Is it just me, or without fail do you often end up with a gift that that you already have or that you did not register for?  You don’t want to seem ungrateful for the present, so you kindly say ‘Thank you’.  The most challenging situations like this are when the gift does not come with a gift receipt.  Instead of feeling disappointed that you are stuck with a gift you don’t want, consider these options for gifts without gift receipts.

Store the gift away for another event.

Some families choose to store unwanted gifts on a shelf while others have an entire closet – often called a gift closet – devoted to the stash.  If you hang on to things you did not want, odds are you will have the opportunity to wrap that item back up for someone else’s wedding, shower, or birthday.  A word of caution here, yes you can re-gift just about anything.  But, please do the next person a favor and do not put them in the same situation.  When my husband and I got married, a friend of mine phoned and explained that she had seen wine racks on our registry.  She mentioned along the way she had been given a second wine rack and she was wondering if we’d like to have it.  After hearing the description it sounded like it would fit our decor and it did!  Registry item fulfilled – check!

Return the gift for a store gift card.

Many store return policies state that without a physical receipt they cannot issue cash for a return.  However, many stores can issue a store gift card for the item.  Okay… so sometimes that means you’ll end up with a gift card in an odd amount to a store you don’t shop.  This recently happened when I was given an ice pop making kit (think popsicles).  I know, it sounds delicious, but in thinking through the use of this new gadget in my head I realized it would likely live the same life as our juicer and ice cream maker.  Both were enjoyable for a few months, then they took up counter space and were moved into basement storage.  On occasion we retrieve these gadgets, but that’s if we remember.  Thankfully the ice pop kit was given to me with a tag that identified which store it was from, so we were able to return it to Williams-Sonoma for a gift card.  As much as I love the Williams-Sonoma brand, there just isn’t anything I could think to buy with the gift card (I was trying hard to be proactive, so I played this out in my head ahead of time instead of taking an hour to linger around the store).  So, my husband and I agreed to sell the gift card to Plastic Jungle.  The beauty of this solution is that (1) we choose the ‘electronic redemption’ option so we never had to mail in the gift card and (2) we were able to exchange our gift card for an Amazon.com gift card (which we will use).  Plastic Jungle processed our Amazon.com gift card within 2 business days.

Give the gift away.

Sure, returning a gift and getting cash is a great feeling.  But, sometimes the cards don’t play out in your favor.  If you don’t see yourself re-gifting the item to someone else or you can’t return the item for a store gift gift, consider others in your life.  We recently got a pizza making kit (which we already had) and after attempting to return it to Macy’s without a receipt, I texted a friend and asked if she would like to have it for her family – no charge.  (Macy’s return policy is that if the item is over 6 months old and you do not have a receipt the item may no longer be sold in stores.  For our delima the store sticker read $39.99 and since the item (which we just received) was over 6 months old, Macy’s offered me $3.99.  That’s not a typo.)  Our backup plan was if none of our friends wanted it, we would donate the kit to a program for homeless women that helps put women into their own independent housing.

I have yet to figure out how to receive a gift receipt for every present I am given (if you have a way, please let me know).  The good news is several worthwhile options exist for gifts that you might otherwise just be stuck with.

If you haven’t heard of ‘freezer cooking’ before the concept by name only may sound backwards.  In actuality, it might be better understood and ‘cooking then freezing’.

Put simplest, freezer cooking is a method by which you cook meals in bulk and freeze them until you’re ready to eat them.  By freezer cooking, you can save money and time, especially when you stack this concept with Plastic Jungle discount gift cards.

Freezer Cooking: Getting Started

There are a number of freezer cooking cookbooks out there.  If you’ve never tried the freezer cooking method before, I would recommend starting with Once-A-Month Cooking by Mimi Wilson and Mary Beth Lagerborg.

In Once-A-Month Cooking you’ll learn the basic principles of freezer cooking as you choose which of the five meal plans to prepare.  My favorite entrees are Twelve-Boy Curry [page 24] and Taco Soup [page 30].  Each entree can feed a family of 4 or 5.  Or, if your household is smaller (like mine) you can split the meal and enjoy it over 2-4 dinners and lunches.  I highly recommend getting this book in versions that are published in 2007 or later.  The book is constantly updated to incorporate feedback and recipe improvements from families across the nation.

At Barnes and Noble’s online store you can snag Once-A-Month Cooking for $4.48.  Pay for this purchase with discount Barnes & Noble gift cards and you’ll only pay $4!  (cost may vary at Barnes & Noble stores)
There are currently no Barnes and Noble coupon codes, but if you are a Barnes and Noble Member you can get free shipping.  This book also qualifies for free shipping if with a purchase of $25 or more. 

If you’ve tried freezer cooking before and are looking for new recipes, you might enjoy Make-Ahead Meals Made Healthy: Exceptionally and Nutritious Freezer-Friendly Recipes You Can Prepare in Advance and Enjoy At a Moment’s Notice by Michele Barboa and Fix, Freeze, Feast by Kati Neville and Lindsay Tkacsik.  Both books have great tasting freezer cooking recipes.  My favorites from Make-Ahead Meals Made Healthy are Chicken and Edamame Pot Pie with Double-Crust Whole-Wheat Pie Dough made from scratch [page 67] and Meatless Butternut Squash and Chard Lasagna [page 35] (great vegetarian recipe).  Fix, Freeze, Feast is great for those who shop at warehouses like Costco and Sam’s as recipes incorporate bulk packages of meats.

Make Ahead Meals Made Healthy just went to print in 2011 and Barnes and Noble sells this new publication in paperback for a reasonable $12.99 and as a NOOK eBook for $10.99.  With discount Barnes & Noble gift cards you can take it home for only $11.56 – $9.78!  Barnes and Noble sells Fix, Freeze, Feast for $11.15 in paperback or $10.16 for the NOOK book.  Use Barnes & Noble discount gift cards to get this book for $9.92 – $10.03.

You can snag all three of these freezer cooking cookbooks for under $30 with discount Barnes & Noble gift cards.

In all, a rotation of freezer cooking will provide enough entrees to feed most families for 2 weeks to 4 months.  Costs vary by recipes/book, but on average my family spends $300 – $400 to buy food for a rotation of 14 entrees which will feed my family for several months.

You might be thinking, “Aren’t you worried about freezer burn?”  Some people think that freezing meals can dilute the flavor of food and even make it unsafe to eat.  This is not true as long as you know how to properly cool and store the food.  Michele Borboa does a great job nipping this myth in Make-Ahead Meals Made Healthy.

How to buy these books on Amazon for less.  Yes, you don’t often see Amazon coupon codes or Amazon discounts, but if you’re holding on to an unused gift card, you can sell your gift card to Plastic Jungle and exchange it for an Amazon.com electronic gift card which you can use to purchase these freezer cooking cookbooks.

Read more about my experience with freezer cooking in my article “Streamlining the Food Budget” on Mama Moderne.

So you received a gift card at a work party, from a friend, or for something you returned that wasn’t exactly what you needed.  Now what?

You want music for your drive to work or school or new running tunes but the gift card is for a store that only sells clothing.  Sell your unused gift cards to Plastic Jungle for an Amazon.com gift card and you can unlock any beat you choose.

More than anything, your daughter wants an e-reader, specifically a Kindle, so she can fly overseas and read her favorite books without having to pay for additional carry-on luggage.  Exchange unwanted gift cards for an Amazon.com gift card to get her a Kindle at a discount and maybe even buy her an e-book or two for the flight.

Regardless of what types of unwanted gift cards are congesting your wallet, getting confused with your store credit cards, or are being considered for re-gifting, take control of the things that were given to you and use them for good.

Spring Cleaning is SO two seasons ago.

As seasons transition from summer to fall, it’s the perfect time to take an inventory on your gift card stash. Just like you go through your clothes closet, ditching things that don’t fit, ask yourself: “Will I ever really use this?”

Just how clothes don’t fit, sometimes gift cards don’t either.

Here’s a personal story:

Three years back, my brother gave our family generous Cheesecake Factory and AMC Theatres gift cards, so that we could enjoy a big night out. Such a nice gift with incredible intentions, but guess what? We don’t have either of those establishments where we live here in Reno, NV. (Even though we are the Biggest Little City in the World!) Those gift cards took up permanent residence in my wallet and every time I looked at them I thought, “well, maybe I’ll use them next time we’re in California,” or “maybe I’ll re-gift them to somebody else someday.” It wasn’t until I discovered Plastic Jungle that I finally sold those two suckers for cash. (Apologies to my brother if he happens to read this blog post!)

Do you have a similar dilemma? Selling gift cards to Plastic Jungle is easy!

$25 Minimum Balance. If you have an unused or even partially redeemed gift card with at least a $25 minimum balance, Plastic Jungle will buy it for up to 92% of the verified balance.

Plastic Jungle Guarantee. All transactions are safe, secure and guaranteed.  See their Terms of Use here.

Free Shipping. You’ll get a pre-paid USPS shipping label.

Fast Turnaround. Once your card is received and the balance is verified, payment will be sent within 2 business days. If you selected to receive an Amazon.com Gift Card, your claim code will be emailed.

Large Merchant Pool. With over 400+ merchants, you’re bound to find your card on the list. If not, you can sign up for a notification and be alerted when your merchant is accepted.

Multiple Payment Options. Choose from an Amazon.com Gift Card, PayPal or even donate to your favorite charity.

Click here to get started and set your gift cards free!

Wait! Before you run off to the beach for Memorial Day 2011, remember that Memorial Day is a remembrance day for US soldiers who have served in combat. We honor those who have fought for us.

Now, try your luck at a giveaway or a sweepstakes to help your wallet bounce back from vacation leakage. We here at PJ want you to get the most from your time on the Internet, so most of these are very easy to enter, and pay off with something great.

Do you need funds right now? If you have an unused gift card floating around your house, you can Sell or Swap your gift card at Plastic Jungle to get cash, an Amazon.com Gift Card, or even fund a PayPal account. Some payout options are instantaneous. Check out our Gift Card Seller Learning Center for details and ideas.

*Almost* Free!

Trying to feed a large group? Dying to get a night out even just on your own? Restaurant.com has a new 80% off code: just enter the promo code FLAG at checkout on the site when you buy your Restaurant.com gift card on their site. You can get a $25 gift card, normally for $10 or $15 (depending on restaurant) on the site, but when you use the promo code, you’ll pay only $2 or $3 each. What a deal!

Giveaways & Sweepstakes Open Now

TripAdvisor & Couples Resorts Romantic Escapes Sweepstakes – You’re limited to entering this one only five times (per person or email address), but get your S/O to enter too, because the prize is a trip for two to the winner’s choice of Couples Tower Isle, Couples Sans Souci, Couples Negril or Couples Swept Away resort. The prize package consists of roundtrip airfare for two, six nights’ stay including unlimited meals and beverages, resort gratuities and taxes, and unlimited use of resort sporting equipment. See the Couples Resorts Sweepstakes official rules for details; sweepstakes ends June 1, 2011.

Win 1 of 10 Spa Vacations from Self magazine – See the slideshow of your Free Spa Vacation options on the Self.com website, which include the Seagate Hotel & Spa in Delray Beach, Florida, a Total-Body Makeover at The Biggest Loser Resort at Fitness Ridge in Malibu, California, a scenic stay at the Springs Eternal Spa at the historic Omni Bedford Springs Resort, in Bedford, Pennsylvania, and much more. See Self’s Official Sweepstakes Rules for details; spa giveaway ends June 15, 2011.

What Cost What School’s Out $150 Amazon.com Gift Card Giveaway – Just share your summer plans with What Cost What on Facebook, and you could win a $150 Amazon.com Gift Card. Gift Card giveaway ends June 1, 2011; see What Cost What giveaway official rules for details.

Scotts Let’s Go Outside Sweepstakes – For every “Like” on Facebook, Scotts Lawn Care Products will donate $1 to a local pet charity. Once you’ve liked Scott’s, sign in and you’ll be entered to win a $500 Gift Card. For details, see Scotts Let’s Go Outside Sweepstakes Official Rules. There are two entry periods: the first ends on May 31, 2011, the next entry period begins on June 1, 2011 and runs through August 3, 2011.

Are you using Gift Cards for your Memorial Day plans? Let us know how they come in handy for you, and we’ll highlight you on the blog! Just leave us a comment with how Gift Cards played a part in your Memorial Day weekend 2011.

That’s all for this week. Enjoy the long weekend!

Time to win something, don’t you think? The weather isn’t cooperating with the usual Spring warm-up across much of the US, so it stands to reason that we all could use a win of some sort if we’re going to be forced to keep our sweaters and Uggs on. Today’s giveaways get us out of the everyday: Vegas getaways, free housecleaning for you and a friend (!),  win an Amazon.com Gift Card and more.

Good luck, and here’s to brighter skies in June!

Keen & Dick’s Sporting Goods Trip Giveaway — KEEN has partnered with Dick’s Sporting Goods to offer an exciting trip for two to Canyonlands, Utah, to a lucky winner who can’t wait to get outside and play! Fill out the entry form, and you could win a multi-sport trip through one of the most amazing areas of the United States. (Learn More About the Trip!) Contest ends at 11:59 PM ET on July 2, 2011; See giveaway’s official rules on the entry page for details.

Need Keens now? Purchase discounted Dick’s Sporting Goods Gift Cards on Plastic Jungle >>>

Mama Cheap’s $100 Amazon Gift Card Giveaway – This is a great little blog and now Facebook page with deals listings and freebies updated all the time. Just follow Mama Cheap’s on Facebook and you’ve got an entry. Don’t forget to invite friends! Check Mama Cheap’s Sweepstakes official rules for details; sweepstakes ends June 14, 2011 at 8:00 pm (EDT).

PopChips’ Win a Trip to See Bruno Mars Live in Las Vegas – One Grand Prize winner gets to bring a guest to Las Vegas, Nevada, to attend a Bruno Mars Concert on June 16, 2011. The prize includes roundtrip airfare, hotel accommodations, and two tickets to the Bruno Mars Concert at the Palms Casino in Las Vegas. As well, that winner and guest get a Meet-and-Greet with Bruno Mars; a Bruno Mars autographed CD Boxed Set; and a year’s supply of POPCHIPS! In the event popchips reaches to 120,000 fans on Facebook.com during the Sweepstakes Period, Grand Prize Winner will be able to travel with one (1) additional guest – if PopChips’ Fans keep growing, so does the number of guests who can come! Two Runner-Up prizes include a Bruno Mars-autographed Fender Guitar and a special package of POPCHIPS. Sweepstakes ends at 11:59:59 PM EST on June 1, 2011; see PopChips Sweepstakes Official Rules for details.

Wanna get to Vegas now? Purchase discounted American Airlines Gift Cards on Plastic Jungle >>>

Redbook MVP Beauty Award Winners Giveaway – Wow! Well, there may be a lot of entrants for these prizes given Redbook’s popularity, but what a great way to get to know some of the best health and beauty products, chosen by editors, on the shelves today. A new set of prizes becomes available to win every day, so you can now enter to win up to 20 prizes! There will be 31 prizes by May 31, 2011. If you’re not interested in subscribing or already are a Redbook subscriber, make sure to click through to the non-subscription entry form (no purchase necessary to enter). Contest ends May 31, 2011. See Redbook MVP Beauty Award Giveaway official rules for details.

Need top Health & Beauty products now? Purchase discounted Target Gift Cards and eCODEs now >>>

Cost Plus World Market Gift Card a Day Giveaway – Cost Plus is giving away a $100 Gift Card every day. To enter the $100 Gift Card Giveaway, just “Like” Cost Plus on Facebook. There’s one winner per day until May 27, 2011. See the Cost Plus Gift Card Giveaway official rules on the entry page for details. NOTE: once you “Like” Cost Plus, you’ll have access to Cost Plus’s other giveaways!

Bon Ami Good Friends Spring Clean Sweepstakes – That’s right my friends, win FREE professional green housecleaning for you and a friend. To enter Bon Ami’s Good Friends Spring Clean Sweepstakes via Facebook, just “Like” Bon Ami and fill out the entry page. You’ll not only be entered in the sweepstakes, you’ll also receive a coupon for Bon Ami’s non-toxic cleansers that have been around for 125 years. Sweepstakes ends on June 12, 2011; see official rules for details.

Need to clean house, AND NOW?! Purchase discounted Walmart Gift Cards and eCODEs now >>>

If you have a giveaway you’d like us to post, we’d love to share it with our fans! Just post a comment and after a review (we’re very keen on sharing only legitimate giveaways) we’ll post it for you. Have a great nearly, almost, kind-of Spring weekend!

If you’ve been to Freeport, Maine, you know. While late adds Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s are superstores for the sporting life, 99-year-old institution L.L. Bean is the granddaddy of all superstores and beyond compare. If you like to hike, swim, fish, go to school, hit the slopes, sled the hills, fish the streams, canoe the Boundary, pack the pack, dig the shore, head to the cabin, sail the waves, camp the national parks… well, L.L. Bean should already be a part of your life.

Back in 1912, Mr. Bean’s mail-order catalog became well-known when he started marketing hunting wares to out-of-staters who came in for the season. His catalog’s highlight was the “Bean Boot”, or Maine Hunting Shoe, and the boot remains a staple of the company’s outdoor image and remains trendy today.

The original retail store, located at L.L. Bean’s HQ in Freeport, was known as the “outlet” — which now carries a different connotation for most shoppers — and now is a bit of a Mecca for all kinds of shoppers from all over the world. The store brought so many people to town that the area became home to 100s of retail outlets; you can find information and coupons for the latest slew of stores at FreeportUSA.com, the official site of the merchants’ association.

Today, the L.L. Bean flagship store is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. With its “campus” layout, it might be worth a devoting a day of shopping, as you visit different departments in separate buildings. As always, you can count on their quality customer service, free returns, 100% Satisfaction Guarantee, and now, free shipping on any order, no matter the amount you spend.

For trivia buffs, I propose a bonus question: What is the full name of L.L. Bean, the store’s founder? See the * below for your answer!

With L.L. Bean, you can send or purchase Gift Cards two ways: via mail (5-8 working days for delivery) or via email (2-4 hours for delivery). Check the L.L. Bean Gift Card page for the latest terms and conditions on the cards.

Get discounted L.L. Bean Gift Cards or L.L. Bean eCODEs on Plastic Jungle (up to 11% off at time of writing)  >>>

Check the Balance on Your L.L. Bean Gift Card or L.L. Bean Email Gift Card

Online: Go to L.L. Bean’s Gift Card Check Balance page. If you have an involved question, you could email L.L. Bean Customer Service.

Phone: Call L.L. Bean Customer Service: 800-­441-5713 or click the “Call Me” button on any of L.L. Bean’s website pages.

Want to Find an L.L. Bean Store? Check out the L.L. Bean Retail Store and Outlet Locator online.

Want a Current L.L. Bean Catalog? There are multiple catalogs to choose from: Men’s, Women’s, Kids’, L.L. Bean Hunting, L.L. Bean Fishing, L.L. Bean Gear & Clothing, L.L. Bean Home and more — check the current L.L. Bean Catalog selection online.

Sell Your Gift Card

Once you know your balance, you can sell or trade your gift card securely on Plastic Jungle. At Plastic Jungle, you can trade any unused gift card for cash, or trade it for an Amazon.com Gift Card, or use it to donate the funds to charity (Gift Cards for Good—look for the green ribbon at checkout), or even fund a PayPal account.

To know how much your gift card is worth in exchange on Plastic Jungle, on the main page, click “Sell Gift Cards” at the top of the page. Look up the store and enter the gift card balance you’ve just acquired. You’ll see instantly what your gift card balance is worth in cash or trade.

Check other Plastic Jungle blog posts for the same “Check Your Gift Card Balance” information for other stores, including Sears, Land’s End, Macy’s, Best Buy, Lowe’s, and more.

*Trivia Answer: Leon Leonwood Bean

The PJ 10

What were we buying in March? Well, there weren’t any spectaular retail “events” that drove us to specialty stores, so as expected the top three gift card sellers were big box chains offering groceries and fishing supplies and everything in-between. Spring was a bit late late this year, so clearly we were driven to hot, caffeinated coffee, putting Starbucks into our Top 10 Gift Cards in March. And iTunes, with the diversity of media on offer these days, from music to books to TV and movies, proves it’s a great gift card to give and get.

Honorable mentions from March? JC Penney, Pottery Barn, Cabela’s, Barnes & Noble, and Nordstrom.

Salivating over the potential savings at a favorite store? If you’re ready to ditch your unused gift card and trade up to one of the favorites, you can safely and securely SELL or EXCHANGE your gift card on Plastic Jungle, with many different payout and trade options, including an Amazon.com Gift Card, Facebook credits and Paypal account funding.

Top 10 Gift Cards in March, 2011

10 SEARS

Purchase discount Sears Gift Cards on Plastic Jungle, currently at up to 9% OFF.

9 KOHL’S

Purchase discount Kohl’s Gift Cards on Plastic Jungle, currently at up to 14% OFF.

8 STARBUCKS

Purchase discount Starbucks Gift Cards on Plastic Jungle — when they come into stock. Set an Alert Now.

7 MACY’S

Purchase discount Macy’s Gift Cards on Plastic Jungle — when they come into stock. Set an Alert Now.

6 BEST BUY

Purchase discount Best Buy Gift Cards on Plastic Jungle, currently at up to 5% OFF.

5 LOWE’S

Purchase discount Lowe’s Gift Cards on Plastic Jungle, currently at up to 7% OFF.

4 iTUNES

Purchase discount iTunes Gift Cards on Plastic Jungle, currently at up to 7% OFF.

3 TARGET

Purchase discount Target Gift Cards on Plastic Jungle, currently at up to 5% OFF.

2 HOME DEPOT

Purchase discount Home Depot Gift Cards on Plastic Jungle, currently at up to 7% OFF.

1 WALMART

Purchase discount Walmart Gift Cards on Plastic Jungle — when they become available. Set an Alert Now.

What’s your favorite gift card of the moment? Something to get ready for spring — sporting goods or travel? Let us know in the comments below.

Mothers Day is this weekend! Happy Mothers Day to those of you who know the real meaning of sleep, can identify the origin of over 10 stains by sight, know that permanent marker is somewhat easily removed from walls using Lysol, and live with the realization that one day, in the very near future, absolutely nothing will happen to pick up the living room unless you bend over and pick it up yourself. Here’s to a day of proposed relaxation!

Plastic Jungle’s Mother’s Day Sweepstakes — STILL TWO DAYS LEFT TO ENTER! Make sure you get over to Plastic Jungle’s Facebook Page to choose which kind of mom you are and enter to win one of the few cards left in the few days the giveaway is open.

BNC.com $50 Amazon.com Gift Card – Brand Name Coupons (dot com) is excited to give away a $50 Amazon.com Gift Card. Just “Like” the BNC Facebook page and post a comment, or sign up the Amazon Daily Deal Newsletter (a thrilling thing in itself for any deal hunter) and leave a comment on the entry page. Details, terms and conditions outlined on the entry page. The giveaway will close on May 31st, 2011. The BNC staff will randomly pick a winner.

Frugal Novice $10 Burger King Gift Card Giveaway – Four lucky readers will each win a $10 Crown Card (gift card) to Burger King! This contest is open to all US & Canadian residents. Mandatory Entry: “Like” Burger King on Facebook, then comment on the Frugal Novice blog’s entry page. Don’t forget, while you’re there you can select your “Tender 8? and get a coupon for free tenders! The contest is open through May 16, 2011.

NYC Single Mom $100 Restaurant.com Gift Card Giveaway – One NYC Single Mom Reader will win a $100 Restaurant.com Gift Card. Required Entry: Subscribe to NYC Single Mom.com via email and confirm subscription and you must leave a comment. There are tons of ways to get extra entries. For details and giveaway rules, see the entry page. Winner will be selected by random.org when contest ends, May 13 2011.

People StyleWatch Gift Card Giveaways – Here are a set of style and fashion-related giveaways. No purchase is necessary, and when you consider the amount of cool prizes there will be a lot of entries, but it’s fun to wonder what you might get: $350 Gift Cards to David Meister, $150 SwimSpot Gift Cards (perfect timing!), plus other drawings for jewelry, accessories and more. Giveaways close May 9, 2011 (HURRY!); see People StyleWatch Giveaway Rules for additional details.

Houston Garden Center’s $100,000 Gift Card Giveaway – If you live in or around Houston, it’s time to do the yard! 1,000 lucky winners will get a $100 Houston Garden Center Gift Card. Complete the official entry form and you could win a $100 gift card. Then, in the $25,000 Landscape Challenge, one winner will be chosen from the 1,000 gift card winners and will be determined by which winner has used their $100 gift card to create the most beautiful or unique design using Houston Garden Center plants. Entrants must be a legal resident of Harris County, Texas or any adjacent county. Contest ends Sunday, May 8, 2011. See entry page for full rules.

Little Chief Honeybee $50 Urban Outfitters Gift Card Giveaway – Style conscious and sweet with a Nashville edge, Little Chief Honeybee is giving away a $50 Urban Outfitters Gift Card. Just follow her blog, “Like” her on Facebook and more to enter. See entry page for details. Giveaway closes “the end of the month” (May).

It’s our genuine wish at Plastic Jungle that Moms of every style in every corner of the world have a great Mother’s Day on May 8, 2011. Make sure to comment, and let us know what you win, and how you spend your day and your Plastic Jungle savings!

Rain and snow are behind us (we hope) and it’s time to open up the house, get up to the cabin, and get going on home improvement projects.

What’s on sale at the home improvement stores? If you want to be the first to know about any home improvement promotion, get on the store’s email sale alerts list to receive notifications regularly. Lowe’s has an everyday low price guarantee. Go ahead and “Like” Home Depot on Facebook, and get privy to Friday sales from 50-70% off. Follow @SearsDeals on Twitter, and big-discount flash sales at Sears (think Kenmore appliances and paint and Craftsman tools) are at your fingertips.

On Plastic Jungle, you can set a discounted gift card email notification alert to be emailed as soon as any discount gift card becomes available at the discount you’re looking for.

Click through now to see the percentage off you’ll save on:

Discount Lowe’s Gift Cards |  Discount Home Depot Gift Cards |  Discount Ace Hardware Gift Cards |  Discount Bed, Bath & Beyond Gift Cards |  Discount Restoration Hardware Gift Cards |  Discount Pottery Barn Gift Cards |  Discount Target Gift Cards |  Discount Sears Gift Cards

Angling for Home Improvement Sales

Have you ever thought of Amazon.com for Appliances or Equipment? If not, the Amazon.com Home Improvement and Tools page, flush with thousands of searchable listings, will be an eye-opener. Dishwashers to pressure washers, kitchen fixtures to light fixtures, hardware, storage, even lawn mowers are called up at a great price in a flash. You could actually turn a gift card you’re not using — could even be a chain restaurant gift card — into an Amazon.com Gift Card by exchanging it on Plastic Jungle.

Think about “double-dipping” – that is, buying a gift card at a discount at Plastic Jungle, then purchasing at a sale price or using a rebate. (And maybe even add free shipping for a deal-lover’s trifecta!) You get the deal with the sale price, AND you’ve got an additional deal in your hand with the discounted gift card. For the deal-lover’s trifecta, add a free shipping coupon or promo code to keep costs down.

Do-It-Yourself, Whatever It Is!

Homeowners regularly attempt their own landscaping, painting, and decorating. But installing a toilet? Making your home more secure? Patching drywall? These and hundreds of other projects are detailed, some with video, on Lowe’s Video & Project Center, and at the Home Depot Home Improvement Clubs.

Another source for how-to do it is TV, of course. You can search the archives of HGTV, or the DIY network for ideas, tips, and video to get the job done.

What’s on your home improvement slate? A new entertainment center? Painting the house, inside and out? Creating an outdoor living space to enjoy your new landscape? Let us know in your comments!