Restaurants: Bonus Gift Card Deals

Around this time of year many restaurants offer bonus gift cards when you purchase a gift card. Typically this comes in the form of a "Buy a $25 gift card get a $5 bonus gift card for yourself" offer .

Of course the conventional wisdom with these types of offers is to buy the gift cards as gifts and to either use the "bonus" cards your self or to also give them to the recipient stretching your dollar.

But, before you skip this post thinking that you are not buying gift cards as gifts this year because you can't afford that, consider the money saving potential of the bonus gift cards that restaurants offer this time of year.

If your family eats out, even a few times a month, you can purchase the gift cards for your family to use and keep the bonus gift cards for yourself also, think of it like a coupon in reverse!

It is a way to save money on something that is often difficult to save on.

The only trick to remember is that "bonus" gift cards often have restrictions that traditional gift cards do not (like expiration dates) so make sure you know the terms up front. And also to make sure that it is something you would have spent the money on in the first place!

Here is a list of some of the current offers:

Outback Steakhouse, Carrabba's Italian Grill, Fleming Prime Steakhouse, Roy's, and Bonefish Grill: $20 bonus card for every gift card purchase of $100. In order to receive bonus cards, gift card purchases must be made before December 31, 2009. Bonus cards can be redeemed January 1 through February 10, 2010.

Red Robin: Buy $25, get $5 bonus card free (usually you can't use the bonus card until January) OR buy $500, get a 20% discount

Applebee's: Buy $50 gift card, get $10 bonus card free.

Bravo Italiano: Buy $50 gift card, get $10 bonus card free. Bonus card valid 1/1/10- 3/15/10

Benihana: Purchase a $50 Benihana gift card and you’ll receive a $10 Bonus Card - A gift for you to either keep or give to someone special! Promotion period: 11/16/09-12/31/09. Bonus card valid 1/2/10 through 3/31/10

Uno Chicago Grill: Buy $25 gift card, get $5 promo card. Bonus promo card valid from 1/1/10 to 3/31/10.

Ted's Montana Grill: For every $100 you spend on Ted's Montana Grill Gift Cards, you'll get a $20 Bonus Card. (Bonus gift cards have 45 day expiration)

Little Ceaser's: Little Casears buy $25.00 GC get $5.00 GC. (Needs 24 hrs to be activated).

Taco Bueno: Buy $25 gift card, get $5 promo card Thanks wikdwarlock!

Do you know of more?