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Chicago Sun-Times
Chicago Sun-Times
National
Dee-Ann Durbin | AP

The secret life of gift cards: Here’s what happens to the billions that go unspent each year

National Retail Federation Ted Rossman Bankrate Starbucks United States
Gift cards are displayed at a Target in New York, Dec. 21. Americans are expected to spend nearly $30 billion on gift cards this holiday season, according to the National Retail Federation. (Richard Drew/AP)

Gift cards make great stocking stuffers — just as long as you don’t stuff them in a drawer and forget about them after the holidays.

Americans are expected to spend nearly $30 billion on gift cards this holiday season, according to the National Retail Federation. Restaurant gift cards are the most popular, making up one-third of those sales.

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