As long as some of the office supply stores keep giving away free money, I will share the news here! And until someone gives me a better one, I will continue to use the Mad Lib construct to announce them.
Solve the Mad Lib
Save _____ (amount) when you buy _______ (purchase amount) in _______ (type) Gift Cards at _______. Refund will be given in ___________
This time, the Mad Lib answers are:
1) $20
2) $300
3) Visa
4) Staples
5) Visa Gift Card
To follow along, if you buy $300 in Visa gift cards this week at Staples, you’ll get a $20 Visa gift card by Easy Rebate in the mail. It’s in next week’s weekly ad ( H/T: Doctor of Credit)
Making the most of the Staples free money deal
A Visa gift card is the middle of the 3 different types of these free money deals (best is instant rebate, and worst is Staples gift card). Even discounting the $20 you’ll get back from Staples, I do think that this deal is probably worth doing. The hardest thing I have is remembering to use my $20 gift card (since I usually am using a CC for points when I spend). You could also sell it online if you want.
Definitely I would recommend using a Chase Ink or other card that gives 5x points on office supply stores. I love the Chase Inks for exactly this reason, and it’s one of the reasons that I think Chase Ultimate Rewards are the best points out there!
I always recommend 2 $200 cards (if they have them) – the activation fee is $1 more than the $100 cards, but IMO that is worth the 500 extra points you’d get.
I never know what to do when I show up at the store and Staples is (inevitably) out of the $200 gift cards. Do I just buy the $100 cards, even though the deal isn’t as lucrative, or do I try stopping back later at another store. I even wrote a poll about this (how much your time is worth) awhile back, and the consensus seemed to be to just buy the $100 cards in the store that you’re in, and not go back.
Doing the math
If you find and buy 2 $200 Visa cards, you’ll spend $413.90, but then receive:
- $400 back on the actual card
- a $20 Visa gift card
- 2065 Chase Ultimate Rewards
I’d say it’s definitely worth a stop to Staples this week!!
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Dan Miller travels with his wife and 6 (SIX!) children. He loves to help families travel for free / cheap, especially larger families. If you are looking for help, drop him an email at 
Don’t forget to grab the penny ream of paper with coupon (after rebate) while you’re there. You’ll be submitting a rebate already, might as well submit two.
Also, I used 3 of their previous Staples rebate cards (from VGC/MC deals) to purchase my $400 deal today. While it cuts down on my points from INK, it does get those things used up and out of my car 🙂
Why buy the $400 and get $26 profit which is 6.28% when you can buy $300 ($200 + $100) and get $21 which is 6.68%
Up to you but for me, $26 > $21 which is better for me. The fact I’m floating an extra $100 is essentially meaningless for me. YMMV