Stretching Your Shopping Budget ~ Plastic Jungle Review & Giveaway

Whether you are starting your back to school shopping, working on home improvement projects or just treating yourself to shopping, finding ways to stretch your shopping budget are always welcome!

I've recently been introduced to a great way to do just that...
Plastic Jungle ~ a site where you can buy, sell and exchange gift cards!

While my initial reaction to sites such as these is a bit leery, I was pleased to discover that Plastic Jungle is a Better Business Bureau accredited business.  Further, your privacy and security is ensured on their site by Trust e and GeoTrust, two names that as an avid online shopper, I am well familiar with.

How can you stretch your shopping budget with Plastic Jungle?

Whether you have gift cards you really don't want or need to use or if you are planning a shopping trip, you can save! 

We are all guilty of the quick gift fix of gift cards!  Even me!

I love hunting for unique gifts online for the multitude of occasions that I need gifts for.  Even so, there are times when my schedule simply doesn't allow me the time to wait for shipping or, forbid, I actually forget!
Invariably, you have also received well-meaning gift cards for stores that you really don't need or plan to shop at any time in the near future.

What happens to them?  Forgotten in a thoughtful card, buried in the bottom of your purse...I even found one in my dog's cave, under his bed! (I'll be checking in there more often, the little scavenger!)

Don't forget them! Use them!  At Plastic Jungle you can turn many of your mainstream store gift cards into instant (yes, instant) shopping "cash" in your Paypal account.  For retailer cards not on the "instant" list, you can choose to:

• donate your value to charity
• receive an e-code Amazon certificate one day after the receipt of your gift card
• receive a check which is mailed to you within two days after the receipt of your gift card

Does it really work?
Before sharing this site with you, I thought I would put the "instant" offer from Plastic Jungle to the test.  With a card I found at the bottom of my purse, I instantly converted it to "cash" in my Paypal account.   As is very clearly stated on the site, while you won't get full face value for the gift card you sell, you will get up to 92% of the value, varying by retailer.  All the same, money in my Paypal account for shopping I want to do is better than a forgotten card at the bottom of my purse!

Multiply your savings by purchasing discounted gift cards!
Are you planning a shopping trip?  Have a big purchase to make?  Just as you check for sales, coupons and special discounts before hand, you'll want to look for a discounted gift card from Plastic Jungle before you shop!  Plastic Jungle offers gift cards for sale at up to 35% savings, varying by retailer.  If you know you'll be spending a certain amount at a particular store, whether on one or multiple shopping trips, you can save big by combining your gift card discount with in store specials, ads and coupons!

Some of the current, great discounts:

• Victoria's Secret ~ save 9%
• Lands' End ~ save 9%
• American Eagle Outfitters ~ save 12%
• Aeropostale ~ save 14%
• Kohl's  ~ save 15%

Looking for a really hot deal?  Sign up for email notifications, by retailer, by discount! 

Plastic Jungle:

• All Transactions Guaranteed! 
• Always Free Shipping
• No Fees!
• No Expiration Dates!

***GIVEAWAY***

Plastic Jungle is generously offering my readers a chance to stretch their shopping budget!  One lucky reader will win a $25 gift card to their choice of retailers (chose from Target, Walmart, Sears, Home Depot or Lowe's)!

You must publicly follow That's What She Said via Google Friend Connect (left sidebar) to be eligible to enter this giveaway.  This giveaway is open to residents of the US, 18+ and will end on Saturday, August 6, 2011 at midnight, EST.  The winner will be randomly selected from all eligible entries.  The winner will be notified by email and will have 72 hours to respond before I must move on to a runner up.  Please leave you email address, in anti spam format, in your first entry comment, so I can contact you if you are the winner.

***MANDATORY ENTRY***

You must publicly follow That's What She Said via Google Friend Connect (left sidebar) to be eligible to enter this giveaway.  For mandatory entry, please visit the Plastic Jungle website and come back and tell me in a comment here which retailers are your top three shopping destinations and how much you would save by buying gift cards from Plastic Jungle.

***BONUS ENTRIES***

IF YOU ARE ALREADY LIKING, FOLLOWING, ETC, PLEASE TAKE THE ENTRIES!

* Like Plastic Jungle &/or That's What She Said on Facebook.  Leave a comment here with your Facebook name.  1 entry for each.

* Follow Plastic Jungle &/or That's What She Said (tsue1136) on Twitter.  Leave a comment here with your Twitter name.  1 entry for each.

* Tweet about this giveaway with a direct link back here.  Leave a link to your tweet in your comment.  Limit of three tweets per day.
Please use:

I'm entered to #win my choice of $25 gift cards from @PlasticJungle & That's What She Said! #win #cash #giveaway  http://bit.ly/qpFAFE 

* Share this giveaway in some other way ~ anything goes!  Must include a direct link back here.
Blog it, post on Facebook, review this blog on Alexa, Stumble It, Buzz It, Post to giveaway linky.  No limit to sharing!!  Leave a link to your sharing in your comment.  5 entries per each sharing!

* Enter any of my other active giveaways and leave a comment letting me know which.  2 entries per additional giveaway.

* Subscribe to Plastic Jungle Blog via RSS feed &/or That's What She Said via email or RSS feed (left sidebar).  Leave a comment with your applicable name.  1 entry for each.

* Put my button on your blog or site (left sidebar) and leave a link to where I can find it in a comment.  3 entries.

* Tell me in a comment what you are dying to shop for,  what shopping your have planned in the future, or a purchase you are plotting to save BIG on!  2 entries.

THIS GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED.
CONGRATULATIONS TO:
Gayle, comment # 209, courtesy of Random.org!

On behalf of Plastic Jungle and That's What She Said, thank you to all entrants for participating and following!


I have received a gift card from Plastic Jungle for the purposes of exploring to create this feature.  The opinions above are both honest and my own.  Images and information sourced from various Plastic Jungle sites.  Dog Image.  Facebook is not responsible for nor involved in this giveaway in any fashion.