US Update: You Find a Forgotten Gift Card From 10 Years Ago — Can You Still Spend It?

A gift card forgotten for ten years may still have value, depending on federal protections, state laws, and the card issuer’s policies.

VGV MEDIA/Shutterstock That birthday card from 2016 has been sitting in your desk drawer for a decade.

Inside is a $100 gift card you completely forgot about, and now you’re wondering whether it’s worth anything.

The store is still open, the card looks perfectly fine, and you can’t find an expiration date anywhere on the front.

But can you actually spend it?

The answer may be better than you expect.

Federal consumer protections and certain state laws can keep gift card balances available long after the original purchase, although the rules aren’t identical for every card.

For households trying to stretch their grocery budgets or reduce holiday spending, recovering even $25 or $50 in forgotten gift card balances can make a difference.

Before tossing that old piece of plastic into the trash, here’s what you should know about your rights and how to determine whether the money is still yours to spend.

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