If you’ve ever found an old gift card in your wallet, junk drawer or inbox, you’re not alone. Every year, Australians leave behind more than $1 billion in unspent gift card balances. While some of that value is from lost or forgotten cards, a surprisingly large chunk comes from something even more frustrating: leftover change.
That last $1.27, $2.40, or $4.95 sitting on your card might not feel like much — but it’s exactly this kind of “micro balance” that quietly goes to waste every day. Most shoppers either forget about it, don’t want the hassle of tracking it, or think it’s too small to use. Multiply that by millions of people, and you get a very expensive national habit of throwing away free money.
Why leftover balances get wasted
There are a few simple reasons these small amounts don’t get used. Traditional gift cards are tied to one store, so if your balance doesn’t cover the full purchase amount, you often have to make up the difference in cash or another card. This creates friction at checkout, and many people just give up. Others tuck the card away, intending to use it later, but never do.
Another issue is awareness. Most people don’t track what’s left on their cards. A few dollars here or there might not seem worth the effort to redeem, but across the population, those “few dollars” add up to millions.
Turning spare change into spending power
That’s where Gift Wallet changes the game. When you add your Gift Wallet or Stacca Pay compatible gift cards to the app, every cent of your balance is automatically applied the next time you shop at the same store using your Stacca Visa.
You don’t need to manually check balances, do mental maths, or ask the cashier for a split payment. If your gift card covers part of the purchase, it’s automatically applied. If it doesn’t cover the full amount, your linked debit or credit card steps in to cover the rest — in one smooth transaction.
It’s frictionless, fast, and ensures you never leave money on the table.
Why this matters
Let’s do some quick math:
If 10 million Australians each have just $5 of unused balance, that’s $50 million in wasted value. And that doesn’t even include larger amounts sitting on unused cards. By simply making it effortless to use every cent, Gift Wallet helps put that money back into circulation — for things people actually want and need.
No more wasted value
With Gift Wallet, those tiny leftover balances don’t get ignored, expire, or end up in the bin. They get used — automatically. All you need to do is make sure your card is Gift Wallet or Stacca Pay compatible (look for the symbol on the card or e-voucher).
Your spare change isn’t worthless. It’s still your money — and now, it’s easier than ever to spend it.
💡 Download Gift Wallet and make every cent count.
