Give away on a buy nothing group. Someone will come to your house and pick them up. Much easier than driving to a restaurant and handing them out to strangers.

I would ask if anyone on your neighborhood listserv wants them for half price or best offer.

I have never in my life heard of a gift card not being able to be used for take out. it’s money. it should be treated like cash. Also think it’s weird you don’t like italian food as almost all italian places will have a generic chicken of fish option that is just standard fare.

you say “takeaway” which makes me think you are from out of the country. No US born person uses this to describe takeout. Maybe you just don’t know you can use the gift card for take out.

Look for a charity that is having a silent auction and donate to the auction.

Anonymous wrote:That would be so weird I would refuse to take them from you if you approached me in a parking lot. Super creepy.

I would not find it creepy at all, and would very much appreciate it,
Just keep it short “I have this gift card we’re not using.”
Weird that other people would find this weird.

Go for happy hour or lunch

I think you can give them away in the parking lot, and someone will be happy to have it.

I did this recently twice, although for much less value, and both well received. In Target, I got a covid shot before traveling, and they give you 5% off anything you were buying. I wasn't buying anything, and walked over to someone checking out with clearly a lot of Christmas toys, and I gave them the coupon - they were estatic. The second time, I had a gc to a place I don't frequently shop at (Neiman Marcus) and went in trying to use it. I bought something that left a little over $10 on the gc, and did not want to even try just spending that at any point. I gave it to the person behind me, who was also happy to receive it.

I think it is a great idea. My daughter got a $25+ gift card from some customers while she was in line at Carmen’s. She was thrilled.

This is what Buy Nothing is for! You put that $100 into the universe and maybe you get it back in ski pants or swim fins in a size your kid needs.

I agree that $50 to a $45+ entree restaurant is annoying. If our bill will be $250 and a babysitter is going to run me $60-100, it’s not a gift, it’s a cost I didn’t choose.