Once again, gift cards are at the top of many people’s wish list this holiday season. According to the National Retail Federation, six in 10 consumers have gift cards on their shopping list. It’s estimated retailers will sell nearly $30 billion in gift cards, this holiday season.
There’s something about being able to splurge on exactly what you want that’s fun, right? In the past, gift cards seemed impersonal. Not anymore. Recipients can pick out exactly what they want or enjoy their favorite meal. No need to return anything.
Gift cards are always an efficient and convenient way to shop for the holidays. Best of all, it pays to give gift cards because of the bonus offers, this time of year. Treat yourself and keep the bonus offer or tuck it in with the gift card for an added surprise.
Most of the gift cards must be purchased by December 31, in order to receive the bonus. However, some bonus offers end earlier, so check first.
It’s important to note that most of the offers are for “bonus cards” — not gift cards. As a result, review the fine print for limitations, including any minimum purchase requirements, date restrictions and/or menu exclusions.
Most bonus cards are not valid until January 1, 2019. The bonus offers and redemptions are valid at participating locations.
MHOTC Tips:
1.) Who says gift cards have to be gifts? If your favorite restaurant or business is offering a gift card bonus, “pre-pay” for goods and services now and “gift” yourself the bonus. It’s one of the easiest ways to stretch dollars you were going to spend anway.
2.) You can also get more bonuses by breaking down a large, single purchase. For example, if the bonus is for a $25 minimum gift card purchase and you’re buying a $50 gift card, why not purchase two $25 gift cards in separate transactions instead? You just doubled your bonus!
However, many businesses give you a bonus for every gift card purchased at a specified amount. As a result, there’s no need for multiple transactions. As always, clarify first before purchasing, especially because gift cards are typically non-refundable.
Bargain-hunting elves have been on the hunt for awhile now and here’s what they’ve found, so far:
(NOTE: Some offers are available online or in-store only — while others are available either way. However, please check first, especially if you’re ordering gift cards online. Once you hit the “buy” button, you may be out of luck.)
Restaurant/Business – Minimum Gift Card Purchase = Bonus Offer
Ace Eat Serve – $50 = $10 Gift Card / $200 = $40 Gift Card
Ace Hardware – $30 = Two FREE Denver Zoo Lights tickets (up to $40 value)
Alamo Drafthouse Cinema – $50 = $10 Snack Pass
Andy’s Frozen Custard – $10 = FREE small cone / $20 = FREE small one-topping Concrete
Applebee’s – $50 = $10 Bonus Card
Atom Tickets – $50 = $10 Reward Code / $25 = $5 Reward Code
Barnes & Noble – $75 = $10 Reward Card — bonus offer ends November 19
bd’s Mongolian Grill – $25 = $5 Bonus Card / $50 = $15 Bonus Card
Benihana – $50 = $10 Promotional Card
BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse – $100 = $25 Bonus Card and 20% Off VIP Card / $50 = $10 Bonus Card and 20% Off VIP Card — online only
Blackjack Pizza – $25 = $5 Bonus Card
Blaze Pizza – $25 = FREE Pizza Pass
Blimpie – $30 = $10 Bonus eGift
Bonefish Grill – $50 = $10 Off Coupon
Boston Market – $25 = $5 Bonus Card
Breeze Thru Car Wash – Buy-one-get-one FREE gift card — $20 minimum purchase
BRIO Tuscan Grille– $100 = $25 Bonus Card
Bruegger’s Bagels – $25 = $5 Bonus Card
Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. – $50 = $10 Reward Card
Buca di Beppo – $50 = $10 Reward Card
Buffalo Wild Wings – $25 = $5 Blazin’ eBonus
BurgerFi – $25 = $5 Bonus Card
Café Rio Mexican Grill – $25 = $10 Gift Card — available on November 23 only
California Pizza Kitchen – $100 = $20 Promo Card
Carrabba’s Italian Grill – $50 = $10 Promo Card
C.B. & Potts – $50 = $10 gift card
Children’s Place – $50 = $10 Bonus Card / $75 = $15 Bonus Card / $100 = $20 Bonus Card
Chili’s – $50 = $10 Bonus Card
Concept Restaurants (Blue Island Oyster Bar, Humboldt Farm Fish Wine, Ignite Kitchen + Cocktails, Rialto Café, Stout Street Social, Squared Pizza + Beer, Table Mountain Inn Grill & Cantina and Via Baci) – $25 = $5 Gift Certificate / $50 = $10 Gift Certificate / $100 = $25 Gift Certificate
Del Taco – Online: $30 = FREE small combo meal / $100 = Four FREE small combo meals (with FREE shipping); In-Store: $15 = Two FREE grilled chicken tacos / $25 = Four FREE grilled chicken tacos
Denny’s – $25 = $50 in Denny’s coupons
DSW (Designer Shoe Warehouse) – $50 = $5 Bonus Card, $100 = $20 Bonus Card / $150 = $30 Bonus Card
Einstein Bros. Bagels – $25 = $5 Bonus Card
El Five – $50 = $10 Gift Card
First Watch – $100 = $20 Bonus Bucks
Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse – $100 = $20 Bonus Card
Fogo de Chão Brazilian Steakhouse – $150 = $25 Holiday Bonus eCard
Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers – $25 = FREE seasoning or Fry Sauce
Fuzzy’s Taco Shop – $25 = $5 Bonus Card
Garbanzo Mediterranean Fresh – $30 = FREE entrée on next visit
Grimaldi’s Coal Brick-Oven Pizzeria – $50 = $10 Gift Card / $100 = $20 Gift Card
Harkins Theatres – Add $30 Popcorn Perks to My Harkins Awards membership = FREE 2019 Loyalty Club — available from November 23 to 25
IHOP – $25 = $5 coupon
Il Fornaio – $100 = $20 Complimenti Card
Illegal Pete’s – $50 = $10 Bonus Card — available starting November 23
Jamba Juice – $25 = $5 Bonus Card
Jumpstreet Indoor Trampoline Park – $60 = $15 Bonus Card
Kona Grill – $50 = $20 Bonus eCard
Landmark Theatres – $100 = FREE movie pass and small popcorn / $50 = FREE small popcorn
Ling & Louie’s Asian Bar and Grill – $50 = $10 Gift Card / $100 = $25 Gift Card
Linger – $50 = $10 Gift Card
Longhorn Steakhouse – $25 = $5 Bonus Card
Maggiano’s Little Italy – $100 = $20 Bonus Card
McCormick and Schmick’s – $100 = $20 Reward Card
Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt – $25 = $5 Bonus Card
Mimi’s Café – $50 = $10 Bonus Bucks
Modern Market – $25 = $5 Gift Card
MOOYAH – $25 = $5 off meal in the same transaction
Morton’s The Steakhouse – $250 = $50 Reward Card
Native Foods Café – $100 = $20 Gift Card
Noodles & Company – $25 = $5 Bonus Card
Ocean Prime – $100 = $25 Bonus Card
Old Chicago Pizza & Taproom – $25 = $5 Bonus Certificate
Olive Garden – $50 = $10 Bonus Card
Ophelia’s – $50 = $10 Gift Card
Outback Steakhouse – $50 = $10 Off Coupon
Panera Bread – $50 = $10 Bonus Card
Perry’s Steakhouse & Grille– $125 = $25 Reward Card
P.F. Chang’s China Bistro – $100 = $20 Bonus Card
Potbelly Sandwich Shop – $25 = FREE Sandwich Ticket
Qdoba Mexican Eats – $30 = FREE entrée (from December 1 to 31) — bonus offer ends November 30
Red Lobster – $50 = $10 Off Coupon
Red Robin – $25 = $5 Bonus Buck Reward
Regal Cinemas – $50 = $10 Concessions Bonus Card
Rio Grande Mexican Restaurant – $100 = $20 Rio Bucks
Rock Bottom Restaurant & Brewery – $30 = $10 Bonus Certificate
Root Down – $50 = $10 Gift Card
Ruby Tuesday – $50 = $15 Bonus Card
Rusty Bucket – $50 = $10 Bonus Gift Card
Ruth’s Chris Steak House – $250 or more = 10% Bonus
Salsa Brava Fresh Mexican Grill – $100 = $20 Gift Card
Seasons 52 – $100 = $20 Bonus Card
Smiling Moose Rocky Mountain Deli – $25 = $5 Moose Bucks
Steak ‘n Shake – $20 = $5 Certificate
Steuben’s Arvada and Steuben’s Uptown – $50 = $10 Gift Card / $200 = $40 Gift Card
Sweet Tomatoes – $50 = $10 Bonus Card
Taco Bell – $10 = FREE Regular Crunchy Taco
Taco John’s – $25 = $5 Bonus Card
Tattered Cover – Special Bundle: For $40, get $35 gift card, Tattered Cover campfire mug & special bookmark ($50 value)
Texas Roadhouse – $30 = $5 Bonus eGift Card
T.G.I. Friday’s – $25 = $5 Bonus Bites / $50 (in-restaurant only) = $5 Bonus Bites and FandangoNOW movie code
The Capital Grille – $500 = FREE exclusive knife set and an additional gift card worth 10% of your purchase
The Cheesecake Factory – $25 = FREE slice of cheesecake
The Melting Pot – $100 = FREE Lunch For 2 Certificate
The Old Spaghetti Factory – $25 = $5 Voucher
The Palm – $250 = $25 Thank You Card
Torchy’s Tacos – $25 = $5 Bonus Card
True Food Kitchen – $100 = $20 Bonus Card
Vesta – $50 = $10 Gift Card / $200 = $40 Gift Card
Village Inn – $25 = $5 Promo Card
Vital Root – $50 = $10 Gift Card
Wendy’s – $2 Frosty Key Tag = FREE Jr. Frosty with any purchase in 2019
Yard House – $50 = $10 Bonus Card
Zoës Kitchen – $25 = $5 Bonus Card
Zoup! – $25 = $5 Bonus Card
The following offers were available in 2017, but no announcements have been made, as of yet, for 2018. As more offers are confirmed, we will update the list throughout the remainder of the year.
Anthony’s Pizza & Pasta – Any amount = FREE slice of pizza
Avelina – $100 = $20 Gift Card
Bad Daddy’s Burger Bar – $50 = $10 Bonus Card
Chipotle Mexican Grill – $30 (from November 20 to December 24) = BOGO FREE burrito, bowl, salad or order of tacos with gift card receipt through December 31
Chuck E. Cheese’s – $25 = Up to 500 FREE tickets
Cicis – $25 = $5 Bonus Card
Cinemark Theatres – $35 = $5 Concession Bonus Coupon
Cold Stone Creamery – $30 = $5 Bonus eGift
Culver’s – $25 = FREE Value Basket
Dave & Buster’s – $75 = FREE $10 Game Play
Dunkin’ – $20 = $5 Promo eGift Card
Fazoli’s – $20 = $5 Coupon
Firehouse Subs – $25 = FREE medium sub
Godfather’s Pizza – $25 = $5 Bonus Card
Golden Corral – $25 = $5 Bonus Bucks
Massage Envy – $125 = FREE set of 3 essential oil roll-ons ($35 value)
MOD Pizza – $50 = FREE pizza and fountain drink
Panda Express – $25 = FREE fortune cookies
Patxi’s Pizza – $100 = $10 Bonus
Pieology – $25 = $5 Bonus Card
Pizzeria Locale- $30 (from November 20 to December 24) = FREE BOGO classic pizza with gift card receipt through December 31 — excludes Boulder location
PizzaRev – $25 = $5 Bonus Card
Rubio’s Coastal Grill – $25 = $5 Coupon
Smashburger – $50 = $15 Smash Bucks / $25 = $5 Smash Bucks
Taziki’s Mediterranean Grill – $25 = $5 Holiday Gift Card
Tilted Kilt Pub & Eatery – $25 = $5 Gift
Tokyo Joe’s – $25 = $5 Gift Card
Tony’s Market – $100 = $10 Gift Certificate
Twin Peaks – $25 = $5 Bonus Card / $50 = $10 Bonus Card / $100 = $20 Bonus Card / $150 Gift Card = $20 Bonus Card and FREE 2018 Twin Peaks Calendar
Wahoo’s – $30 = Two $5 Gift Certificates
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