Ok, so I just want to understand this a little better. Can I use a gift card to pay for our dues if I just want to pay them off totally? I have seen lots of people say they pay monthly with a gift card but do not think I have seen anyone comment on paying dues in full. I think our Sam’s Club has discounted cards, so if this is possible I could just buy a couple of cards there and then pay off my balance. I know, it is not big savings - but even saving a small amount would be nice. Can I do this online or will I have to call Member Services?
It all adds up, especially if you have a decent amount of points. By my calculations this year, I have saved over $500 this year paying dues with gift cards instead of a credit card.
I usually apply it when I get it as I don't like sitting on a large amount of the gift cards. It'll credit the account and the team will automatically adjust it with the dues statement. The most recent one as an example I paid more than the dues were and I'm starting 2022 with ~$110 credit already.
Beginner's Mode:
Option 1: Target RED card gives a 5% discount.
Option 2: All the wholesale clubs are about ~4% discount. Combine that with a Chase or Discover rolling 5% Cashback for wholesale clubs, PayPal, etc. and you should land around 9% discount. These are the easiest ways to do it.
Intermediate Mode:
If you are up for a little more hassle, keep an eye out for credit card offers or discounted gift cards from sites like Raise or Cardcash.
Chase has a Rite Aid 10% offer right now as an example and you can use that to buy a Disney Gift card for 10% off. These frequently pop up for 10% at CVS, Gamestop, Bed Bath Beyond, Home Depot, Lowes, Staples, Office Depot, etc. etc. Be opportunistic about it and you'd be surprised how quickly it adds up.
You can combine these with Dosh or Rakuten for additional cash back. Some work on gift cards, some don't. So be careful with this, just consider it a bonus.
You can also then get into reward redemption for discounted gift cards, utilizing credit card rewards to stack, etc. etc. It just depends on how complicated you want to make it. But my general rule of thumb after a couple years of doing this is we look for at least a 10% discount for us to buy. A 15% discount is preferred and a 20% discount is a - grab as much as we can situation.
