Step by step, a Plastic Jungle fan shows you how to save $100s by combining discounted gift cards, coupons, and rebates.

It is fair to say that most households have wish lists. From house to house, these lists can be as diverse as the inhabitants. You could be pining for fresh electronics (new TV or gaming system), or home improvements or furniture, or maybe a special accessory, such as a pricey designer purse or a pair of shoes. Often, wish lists develop when you move into a new space, as our Plastic Jungle fan, Marcy B., relates.

In her letter, Marcy B. outlines how she went about saving big on renovating her window treatments in her new home. She explains that it wasn’t a matter of combing the Internet, or paging through Val-Pak coupons, but a matter of patience and a small amount of planning.

Thanks to marketing and promotions, all shoppers get the idea that we could save big, but jumping the hurdle to map out the steps can be a stumbling block.

Her letter explains her simple process, step-by-step:

You are welcome, Marcy! : )

Marcy's Living Room Before the New Blinds

Marcy's home with her new blinds. Success at a discount!

As it turns out, Marcy is also a guest contributor for a parenting site: MamaModerne.com, and she wrote up her story as an article, “Saving Big on Big Purchases”. Check it out for more details on how to save when it comes time to pull out that wishlist.

What’s on your wishlist?

Consider the following categories. When you’re dealing with a wishlist, it’s OK to be greedy. Writing out what you want might help you prioritize your wants and needs. (Well, that sounds like another blog post!)

Consumer Electronics: get gift cards from Best Buy, Kohl’s, Target, Walmart, Sony Style, Apple Store, Office Depot, Staples, JCPenney

Home Improvement: get gift cards from Home Depot, Lowe’s, Ace Hardware, Bed, Bath & Beyond, Target, Bloomingdale’s

Furniture: get gift cards from Crate & Barrel, Williams-Sonoma Home, JCPenney, Macy’s, Walmart, west elm, CB2

Designer Apparel & Accessories: Zappo’s, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Bloomingdale’s, Macy’s, Bergdorf-Goodman, Tiffany & Co., Burberry, Coach

Pick up any of the above gift cards on Plastic Jungle’s Buy Gift Cards page.

Get thinking, and let us know if you’ve got any strategies for saving with discount gift cards.

If Tiffany & Co jewelry, gifts or accessories are not on your shopping list, and you’d like to cash out your unused or partially used Tiffany Gift Card, you might want to check the balance on the Tiffany Gift Card.

Well known for their customer service, Tiffany’s will easily help you find your balance on your gift card. Here are a few ways:

Check your Tiffany Gift Card Balance

PHONE: 877-377-7512

ONLINE: Check the remaining balance on my Tiffany gift card

IN-STORE: Check for Tiffany store locations

Once you’ve acquired your Tiffany Gift Card balance, you can sell your gift card to Plastic Jungle, and save yourself the hassle of carrying around unused money. At Plastic Jungle, you can also trade your Tiffany’s Gift Card for credit on another gift card, say Sears or Amazon.com, and increase the value of your exchange.

To know how much your Tiffany Gift Card is worth in exchange on Plastic Jungle, on the main page you click “Sell Gift Cards” at the top of the page. Look up Tiffany, 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. Imagine a little blue box full of cash.

Check other 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.