1 00:00:03,440 --> 00:00:06,680 Speaker 1: Welcome to Before Breakfast, a production of I Heart Radio. 2 00:00:08,680 --> 00:00:14,520 Speaker 1: Good Morning, This is Laura, Welcome to the Before Breakfast podcast. 3 00:00:15,560 --> 00:00:18,599 Speaker 1: Today's tip is to let Santa take you out to 4 00:00:18,640 --> 00:00:22,720 Speaker 1: dinner this weekend. If you received any gift cards this 5 00:00:22,760 --> 00:00:27,640 Speaker 1: holiday season, why not use one for some fun over 6 00:00:27,680 --> 00:00:32,519 Speaker 1: the next few days. You have probably heard reports of 7 00:00:32,560 --> 00:00:36,080 Speaker 1: how half of us adults have an unused gift card 8 00:00:36,360 --> 00:00:39,640 Speaker 1: or store credit, often with a hundred dollars or more 9 00:00:39,720 --> 00:00:44,640 Speaker 1: in value. What a missed opportunity. The gift cards were 10 00:00:44,680 --> 00:00:48,920 Speaker 1: intended to bring happiness, but they can't do that when 11 00:00:48,920 --> 00:00:51,519 Speaker 1: they are stuffed in a drawer or sitting as a 12 00:00:51,560 --> 00:00:57,160 Speaker 1: confirmation email in your inbox. So if you have any 13 00:00:57,200 --> 00:01:00,760 Speaker 1: gift cards or store credits this side that you are 14 00:01:00,800 --> 00:01:05,679 Speaker 1: going to use them this weekend. If your gift card 15 00:01:05,800 --> 00:01:09,000 Speaker 1: is for a restaurant or coffee shop or entertainment venue, 16 00:01:09,560 --> 00:01:13,520 Speaker 1: then your path is obvious. You can make a reservation, 17 00:01:14,200 --> 00:01:18,120 Speaker 1: book your movie tickets and go. If you've got a 18 00:01:18,160 --> 00:01:21,280 Speaker 1: SPA gift card, this would be a great weekend for 19 00:01:21,319 --> 00:01:25,319 Speaker 1: a little self care at no cost to you. But 20 00:01:25,440 --> 00:01:28,440 Speaker 1: even if your gift cards are for somewhere more mundane, 21 00:01:29,200 --> 00:01:32,399 Speaker 1: they can still be used to create joy and happiness 22 00:01:32,440 --> 00:01:36,480 Speaker 1: this weekend. An Amazon gift card could be turned into 23 00:01:36,560 --> 00:01:40,160 Speaker 1: home spa products, or it can be turned into fancy treats. 24 00:01:40,280 --> 00:01:43,720 Speaker 1: For a little get together, a Target gift card could 25 00:01:43,760 --> 00:01:47,160 Speaker 1: buy a board game or puzzle, or something offbeat but 26 00:01:47,280 --> 00:01:51,560 Speaker 1: fun like a skateboard. Yes, for you as an adult, 27 00:01:52,760 --> 00:01:55,320 Speaker 1: a grocery store gift card can let you spring for 28 00:01:55,360 --> 00:01:58,360 Speaker 1: a really nice premium steak and a bottle of wine. 29 00:01:59,240 --> 00:02:02,880 Speaker 1: And now you have made an in home dinner very special. 30 00:02:04,320 --> 00:02:08,200 Speaker 1: After all the holidays spending on gifts and travel, you 31 00:02:08,320 --> 00:02:10,400 Speaker 1: may not want to spend a lot of money on 32 00:02:10,440 --> 00:02:13,480 Speaker 1: fun this weekend, but if you use a gift card, 33 00:02:14,240 --> 00:02:17,520 Speaker 1: you don't need to. It's a nice idea to let 34 00:02:17,560 --> 00:02:20,120 Speaker 1: the person who gave you the gift card know you 35 00:02:20,240 --> 00:02:23,680 Speaker 1: used it before you and they both forget what they 36 00:02:23,680 --> 00:02:27,880 Speaker 1: gave you. Snap a picture of yourself with whatever you purchased, 37 00:02:28,480 --> 00:02:32,040 Speaker 1: and both of you will enjoy the moment. If your 38 00:02:32,120 --> 00:02:36,200 Speaker 1: kids received gift cards, consider encouraging them to go ahead 39 00:02:36,200 --> 00:02:39,679 Speaker 1: and use the cards this weekend as well. You can 40 00:02:39,760 --> 00:02:46,240 Speaker 1: all get some new entertainment to ward off the winter doldrums. Yes, 41 00:02:46,880 --> 00:02:51,760 Speaker 1: Santa only comes on December, but if you've got gift cards, 42 00:02:52,720 --> 00:02:56,960 Speaker 1: Santa can take you out to dinner in January, which 43 00:02:57,680 --> 00:03:00,840 Speaker 1: honestly is when many of us feel we need it 44 00:03:01,520 --> 00:03:07,760 Speaker 1: a lot more. In the meantime, this is Laura. Thanks 45 00:03:07,800 --> 00:03:19,160 Speaker 1: for listening, and here's to making the most of our time. Hey, everybody, 46 00:03:19,400 --> 00:03:21,480 Speaker 1: I'd love to hear from you. You can send me 47 00:03:21,520 --> 00:03:25,160 Speaker 1: your tips, your questions, or anything else. Just connect with 48 00:03:25,200 --> 00:03:29,600 Speaker 1: me on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram at Before Breakfast Pod 49 00:03:30,280 --> 00:03:34,600 Speaker 1: that's B the number four, then Breakfast p o D. 50 00:03:35,480 --> 00:03:38,320 Speaker 1: You can also shoot me an email at Before Breakfast 51 00:03:38,400 --> 00:03:41,880 Speaker 1: podcast at i heeart media dot com that Before Breakfast 52 00:03:41,920 --> 00:03:44,480 Speaker 1: is spelled out with all the letters. Thanks so much, 53 00:03:44,720 --> 00:03:52,800 Speaker 1: I look forward to staying in touch. Before Breakfast is 54 00:03:52,800 --> 00:03:56,080 Speaker 1: a production of I Heart Radio. For more podcasts from 55 00:03:56,080 --> 00:03:59,880 Speaker 1: my heart Radio, visit the I heart Radio app, Apple podcast, 56 00:04:00,320 --> 00:04:07,880 Speaker 1: or wherever you listen to your favorite shows. Yeah.