Buy discounted gift cards as Christmas presents! colemama / Flickr

This is a post by staff writer Yazmin Cruz.

The most requested item for Christmas this year is the gift card, according to the National Retail Federation. Six out of 10 shoppers said they’ll have a holly, jolly Christmas if they receive gift cards. Below are six sites where you can buy discounted gift cards, plus five must-have cards this season.

I’m one of those individuals who LOVES to give and receive gift cards. Gifts cards take the guess work out of shopping for others. Kudos if you can find out which store’s gift cards the receiver prefers!

Where to buy gift cards

Plastic Jungle – Buy, sell, trade and donate gift cards at PlasticJungle.com. Depending on the retailer, you will save up to 35% off the face value. Choose from more than 400 retailers, including Target, Home Depot, Apple, and Shell. Don’t see the gift card you’re looking for? Sign up for notifications! Many of these sites have this helpful feature. All gift card transactions are guaranteed and shipping is always free. I list the best discounted gift card deals from Plastic Jungle below.

GiftCards.com – You’ll not only find discounted gift cards for up to 35% off the face value from big name retailers, but also local stores. You can even create an account and have others contribute to a group gift. Don’t know which store’s gift card the recipient prefers? This site allows you to personalize Visa and Mastercard gift cards using personal photos. Nice touch!

CardHub.com – I wrote about buying, selling, and trading gift cards on CardHub.com awhile ago. Basically, this site aggregates gift card deals from other sites and then redirects you to the site where you can make your purchase.

Cardpool.com – This gift card exchange marketplace allows customers to buy, sell, and trade gift cards. You’ll find discounted gift cards for up to 35% and all orders and transactions include free shipping. Cardpool verifies the authenticity and balance of each gift card so you won’t end up with a headache.

GiftCardGranny.com – Connects with buyers and sellers of discounted gift cards on GiftCardGranny.com. The site does not ship or sell the cards themselves, but instead aggregates gift card deals from different sites. These sites pay a fee to be listed. When you find the card you want, you’ll be redirected to the site selling the card. You’ll find cards up to 30% off face value.

Top Gift Card Deals

Bed Bath & Beyond – Shop for bed and bath items with discounted Bed Bath & Beyond gift cards from Plastic Jungle. You’ll find them at 10% off. Still don’t know what the beyond refers to, but I could spend hours in there. Note, buying through these links supports BargainBabe.com.

Fandango – No more paying for expensive movie tickets! Get Fandango gift cards at 15% off.

Target – Love shopping Tarjay as much as I do? Score Target gift cards at 5% off. Balances range from $35 to $500.

Home Depot – Have a handy guy on your list? Home Depot gift cards are at 7% off.

Etsy gift card – I’m particularly excited about Etsy rolling out its first ever gift card. Couldn’t find it on any of the aforementioned sites, but I’ll keep an eye out for it. You must check out Etsy for unique presents. The e-commerce website sells handmade and vintage items. Do you have any fave Etsy shops?

What gift card is on your wishlist?