free” but not necessarily “cheap.”

Gayle Guyardo

Gayle Guyardo co-anchors “News Channel 8 Today” weekday mornings with Rod Carter. She does a special segment, “Ways to save today,” each Monday between 6 a.m. and 7 a.m. Gayle is a third generation Tampa native and a graduate of Auburn University. She and her husband Mark raise four little girls - Katie, Lindsay, Ali and Ella.

Richard Mullins

The Tampa Tribune’s retail reporter, Richard Mullins writes about consumer trends and everything you buy at the mall, grocery stores and restaurants. He believes credit cards are the window to our souls. And yes, he gets paid to wander the mall for work.

Debbie Swartz

Debbie, a 20-year veteran journalist, can typically be found at the end of Target aisles looking at clearance items. She’s also been known to send one her young daughters through the checkout lane to redeem a coupon.

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Sell your unwanted gift cards

Posted Dec 27, 2011 by Janine Dorsey

Updated Dec 27, 2011 at 01:56 PM

Did you get gift cards for the holidays to places you would never shop? Or would you just rather have that cold, hard cash to pay down some more pressing bills?

There’s a website that can help you out.

Cardpool.com will buy your unwanted gift cards, paying 92% of the value of the card.

Not sure how much value on your card? Just use their page to search for the retailer and they’ll tell you how much you have.

You can also buy gift cards for up to 35% off the value of the card from retailers such as Barnes & Noble, Bass Pro Shops, Fossil, Gap, Gymboree, JcPenney, Red Lobster and more.

That’s a great way to increase your savings when you also have loyalty rewards or other sales and discounts you can use at your favorite stores.

Grocery store cards such as Publix and Albertsons are among the cards offered and would work great in combination with coupons and sales.

When you buy the cards, they are shipped via USPS and arrive within seven days. You pay no fees, postage or tax. The cards have no expiration date.

When you sell cards to the site, you are emailed a free shipping label to use and are sent a check within 24 hours of receipt of the verified card.