Unlocking Your Amazon Gift Card Balance: How to Pay Bills with Amazon Credit

Amazon gift cards make great gifts for any occasion The prepaid credit can be used to buy almost anything on Amazon. But what if you want to use your gifted Amazon balance to pay regular monthly bills instead of just shopping online? Here’s what you need to know about paying bills with Amazon gift cards

Overview of Amazon Gift Cards

Amazon gift cards, also called Amazoncom gift cards, come in both physical and digital formats The cards have a prepaid balance that can be redeemed across Amazon’s online platforms, including

• Amazon.com for merchandise
• Amazon Video and Prime Video for movies/TV
• Amazon Music for songs and albums
• Audible for audiobooks
• Twitch for subscriptions
• Kindle books
• And more

Once purchased, Amazon gift cards do not expire. The balance remains in your Amazon account until used.

According to Amazon, gift cards are the most popular gift item bought and redeemed on its site. In 2021 alone, over 1 billion were purchased.

Can You Use Amazon Gift Cards to Pay Bills?

The short answer is yes, Amazon gift cards can pay some bills, but not others.

You can use an Amazon gift card to:

• Buy household essentials on Amazon.com
• Add money to an Amazon Cash account to pay bills
• Purchase third-party gift cards to use elsewhere
• Pay down balances on Amazon services

You cannot use an Amazon gift card for:

• Rent, utilities, loans, insurance, etc.
• Cash withdrawals or transfers
• Partial gift card redemptions
• Amazon Prime membership fees
• Amazon Store Card or Visa bill payments

So while Amazon gift cards have limits, you do have options to unlock their value for bill payments.

How to Use Amazon Gift Credit for Bills

Here are 5 legit ways to use your Amazon gift card balance to help pay regular monthly bills:

1. Buy Household Essentials on Amazon

Use your gift card to stock up on regular household purchases – things like paper towels, pet food, over-the-counter medicines, snacks, cleaning supplies, and other everyday essentials.

Checking these items off your shopping list allows you to conserve cash that can then go towards paying utilities, rent, etc. As long as Amazon sells the product directly, you can use gift card credit.

2. Reload an Amazon Cash Account

Amazon Cash lets you add gift card value to a cash-like account balance. You can then use that Amazon Cash to pay bills with Amazon Pay.

Simply transfer your gift card to Amazon Cash then use it to pay your credit card bill, utility bill, insurance premiums, and more. Over 75,000 companies accept Amazon Pay.

3. Buy Third-Party Digital Gift Cards

Thousands of brand-name digital gift cards are available on Amazon. These include major retailers, restaurants, gaming, entertainment, and more.

Use your Amazon balance to buy a digital gift card you can then use to shop or pay bills at that merchant. This converts your Amazon credit into spendable funds elsewhere.

4. Exchange for Cash

Don’t need an Amazon gift card? You can trade it for cash to pay bills through gift card exchange sites like CardCash and Raise or via Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist.

The resale value depends on the gift card balance. Be sure to compare sites for the best rate and check fees, which vary.

5. Pay Down Balances

If you have Amazon Prime, Audible, Kindle Unlimited, or other subscriptions on your Amazon account, you can use gift card credit to pay down those balances before your next billing cycle.

This reduces the amount charged to your linked payment method when those recurring bills hit. Only works for services billed directly by Amazon.

Limits of Paying Bills with Amazon Gift Cards

While the above options create some bill payment flexibility, there are still limitations:

• Cannot directly pay rent, utilities, car loans, etc.
• No way to withdraw cash from gift cards
• Can’t partially redeem balances
• Unused funds risk expiring
• No returns for cash back, only Amazon credit

So Amazon gift cards should only supplement your bill payment strategy, not fully replace it.

Tips for Using Amazon Gift Cards for Bills

• Check your balance – Log into your Amazon account to view your total available gift card credit.

• Buy essentials – Use it for regular household items you’d normally buy anyway.

• Add to Amazon Cash quickly – Don’t let gift card balances sit too long.

• Compare resale sites – If trading for cash, research sites for the best rates and fees.

• Pay Amazon bills first – Knock out Prime or Audible fees before your credit card is charged.

• Combine low balances – Transfer small gift cards into one by reloading the value.

Use Your Amazon Credit Creatively

While Amazon gift cards can’t directly pay all bills, a little creativity can help maximize their value. Use gifted credit to cover Amazon purchases that free up cash for bills. Or convert balances to cash or merchant credit to apply towards expenses. Just don’t let the funds expire!

So next time you get an Amazon gift card, don’t just think of it as shopping credit. With smart strategies, it can also assist with managing monthly bills.