I've kept this to myself for a while, simply because I didn't want too many competitors in my area. Well, now it seems like the word is out, so I'm going to share this with BP nation so that you guys in other parts of the country can benefit.

What I have been is buying Home Depot or Lowe's gift cards or store credit for cash. AT A DISCOUNT. I typically pay anywhere between 70-82% of face value. This can represent huge savings to your bottom line.

What I'll do is look for people selling them on Craigslist. From there I'll meet them at the store to verify the amount on the card. BE SURE THAT THE PIN ON THE BACK OF THE CARD HAS NOT BEEN SCRATCHED OFF.

The other thing to do while you're surfing Craigslist is to look for Lowe's or Home Depot "10% off" coupons. They typically sell for $2 each. As you can imagine, combining the discounted gift card idea with 10% coupons leads to HUGE savings.

Another idea that I have implemented is to buy a Macy's $500 gift card for say, $350-$380, then go back to Macy's and trade it in for ten (10) $50 gift cards (or 20 $25 gift cards). Now your birthday, wedding, and Christmas gifts are a little less expensive!