Gift cards have become a common and convenient way for busy shoppers to remember friends and loved ones, while avoiding the hassle associated with fighting mall traffic and trying to guess what your recipient wants.  Gift cards are convenient, but a staggering number of gift cards go unspent, with the balances reverting back to the retailers and banks who issued the cards.  Last year, Best Buy cleared $38 million and Home Depot cleared $37 million – all from unused gift card dollars.

More on New Rules for Gift Cards…That Don't Go Into Effect Until August, 2010