No, I’m not talking about using gift cards to pry open the bathroom door your daughter locked from the inside. (In fact, I wouldn’t recommend that at all! Turns out they snap into pieces.)

Let’s say you’ve got a gift card in your hand that you know has a balance on it, but there’s no way you’ll be able to take advantage of it: it’s for a steakhouse and you’ve been vegan for ages; it’s to a store you’ve vowed to stay away from because you consistently overspend there; it’s a gas card, and you’ve just decided to reduce your carbon footprint by moving to the city and only take public transportation.

Whatever. Just bypass the procrastination and realize that you can easily, quickly, and securely get something for that gift card on Plastic Jungle, and I’ll tell you how.

Sell Gift Cards for Cash, Funds in your PayPal Account, or an Amazon.com Gift Card

1) Did someone mention CASH?
That’s right. You can sell gift cards with as little as $10 remaining on them (it doesn’t even have to be an even number, it can be what’s left over after you’ve made a purchase) for CASH. Plastic Jungle honors gift cards from over 400 stores, from Walmart to Tiffany to PETCO to Bass Pro Shops. Once your gift card is verified (by mail or online), Plastic Jungle issues your check or deposits money into your PayPal account, whatever you choose. (Then, don’t forget that you can purchase discounted gift cards to get a deal at another one of those 400+ stores!)

2) Exchange gift cards for Amazon.com Gift Cards.
And what doesn’t Amazon.com sell? From ebooks to grills to groceries, Amazon.com is among the best places to have a store credit. Plus, in this gift card exchange, you’ll receive more than what you’d get in a cash payout – 5% more!

3) Trade in gift cards for Facebook Credits.
We know how fun and addictive those games get. From Farmville and MafiaWars to Happy Aquarium and Zuma Blitz, you can trade your gift card for Facebook Credits using the Plastic Jungle Gift Card Exchange App on Facebook. Just be logged into Facebook and search Plastic Jungle. You’ll see our fan page (Like us!) and the Application page.  When you’re on the App page, you’ll need to allow pop-ups. Then you’re good to start trading.

4) Convert gift cards to GamePoints.
At GamePoints you’re able to exchange gift cards for a virtual currency you can use on hundreds of social games. Log in at GamePoints.com by creating a free account, or using your Facebook account.

5) DONATE gift cards to your favorite charity!
You’ll find that Gift Cards for Good through Plastic Jungle is a very safe, convenient and efficient way to get the balance left on your gift card to your favorite charity or nonprofit. Have your charity check in with Plastic Jungle (at PJ for Nonprofits) to make the process even easier.

So don’t let unused gift cards waste away in your sock drawer when you have all these great options… sell them to Plastic Jungle today!

‘Tis the season for returning, and if you’ve just returned a gift and don’t have the heart to get back in there and surf the sales, you might take advantage of the fact that many people do, creating a hot market for the gift card you now hold.

JCPenney Gift Cards can pay for salon services in some areas, too!

Take JCPenney, for example. This mid-priced department store, catalog and online store has hot bargains daily on great brands including Levi’s, Sephora cosmetics, and Liz Claiborne. JCPenney is also a top store for Big & Tall men’s clothing. Some of their retail stores even feature specialty services including salons, custom decorating and portrait picture taking.

The JCPenney Gift Card is redeemable for merchandise or services (excluding gift cards) at JCPenney Stores in the United States or Puerto Rico, jcp.com and JCPenney catalog.

Check your JCPenney Gift Card or JCPenney e-Gift Card Balance

PHONE: 1-800-322-1189

ONLINE: Check the balance of your JCPenney gift card or e-gift card

IN-STORE: Check the store locator for a location near you

Once you’ve acquired your balance, you can easily and securely sell your JCPenney Gift Card to Plastic Jungle, and save yourself the hassle of carrying around unused money. At Plastic Jungle, you can cash in your JCPenney Gift Card or eGift Card and have the funds deposited directly in your PayPal account – often instantly! You can also exchange the gift card for an Amazon.com Gift Card or choose to be paid in cash (via check). If you play games on Facebook, you can use Plastic Jungle’s gift card exchange application on Facebook to turn your gift card into Facebook Credits (you should be logged into Facebook before you search).

To know how much your JC Penney 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 JC Penney, enter the gift card balance you’ve just acquired, and 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.

Check the JCPenney Store Locator for one near you.

Tips for Big Savings at JCPenney

If paying full retail is never on your agenda, then this blog: JCPenney Coupons is your hot source for finding JCPenney coupon codes, discount codes and free shipping deals. You’ve also got to check Plastic Jungle to see if any discounted JC Penney gift cards are up for grabs — right now, you can save up to 14% on the gift card alone. Pair that with a coupon and/or free shipping offer, and you’re officially a savvy shopper.

Really, JCPenney itself is a great source for everyday deals. Check out their Clearance page for discounts up to 80% off!

JCPenney posts their weekly ads online so you can see what’s on sale now. You can also have sale alerts and coupons and offers sent to your mobile phone or your email inbox, when you sign up by clicking the buttons on the JCP.com homepage.