How many times have you been out shopping and wished you had remembered where that gift card or store credit is? I don’t really cut coupons but I do use store coupons for a % off at retailers and I’d rather use store credits and gift cards than to let them go to waste. You likely receive gift cards and certificates for birthdays and other special occasions. You may receive loyalty rewards at retailers that are as good as cash. You probably have store credit for something you bought that you decided you didn’t want/need, which is a good thing if you returned it because you are reducing the clutter in your home! How to keep them all organized? If you truly only have a few, maybe less than 10, you could keep them in a small zippered wallet or change purse. You probably already own something that can be repurposed.
If you have more than 10 or so gift cards/credits/coupons, consider using a coupon organizer. I found one at Bed Bath and Beyond that looks like a zippered wallet, but has a bunch of divided sections and a note pad and pen holder. I labeled the sections, “Restaurants”, “store coupons”, “store credits”, “BJ’s” and “CVS”. The wallet “lives” in a drawer near my command station in the kitchen. When I am going out shopping or think I might use a restaurant gift certificate, I grab the wallet and bring it with me. I keep it in the drawer, because as I receive mailings with loyalty rewards/coupons I can easily file them away. Life is busy, so if I can’t put it in right away, the reward/coupon goes into the drawer and when I have a few of them, I file them away. It works for me to remember to bring the wallet with me when I am going shopping, than another solution, like leaving it in my car. It might be more likely to have it with you if you leave it in your car, but keeping up with filing your gift certificates/rewards/coupons would be more difficult nevermind the fact that it might not be secure in your car.
I also keep a fine point Sharpie marker in the organizer so that when I have partially used store credits, I can write the remaining balance on the back of the card. It eliminates wondering how much if any value is left on the card. Happy shopping!
