Here's what happens to the billions in gift cards that go unspent
By A Mystery Man Writer
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/7D63MUP3OMDHSRL4TABJWMPEQA.jpg?smart=true&auth=3e061479d9b53c56383cb251db942790c4d0bca6b37893331579f71e1a573144&width=800&height=533)
![](https://img.ksl.com/slc/2839/283935/28393510.jpg)
Why billions of dollars in gift cards go unused every year
![](https://embed-ssl.wistia.com/deliveries/4f6ba57dddfcf5a3461ed9bf3f12e852.webp?image_crop_resized=1280x720)
Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Gift Card Watchlist for 2022
![](https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/abc12.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/5/39/5395f9ef-d6d0-5355-b033-6aa07cf1ced4/63f78388e6892.image.jpg?resize=400%2C267)
Here's what happens to the billions in gift cards that go unspent
![](https://cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/thenational/G3N77IKV7JWJOD75SB27MNCK6Q.jpg)
Pentagon to seek approval to make Covid vaccines mandatory for
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/content/dam/ctvnews/en/images/2022/11/15/walmart-1-6153423-1668521804323.jpg)
Here's what happens to gift cards that go unspent each year
![](https://media.wtsp.com/assets/WTSP/images/a7ac3232-cb1e-42df-b777-d37b575aceb9/a7ac3232-cb1e-42df-b777-d37b575aceb9_1920x1080.jpg)
Gift cards: What happens to the money when it goes unused?
![](https://wgme.com/resources/media/bb895e6b-b30c-49de-8c0e-d322dc6377d6-full36x25_giftcards.jpg?1578087857858)
Mainers fail to spend millions in gift cards; here's why the state is getting that money
![](https://ei.marketwatch.com/Multimedia/2014/09/06/Photos/ZH/MW-CT581_Lexus__20140906125143_ZH.jpg?uuid=1e246a42-35e6-11e4-a3b4-00212804637c)
Here's what happens to the billions in gift cards that go unspent
Gift Cards, gift cards
![](https://image.cnbcfm.com/api/v1/image/105044436-GettyImages-56498987.jpg?v=1532563675&w=929&h=523&vtcrop=y)
Americans have $21 billion in unused gift cards — how to cash in