Gift cards are always a popular item at this time of year. They’re an efficient and convenient way to simplify holiday shopping.

Best of all, it pays to buy gift cards at this time of year — because of the bonus offers. Yes, many retailers will throw in a bonus card if you spend a certain amount. For example: buy a $50 gift card and get a $5 bonus card.

In the list below, most of the offers require that gift cards must be purchased by December 31, in order to receive the bonus — but some promos end earlier, so click through and check the details.

In addition, some bonuses are available either online or in-store only, while others are available either way. Often, cards ordered online will have FREE shipping, but you’ll want to check on that. You don’t want shipping charges to erase your bonus.

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• Lights of Life drive-thru holiday attraction in Marietta
• Discounts for Fantasy in Lights at Callaway Gardens
• Discounts for Stone Mountain Christmas
• Garden Lights, Holiday Nights at the Atlanta Botanical Garden

Things to know about “bonus” cards

It’s important to note that most (if not, all) of the offers below are for “bonus cards” — not gift cards. Bonus cards are more like coupons.

Most bonus cards are not valid until January 1st. Retailers don’t want you using the bonus until after the holiday shopping season is over!

Also, bonus cards are excluded from expiration laws, so you may have a short window in which to use them. For this reason, it’s a good idea for you to keep that “bonus” card for yourself—and use it promptly.

We suggest that you review the fine print for limitations, including minimum purchase requirements, date restrictions, or menu exclusions right away, after receiving the bonus card, so you won’t run up against a surprise in April when  you go to use it and find it’s no longer valid.

Tips for maximizing your bonus

Check the terms of the purchase requirement for the bonus. In some cases, you may get more bonuses by breaking down a large gift card purchase. For example, if the bonus is given for a gift card purchase of $25 or more and you’re buying a $50 gift card, why not purchase two $25 gift cards in separate transactions? You just doubled the bonus!

However, many businesses offer a bonus for every $25 spent (or some other specified amount) in gift cards. As a result, there’s no need for multiple purchases — just be sure you purchase gift cards in the proper amount for the most bonuses.

Here’s a round-up of bonus offers from popular national restaurants and retailers.

2024 restaurant bonus card offers

The list is written in this format:
Restaurant: Minimum Gift Card Purchase = Bonus Offer

Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.: $50 = $10 Reward Card 

Buffalo Wild Wings: $25 = $5 Bonus Card 

BurgerFi: $25 = $10 Bonus Card

Cafe Rio Mexican Grill – $25 = $10 Gift Card — from Nov. 29 to December 1, 2024

Carrabba’s Italian Grill: $50 = Two (2) $10 Bonus Cards

The Children’s Place: $50 or more = $10 Gift Coupon 

Chili’s: $50 = $10 Bonus eCard

Cinnabon: $25 = $5 Reward Card

Cold Stone Creamery: $50 = $15 Bonus e-Card 

Domino’s: $25 = $5 eGift Card

DSW (Designer Shoe Warehouse): $50 = $10 Bonus Card, $100 = $25 Bonus Card 

Eddie Merlot’s: $100 = $25 Bonus Card

Einstein Bros. Bagels: $25 = $5 Bonus Card 

First Watch: $50 = $10 Bonus Bucks 

Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar: $100 = $20 eBonus Card 

Flower Child: $50 = $10 Bonus Card 

Fogo de Chão: $125 = $25 Holiday Bonus Card / $300 = $75 Holiday Bonus Card / $400 = $100 Holiday Bonus Card 

Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers: $25 = $5 Bonus Gift Card

Fuzzy’s Taco Shop: $25 = $5 Bonus Card

Grimaldi’s Coal Brick-Oven Pizzeria: $50 = $10 Bonus Card / $100 = $20 Bonus Card

IHOP: $25 = $5 Bonus Card 

Jamba: $25 = $5 Reward 

Jersey Mike’s: $25 = $5 Gift Card

Juice It Up!: $25 =  $5 Bonus Card and FREE Small Classic Smoothie

Kona Grill: $50 = $10 Bonus Dollars / $100 = $25 Bonus Dollars

Kroger – Various gift card bonuses and discounts available online 

Logan’s Roadhouse: $50 = Two (2) $10 eBonus Cards

MAD Greens: $25 = $5 Bonus Card

Maggiano’s Little Italy: $100 = $20 Bonus Card 

Marlow’s Tavern: $100 = $25 Bonus Card

Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt: $25 = $5 Bonus Card 

Metro Diner: $50 = $10 Bonus Card 

Modern Market: $25 = $5 Promo Card 

Morton’s The Steakhouse: $250 = $50 Reward Card

Ocean Prime: $100 = $25 Bonus Card Reward 

Old Chicago Pizza & Taproom: $50 = $10 eBonus Card 

Outback Steakhouse: $50 = Two (2) $10 Bonus Cards 

The Palm: $250 = $50 Reward Card 

Panda Express: $30 = $8 Bonus Card

Panera Bread: $50 = $10 Bonus Card

Perry’s Steakhouse & Grille: $125 = $25 Reward Card 

P.F. Chang’s: $100 = $25 Bonus Reward

Pinkberry: $50 = $15 Bonus eCard

Portillo’s: $50 = $10 Promo Card 

Red Lobster: $50 = Two $10 Off Bonus Coupons

Red Robin: $50 = $10 eBonus Bucks

Regal Cinemas: $50 = $10 Concessions Bonus

Rusty Bucket: $50 = $10 Bonus Card 

Ruth’s Chris Steak House: $300 or more = 10% Bonus Gift Card 

Seasons 52: $500 or more = 10% bonus gift card 

Shake Shack – $25 = $5 Bonus Card

Smashburger: $25 = $10 Smash Cash

Snarf’s Sandwiches: $25 = $5 Bonus Coupon — available in-restaurant only

Subway: $25 = FREE 6″ sub 

STK Steakhouse: $50 = $10 Bonus Dining Dollars / $100 = $25 Bonus Dining Dollars

Ted’s Montana Grill: $100 = $10 Bonus Card

The Cheesecake Factory: $50 = $15 Bonus Card

True Food Kitchen: $100 = $20 Bonus Card 

Tokyo Joe’s: $25 = $5 Bonus Card

Village Inn: $25 = $5 eBonus Card

Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux: $50 = $10 Bonus Card

Wendy’s: $3 Frosty Key Tag = FREE Jr. Frosty every visit in 2025

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• Best places to see holiday lights this year
• Holiday markets around metro Atlanta
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• Free photos with Santa for pets and people
• Where to get Christmas dinner to go

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