6 things to do with a gift card

- Did you get a gift card for Christmas? If so, here are six things to do:

•Check now to be sure it didn’t get thrown out with the gift wrap or empty boxes.

•Use it soon. Even if it doesn’t expire, you could lose the card’s value if the issuer goes bankrupt or you misplace it. Some retailers will replace lost cards with proof of purchase, but are not required to do so.

•Ask for cash if the balance drops below $10. In California, merchants must — at the customer’s request — redeem a card worth less than $10 for cash. Again, this only applies to single-retailer cards covered by state law. Read the rest