Top 10 Ways To Get Cash from Vanilla Gift Cards

Just like a regular credit or debit card, a Vanilla gift card can be compared to cash. That’s because of its versatility and the freedom it gives its holder, unlike closed-loop gift cards. As you probably already know, Vanilla gift cards are a cross-product of Vanilla and Visa and can be used anywhere Visa cards are accepted. 

If you’ve ever received a Vanilla gift card, you would know it has a lot of potential. These plastic or virtual cards may not come with a built-in shopping spree, but they’re basically cash in disguise. 

Whether it’s a birthday present, a token of appreciation, a holiday gift, or even something you got yourself, getting your hands on one of these cards can be exciting. But what happens when you want to get cold hard cash from that Vanilla gift card? Well, I’ve got you covered!

In this article, I’ll break down the top 10 straightforward and hassle-free ways to get cash from your vanilla gift card. 

10 Different Ways To Get Money from a Vanilla Gift Card

If you want more from your Vanilla gift card, you can decide to turn it into cash or basically use it as cash. There are different methods you could use to get cash from Vanilla gift cards and I’ll be discussing the top 10 stressless ways to do that. 

Before going into details, let’s look at these methods at a glance. 

1. Sell the Gift Card Manually
2. Sell the Gift Card on Nosh
3. Exchange the Gift Card 
4. Buy a Money Order with The Card
5. Add the gift card to PayPal
6. Add the gift card to Venmo
7. Pay Your Bills with the Gift Card
8. Buy and Sell Items with the Gift Card
9. Purchase Items with the Gift Card
10. Buy Another Merchant’s Gift Card

1. Sell the Gift Card Manually

It goes without saying that one of the best and most straightforward ways to get cash from your Vanilla gift card is to sell it. This method is as simple as it sounds. 

Reach out to your friends, family or co-workers to let them know you have a gift card you want to sell. They might be interested in buying or know someone who wants to buy. 

You can also choose to post online on platforms like social media or online marketplaces for more reach. Someone might be interested in buying your gift card at a discounted rate, giving you cash in return.

2. Sell the Gift Card on Nosh

If you don’t want to go through the hassle of selling the gift card manually and looking for someone to buy it, you can choose to sell it on Nosh. Nosh is a gift card exchange platform that gives you the very best rates to sell your gift cards. 

With Nosh, it is much more convenient to turn your Vanilla gift card into cash. Simply create an account, list your card for sale and wait for your cash to come in.

3. Exchange the Gift Card 

Some retailers, malls and stores have gift card exchange kiosks where they buy back your Vanilla gift card. In exchange, they may give you cash, another gift card, or store credit. 

Once you have found a gift card exchange kiosk, go there and let them know you would like to exchange your gift card for cash. Most kiosks will offer you around 60% – 85%

of the gift card’s balance. If you are okay with the offer, accept it and go and cash the printed voucher you get from the kiosk. 

4. Buy a Money Order with the Gift Card

Another way to get cash from Vanilla gift cards is to purchase a money order with them. A money order is a bank-issued document that allows you to cash in a cheque for the written amount. Visit Walmart, Western Union or USPS as they allow you to use Vanilla gift cards to purchase money orders. 

Once you purchase the money order with your Vanilla gift card, ensure you write your name as both the sender and the recipient and also write the correct amount. Take your money order to the bank and cash it in once it has been approved. 

5. Add the Gift Card to PayPal

PayPal accepts Vanilla gift cards as a form of linked payment. If you don’t have an account, create one sign in and link your Vanilla gift card to the account. If you encounter issues while trying to link the card, ensure that you previously registered your Vanilla gift card with Visa. 

Once you have successfully linked your card, you can use it to send money to a friend or family member whom you can trust to send the money back to you. When you want to send funds, ensure you pick the gift card as your payment method. Also ensure that the total amount of money you are sending, including the fee, doesn’t exceed the amount in the gift card. 

Once your friend or family member who is a PayPal user gets the money, have them send it back to you. When the money is sent back this time around, it will be added to your PayPal balance not your gift card. You can then send the funds from your PayPal account to your regular bank account, and you should be funded within 3-5 days. 

6. Add the Gift Card to Venmo

This method is similar to adding your Vanilla gift card to PayPal. In this case, open your Venmo app and create an account if you don’t have one. After this, add your Vanilla gift card to the account as one of your payment methods. Also, ensure that the gift card has been registered with Visa to prevent any hassles. 

After your card has been added, send the funds from the card to someone you can trust to send it back to you. Confirm that you skewered the card as your preferred payment method. In Venmo’s case, there are no added fees so you can send the full worth of the card. 

Once the person has gotten the money, have them return the money to you. When the money is sent back to you, it will go to your Venmo balance. Then transfer the money from your Venmo to your bank account, it will typically take around 3-5 days to get processed. 

7. Use the Gift Card to Pay Your Bills

Paying your bills with a gift card is like turning them into cash without any extra charges. You can even get to spend all the card’s money at once. Using your Vanilla gift card to pay bills can free up cash for other needs.  

Check with utility providers or service providers to see if they accept gift cards as payment. You can basically use your Vanilla gift card anywhere Visa is accepted as a form of payment. 

8. Buy and Sell Items with the Gift Card

Another way to get cash from Vanilla gift cards is to use the gift cards to buy something with good value and resale potential. You can use the card to purchase something you think you can easily resell from an online marketplace like eBay or Amazon. 

Once you have gotten the item with your gift card, list it for sale on an online marketplace or on social media. When you get someone interested in buying the item or items, have them pay for it by sending cash. That way, you’ve basically turned your Vanilla gift card into cash. 

9. Purchase Items with the Gift Card

If you don’t need immediate cash, consider using your gift card for everyday expenses like groceries, or household items, freeing up cash in your regular budget.

Next time you’re at the grocery store, consider using your Vanilla Visa gift card. Buying groceries with it is a simple way to treat the card as if it were cash and spend its balance quickly.

10. Buy Another Merchant’s Gift Card

You can use your Vanilla gift card to buy a gift card from a different store or restaurant where you often shop. This can be a smart move if you know you’ll use the new gift card regularly.

Also, if there’s a place that doesn’t accept your Vanilla Visa, a clever trick is to get a gift card for that place using your Vanilla Visa gift card. Then, you can use that new gift card, which is like turning your Vanilla Visa into cash you can use there.

Conclusion

Vanilla gift cards go beyond their main function as gift cards, thanks to their versatility. You can get cash from Vanilla gift cards if you know how to leverage them. Just pick a method already listed and use the one that works best for you to get cash out of your Vanilla gift card. 

Remember, whether you’re looking to streamline your finances, treat yourself to something special, or simply need some extra money in your wallet, these top 10 ways offer you the flexibility you need. If you want to buy Vanilla gift cards, you can get them at affordable rates on Nosh.  

So, the next time you get a vanilla gift card, don’t let it gather dust. Put these tips into action and watch your cash flow grow.