There are a few things you can count  five back gift card balance on every holiday season: gas station and grocery store gift cards.

Some cards charge an inactivity fee if they go more than a year without any use. This can wipe out the balance.

If you can’t use your card, ask to cash it in for cash. That’s a win for you and the retailer, too.
1. Earn 5% Back on Your Purchases

A gift card is a great option for those who aren't sure what to get someone else, but want them to have a little bit of flexibility. If you use a credit card to purchase a gift card, you can earn cash back and even save on the price of the card itself. You can find gift cards at many stores big and small, from department stores to the local corner gas station. You can also buy them online and through sites specializing in gift card resale.

When choosing a card to buy, check the retailer's rating from users on popular review sites. This will help you understand whether the retailer has a good reputation and is a good place to spend your hard-earned money. Also, look for fees for purchasing and shipping the card, which can eat into any savings you might have.

Some credit cards offer cash-back rewards that you can redeem for a direct deposit into your bank account or for checks that reduce your credit card balance. Others, like the Discover it Cash Back card, allow you to transfer your reward dollars to an investment account.

This card offers 5% cash back in quarterly rotating categories, such as grocery store and gas station spending, plus 1% on all other purchases. It also has a $200 sign-on bonus after you spend $1,000 in the first 120 days of opening the card.

The 3% cash back on the first $10,000 you spend each year is an impressively strong rate, and it's worth paying the annual fee if you can take advantage of it. However, you need to be disciplined enough to avoid racking up large balances that can push you into the penalty zone and trigger interest charges.

If you plan to use a credit card to buy gift cards, you should register them. This can help protect the value of the card in the event of theft or loss. You can usually do this by entering the card number, security code and customer service phone number on the back of the card or on its packaging. You should also write down the expiration date and any security codes. If you lose the card, you can use this information to track it down or request a replacement.
2. Save Money with Every Swipe

You can find gift cards everywhere you look, from retailers and supermarkets to online stores and websites specializing in reselling them. However, the purchase costs of these gift cards can add up, especially when you factor in shipping or customization charges, plus the amount that’s loaded onto the card upfront.

The Five Back Visa Card eliminates the cost of buying a reloadable prepaid card and helps you save money with every swipe. When you use the card at a growing list of merchants, 5% of your transaction will be loaded back onto the card after the transaction is complete.

Magnolia Bank also offers a service called Swipe-N-Save that rounds up debit card purchases to the nearest dollar, and transfers the change into your savings account. Think of it as an electronic version of the age-old change jar — and you can enroll by visiting any Magnolia Bank banking center. Click here to learn more about how this new way of saving can help you achieve your financial goals. It’s one more way that we’re helping you take small steps toward a better future.
3. Get a Free Visa Gift Card

When friends and family ask you what you want for your birthday or holiday gifts, consider asking for gift cards to stores you like. While some people may think that gift cards are a cop-out, they actually make the perfect present because they allow the recipient to choose their own items.

Visa prepaid gift cards can be used anywhere that accepts debit or credit cards and are just as convenient to use as cash. They can be reloaded from the card issuer or through PayPal or other online methods. They also offer extra security from scammers by not requiring your bank account or any other personal information to be provided.

You can get a free Visa gift card with no purchase fees and no usage or inactivity fees, and they are available for anyone who uses Republic Bank. The card can be used at businesses or locations that accept the Visa symbol and comes with a unique code and registration for a fee-free replacement in case of loss or theft.

The Fetch Rewards app gives you a great way to earn Visa gift cards by simply scanning receipts from purchases made at participating retailers. The more receipts you upload, the more points you earn. Those points can then be redeemed for Visa gift cards or a variety of other rewards. The app is user-friendly and has several retailer options, including a number of top-rated brands.

Another easy way to get a free Visa gift card is to participate in surveys through sites like Swagbucks and Survey Junkie. Both of these sites pay out a large amount of money daily to its members in exchange for completing online surveys. You can use your accumulated rewards to purchase a Visa prepaid card or redeem them for other gift cards.

Using cashback apps is an easy and fun way to earn free gift cards and other rewards. These apps partner with thousands of well-known retailers, and they share a portion of the commissions that the retailer makes on each sale with their users in the form of cashback or free gift cards. The best of these programs have very low minimum payout thresholds and many options for getting your funds, including direct deposit to your bank account or PayPal balance, free e-gift cards, or mobile wallet rewards.
4. Get a Free Visa Checking Account

Unlike credit cards, Visa gift cards are not tied to a specific account. They are, however, a great way to give someone a cash present. You can buy a prepaid Visa card at the checkout counter of many retailers. Then, the recipient can use it online or at any retailer that accepts the card. The transaction is easy and fast, doesn’t require a credit or debit card and is safe from hackers looking to steal personal information from shoppers.

You can also load a gift card with funds online. For example, if you’re an Amazon customer, you can add a Visa gift card to your online shopping cart by selecting “Pay with Gift Card” at checkout. Just make sure to enter the correct balance, and that the card you choose is an actual Visa gift card rather than a PayPal account linked to your bank account.

Another way to use a prepaid Visa card is to combine it with a credit card. Although combining Visa gift cards with a credit card is legal, there may be restrictions or fees from the merchant and your card issuer. For example, you may not be able to use more than $500 worth of gift cards in one day at Target. In addition, attempting to manufacture credit card spending by snapping up gift cards and reselling them could get you in trouble with your card issuer or even Visa.

If you decide to purchase a prepaid Visa card, look at the back of the card for a sticker with instructions and a toll-free number you can call to find out the balance. You can also check your balance by calling or visiting the card issuer’s website. If you’re buying a gift card for someone else, ask them what their preferred method of checking their balance is.

Prepaid Visa cards are a convenient and safe alternative to carrying cash and can be used at most merchants, including online and at gas stations. They don’t usually come with the same protections as credit or debit cards, so it’s important to keep the card in a secure place. Whether you’re looking for the perfect gift or to teach your kids good money management skills, a prepaid Visa card may be a smart option.