How to Save with Discounted Gift Cards
Where to find discounted gift cards and how to stack them with credit card rewards for savings of 10–20% or more on everyday purchases.
Buying discounted gift cards before you shop is one of the simplest ways to reduce what you pay on everyday purchases. When you combine a discounted gift card with a credit card that earns bonus points at the purchase location, the savings stack in ways that add up quickly.
Here's where to find discounts and how to layer them effectively.
Where to Buy Discounted Gift Cards
Pepper App
Pepper sells digital gift cards for hundreds of brands at discounts up to 15%. Cards are generated instantly, so you can buy one right before checkout. This is one of the most convenient options for on-the-spot savings.
Fluz
Fluz runs group purchase events — called "parties" — where users pool buying power for larger discounts. The savings vary by brand and timing.
eGifter and MyGiftCardPlus (MGCP)
Both platforms run monthly sales, often on the 1st and 15th. If you plan purchases in advance, checking these dates can yield better-than-usual discounts.
AARP
AARP membership provides access to daily deals with discounts exceeding 20% on limited-quantity gift cards. The deals sell out, so checking early matters.
Costco
Costco sells gift cards in bulk at a discount, and Executive members receive an additional 2% back. Categories include restaurants, streaming services, and major retailers.
Grocery Stores and Office Supply Stores
Many grocery stores (Publix, Kroger, etc.) run periodic gift card promotions through their weekly flyers and apps. Office Depot and Staples sell Visa and Mastercard gift cards, which are useful when specific brand cards aren't discounted.
DoctorOfCredit.com
This site aggregates real-time alerts for gift card promotions across retailers. Subscribing to alerts is a practical way to catch deals as they appear.
Stacking with Credit Card Rewards
Buying gift cards becomes more powerful when you purchase them through a channel that earns bonus points.
Chase Ink Business Cash at office supply stores
The Chase Ink Business Cash earns 5x Ultimate Rewards points on office supply purchases (up to $25,000 per year). Office Depot and Staples sell gift cards for restaurants, retail, and other categories. Buying a discounted gift card at an office supply store with the Ink Cash effectively stacks the store discount with 5x points.
Chase Ink Business Preferred for Pepper
The Chase Ink Business Preferred earns 3x points on purchases through the Pepper app. If Pepper has a discount on a brand you're buying from anyway, you get both the discount and 3x points.
Amex Business Gold at office supply stores
The American Express Business Gold earns 4x Membership Rewards on office supply purchases (if that's one of your top two categories). Combine that with the card's monthly flexible business credit for additional savings.
Amex Offers
Log into your Amex account regularly and check the Amex Offers section. These are targeted discounts — often $10–$25 off purchases at specific retailers — that stack with any gift card discount or points you're already earning. The Lowe's, Best Buy, and Home Depot offers appear frequently.
How the Math Works
A practical example: you want to buy a $300 item at a retailer. Pepper has a 15% discount on that retailer's gift cards. You buy a $300 gift card for $255, then pay with the Ink Business Cash at Staples to earn 5x points. You've saved $45 upfront and earned 1,275 Ultimate Rewards points on the purchase — points worth roughly $13–$25 depending on how you redeem them.
The savings increase further if there's also an Amex Offer or store promotion active at the same time.
Things to Know Before You Start
Gift cards are generally non-refundable. Only buy a gift card if you're confident you'll use it at that retailer. Buying speculatively to get the discount and then not using the card eliminates the benefit.
Check expiration and usage restrictions. Most gift cards don't expire, but confirm before purchasing. Some digital gift cards have restrictions on which products qualify.
Verify the purchase codes work before the sale. For digital gift cards, apply them to a test cart before completing checkout, especially for large amounts.
Some credit cards don't earn bonus points on gift card purchases. A small number of issuers exclude gift cards from bonus categories. Check your card's terms if you're relying on a specific earning rate.
Bottom Line
Discounted gift cards aren't glamorous, but they're one of the most reliable ways to reduce costs on spending you'd do anyway. The Pepper app is the easiest starting point — it works for dozens of major brands with instant digital delivery. Layer in bonus categories from the Ink Business Cash or Ink Business Preferred, watch for Amex Offers, and the savings compound across categories.
Track this card and all your rewards on Card Curator.