Visa and Mastercards

How do I use up small balances on Visa and MasterCard gift cards?

I have several Visa or Mastercard gift cards where I have used up most of the balance, but still have small balances left on each ($1 to $5.) I'm cheap so I'd like to get all the value out of these cards. Are their merchants who let you combine cards? What is the best way to use these up?

Public Comments

1. You aren't cheap, you are smart! You can combine them to make a purchase or use them at a grocery store one by one.
2. Yes, I've never been to a store that doesn't let you combine cards. I use American Express gift cards all of the time, and as long as you know the exact value on the card (just call the number on the back), just tell the cashier how much is on each one and they will deduct it from your total using the card like a normal credit or gift card. You can probably use as many as you want, but I usually use no more than two or three (you don't want to annoy them haha) I wouldn't, however, recommend using them online like that unless you are buying something that is less than the balance (which is pretty much impossible) But any store should be fine. Good Luck!
3. It's best to know the balance of the card, then just tell the cashier that you'd like to split the payment into 2 or more types. Give them the gift card first and have them scan it, then the cashier should tell you the balance, which you can pay with any other method, including your own credit card. If you continue to have difficulty, it may be because the card needs to be used like a credit card, or like a debit card. The card issuer should be able to tell you if it's credit or debit. Good luck!