The Shocking Truth About Gift Cards in New Jersey

Odds are you gave or received a gift card this holiday season. It's always such a popular gift!

You can't go wrong. Who doesn't love a gift card? They're always so much fun to use.

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Whether it's $5 to WAWA or $100 to your favorite New Jersey restaurant, unfortunately, so many gift cards go unused. They either get lost or people forget to use them.

Has that ever happened to you?

You realized a year later, that you never used the gift card you got for Christmas or your birthday last year?

Or maybe you're the total opposite and you go out right away and use it.

According to an article on CBS News, a July survey found that 47 percent of people had at least one unused gift card with an average of $187.

That percentage has to be a lot higher now that the holidays are over and so many people purchased gift cards to give to family and friends.

Billions of dollars in gift cards go unused every year, according to the National Retail Federation.

There's even a national holiday to remind people to use their gift cards.

National Use Your Gift Card Day is coming up on January 20th.

That's a good reminder to go out and put your gift card to use!

The article states, 70 percent of gift cards are used within 6 months, but that means a lot of people are waiting or not using them at all.

You don't want to miss out so make sure you put your gift cards in a spot you know you won't lose them and don't forget to use them!