Gift Card Deals for Last Minute Shoppers

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

Christmas is right around the corner and you haven’t even started your shopping. So, you decide to give gift cards and let your recipient pick out what they want from a store of your choosing.

But not all gift cards are created equal. Many retailers are offering incentives to buy their gift cards. Here is a list of some of the deals available this holiday season.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

• Tin Fish restaurant in Tinley Park has a $25 coupon for anyone who buys a $100 gift card. The coupon is good from January to March on orders of $50 or more.
• Mindy’s in Mokena will give a $20 gift card to anyone who buys $100 worth of gift cards. They have been running this same deal for the past few Christmases.
• Blue Island-based Beggars Pizza with more than 10 locations in the Chicago area will kick in a $5 gift card for every $25 gift card purchased.
• Homewood-based Aurelio’s Pizza with locations across the country also will kick in a $5 gift card for every $25 gift card purchased.
• Massage Envy in Tinley Park and Orland Park will give a $50 gift card to anyone who buys $150 in gift cards.
• Frankfort-based Creamery ice cream parlors will give a voucher good for a free small Blaster for every $20 gift card.
• Culver’s restaurants have a coupon good for a free double deluxe value basket with the purchase of $25 in gift cards.
• TGI Fridays also has a $5 gift card for anyone who buys a $25 gift card.
• IHOP will give you a coupon good for $5 off your next visit with the purchase of a $25 gift card.
• Applebee’s will give you a $10 gift card when you buy a $50 gift card.
• Buffalo Wild Wings will give anyone who buys a $25 gift card a $5 gift card, but it’s only good at that location.
• Denny’s will kick in a $5 gift card with the purchase of a $25 gift card.
• Chipotle Mexican Grill will give you a free burrito, bowl, salad or order of tacos if you show them a receipt for a $25 gift card. Purchase must be made by Christmas Eve.
• Joe’s Crab Shack will give you $5 in Bonus Bucks if you purchase a $25 gift card.
• Little Caesar’s also will kick in a $5 gift card if you buy a $25 gift card.
• Longhorn Steakhouse will give you a coupon for $5 off on two entrees for every $25 gift card.
• Outback Steakhouse will give you a free $20 bonus card for every $100 you spend on gift cards. Bonus cards are good from Jan. 1 to Feb. 11.
• P.F. Chang’s China Bistro will kick in a $10 gift card for the purchase of a $50 gift card.
• Red Robin also has $5 in Bonus Bucks for the purchase of a $25 gift card. Bucks are good from Jan. 1 to Feb. 28.
• Sonic Drive-In also will give a $5 gift card for a $25 gift card purchase.
• Subway will give you a voucher for a free sub with the purchase of a $25 gift card.
• Fuddruckers is another that will throw in a $5 gift card for a $25 gift card purchase.
• AMC Theaters will throw in a $10 concessions gift card with the purchase of $50 in gift cards.
• Famous Dave’s also has a $5 gift card for anyone who buys $25 gift card.
• Steak n Shake will kick in a $5 coupon with the purchase of $20 in gift cards.