How Much Can I Make From a $100 Goodwill Gift Card?
I received the above $100 Goodwill gift card from my mother as a Christmas gift and decided to have a little extra fun with it. My plan is to only use it for items to resell and see how how much I can make from the initial amount.
All the money will then be donated to the Oregon Food Bank, whose mission is to "Build communities that never go hungry."
$100 to $1000? $100 to $105? Time will tell!
My first purchase was this pair of Lovesac brand cushion covers, as I know they're an expensive and popular brand.
It didn't hurt that the purple tag meant it was 50% off, taking it from $9.99 down to $4.99!
I did a quick "Completed Listings" eBay search while in the store, which sealed the deal. The same cushion cover sold a month ago for $45 and since I had two, this made my find a no brainer!
I put together an eBay listing as soon as I got home, which is key to being a successful reseller. I also made sure to thoroughly inspect both pieces for any flaws or stains and was happy to not find any.
I don't expect an overnight sale on them, as they're fairly niche items, plus the Lovesac website currently has everything 40% off. But I have faith and patience.
Click HERE* to see the listing.
I was tempted to pick up this beautiful stained glass shade, but I did a Google lens search and learned that it's from Hampton Bay, which is a Home Depot brand. I've had a hard time selling lighting online in the past, so I left it for someone else. I think it was $4.99.
I wasn't tempted to buy this mug, but I did snap a photo as I'm always a sucker for free food! Not sure this sentiment needs to be be on a mug though, which is probably why someone donated it to Goodwill. Kind of a passive aggressive gift.
I'll keep you updated on how I spend down this Goodwill gift card, as well as any sales I make. Cross your fingers for me!
Katy Wolk-Stanley
"Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without."
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* This blog contains an eBay referral link.
I’m helping an acquaintance sell what remains of mother’s estate. She was a dog fancier so it’s truly a niche market. Sales are plugging along which I expected as it’s after the holiday and so far what I’ve listed is high end jewelry
I love, love ,love, that you are using your gift card to resell & donate profits to a local food bank. Quite inspiring for us all. Thank you!
It's extra motivation on my part!
I love, love, love this! You are an inspiration for us all here!
Katy-
Happy holidays to you and love your plan to grow your $100 gift card to big $$ and then, donate to your food bank! Knowing how smart you are, I believe you can use your gift card at your Portland Goodwill bins and I know from reading your blog for years how successful you have been at finding great bargains. Speaking of which, super find of those LoveSac covers and awesome price… Good luck in your quest to make big $$ for your food bank!
Thank you, you're right that the bins will be the best way maximize the gift card!
Yesssssss! This makes me so happy.
Our crazy family is cheering you on!
A friend takes those stained glass globes and makes them into outdoor lighting with a solar powered garden light, so cute!
She charges $50 for them in her farmer's market booth.
Along with everyone else, I'm eagerly looking forward to hearing about your finds and sales with this gift card--and I applaud your plan to donate the proceeds to your food bank. This is one developing story I'll be glad to follow in 2026 (unlike numerous other developing stories I could name).
This is an interesting experiment (for a good cause!) and your first purchase should pay off. My husband can’t believe they named a product “Lovesac”.
I agree with your hubby
I’m looking forward to your clever thrift store finds and flips. You’ve taught me a lot of tricks, such as the remote control market and selling parts of things. Today I was clearing out manuals of items that are no longer in our house. When I stumbled on a quirky looking vintage illustrated safety manual, I reverse image searched it, only to find there is a resale market for old engine machine manuals. They were headed to the recycle bin but instead got diverted to eBay; now I’ll wait to see if they sell. I also listed replacement parts to a self propelled vacuum that I no longer own; I never would have thought to do that without your advice. I try to incorporate frugality and less waste where I can, and your blogs definitely help me find easy ways to take it up a notch. Recently I sold a pair of Land’s End snow pants on eBay and bought the same style in another size for the same price, the only cost to me being the shipping fee. Two people’s need for warm legs met, a little bit of money earned for two people, and no addition to the landfill. Reselling can be win-win.
I have stayed in my house since I got home from my niece's on Christmas day (around 7:15 pm). Going to bed early to save electricity. Thankful we're on the side of the equinox that our days in the Northern Hemisphere are gradually getting longer. Therefore, I have not spent a dime...and I plan to keep it that way (for as long as possible). Now is a good time for me to clean out the fridge as it's all but empty. That's on tomorrow's agenda.
Since DH won't be home until 1/4, I have been avoiding meal prep and cooking as much as possible. I don't mind the cooking...it's the washing dishes afterward. (Sadly, no dishwasher. 🙁 ). Tonight's dinner was tortilla chips and salsa. I did make myself a bowl of oatmeal (old fashioned oats) for breakfast.
Katy, while I was reading your post about the Lovesac covers. I was listening to the radio and the song "Love Shack" came on. The buyer needs these "Lovesacs" for their "Love Shack" 😉
Have to call unemployment in the morning. I tried filing for a partial week for last week and I kept getting stuck. Not sure what I did wrong. I'll probably be on hold most of the morning until I can get help. The forecast is for freezing rain in the morning (ENOUGH ALREADY!) I may get a call from the Amish Schoolmaster (yep - he's got a cell phone) that school is closed tomorrow. They closed last Tuesday - he called me at 5 am.
Other than 2 I want to keep, the Christmas cards go into recycling in the morning. Our little ceramic tree is also getting put away until next year. Takes all of 5 minutes. Works for me.
Did a load of laundry yesterday and hung it in the spare room to dry.
Been keeping the heat down to 60 at night. We just got heating oil last week. Want to make it last through the rest of the winter.
Ideally, I'd like to go to Virginia to see my daughter in the fall. Have to start putting money away for that. Our car won't make the 6-hour trip, but I may be able to borrow a car as opposed to renting one. We'll see when it's closer to the time.
HAPPY 2026 EVERYONE! I will celebrate the same way I always do...got to bed in 2025 and wake up in 2026. Can't do those late nights anymore.
I am planning on making a trip to see my son in Oregon in the fall. I'm in the Chicago area. (I do this every year.) This year I will take the train, which is pricey in the sleeper car, so I'm going to start saving now.
The Empire Builder? Such a great train name!
I haven't traveled for quite a while, but Amtrak's credit card and points programs were not bad in the past. And as you would have seen, ticket prices vary throughout the year.
Alas. The kitty was hoping you would buy her some new cat toys with the GW gift card.
I thought simply using the gift card to buy for reselling sounded fun. But what you're doing is fantastic! You're a good human.
I'll add my voice to those cheering you on for your Goodwill challenge, Katy! It's going to be exciting to see what happens. (I know, I know: I lead a boring life.)
I just got back from working the closing shift at our store. One of our specials is a bottle of Dawn dishwashing liquid for 99 cents. We sold dozens today. I'm guessing everyone ran out of dish soap from washing the Christmas dinner dishes, LOL.
The afternoon high temperature was 80 degrees, but a cold front is supposed to blow in. The weather service has issued a wind advisory and we're supposed to get a light freeze overnight. Our afternoon high tomorrow will be in the 40s. I'm off tomorrow and might not go outdoors at all! Throwing extra quilts and blankets on the bed.
1. I braved Costco at 11:30 on Christmas Eve day. I went in to buy a gallon of milk for $2.79 and came out with that plus a half gallon of eggnog on sale for $1.97. I helped myself to some amazing samples and didn’t buy anything else. Since it’s only me at home with a gallon of milk, I split the gallon into separate pint size mason jars to freeze. so this 1 gallon will probably last me a month.
2. my son works at a movie theater and was working Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and every day until New Year’s Eve day. Then he works New Year’s Day. I saw him the Monday before Christmas and sent him home with he and his boyfriend‘s gifts. I got him a bunch of gift cards to eat out and to buy groceries with plus gave him a fun gift of a Talking Heads album I bought on record store day, that turns out, was recorded about 25 minutes from where I live. I bought his boyfriend a manga workbook sketchbook. (he’s an amazing artist) and I found a gorgeous, soft, cashmere scarf for him. Then I transferred money to help them pay their January rent. I did the same thing last year, and it really helps them.
3. I haven’t left my house since Christmas Eve day but I have PT on Tuesday. That may be the first day.
4. I have been knitting quite a bit on a sweater I started two years ago with leftover worsted weight yarn, and I finished the body and have started on a sleeve. I’m anxious to complete that, so I can start other projects.
5. I had a bunch of socks that I knitted 10–15 years ago, that are now too small. So I took them apart. Then I weighed each sock weight of yarn and put them aside to search for projects to make with them. One pair of socks was alpaca yarn.
Happy new year everyone! Stay home, stay warm.
How kind of you to help them pay their January rent and help with groceries etc.
I'm not a reseller, but I help run an annual community food drive, where we collect food and cash. I used to shop for bargains, until I toured their facilities.* They can buy two meals with $1, so now I just give them cash.** I give at least $1k each year. I am positive that you are going to help in two big ways: by turning your $100 gift card into an as yet undetermined but surely larger amount, and by making your donation in cash. I'm cheering you on, Katy!
*When I toured, they had giant, beautiful Washington apples by the palletful. Apparently they were "too big" for the grocery stores.
**I made an exception this year. At the last minute, the FB wanted us to commit to a full barrel at every location they were placed in the community. Instead, I found screaming deals on brand-name cereal and end-of-summer clearance condiment packs at Sam's Club. The FB doesn't provide either, but they love to receive them. In this way, I virtually topped off every barrel. IIRC, there were about 36 barrels, so we filled them to overflowing.
Go, Katy!
A local family with a child who was autistic who died has sponsored a special area in the local food bank in her honor. It is for "free" things: after families have shopped and taken their limits, they can take what they want from this shelf. The family started it by stocking it with dozens of bottles of ranch dressing, which she loved.
This will be interesting to follow. I took inspiration from your sweater sales, and another follower's sale of an empty liquor bottle, and for the first time I listed 4 items on eBay. Some vintage books, which I hope will find loving homes. I never sold on eBay so fingers crossed.
I love this! Can't wait to see what you make!
I was almost interested myself in the cushion covers, but I need seat cushions, not back cushions, and I don't have a Lovesac. But while fooling around with my cushions, I realized I could exchange the seat cushions with the back cushions on my loveseat and it doesn't look too bad! And it hides the worn spots! A win!
This is a really fun challenge for the blog. I can't wait to follow along on your progress! How sweet that you are donating the proceeds to the local food bank, too. Good luck!!
The 'Where's the free food' mug would be a great gift for a few grifters I know. It would also be funny at holiday Christmas parties.
Yay - this will be fun to watch, good luck!
My daughter just said she had $20 and wanted to turn it into $100. I think we may have to hit the thrift store and make it happen!
I love this challenge idea, and especially that you are donating cash - food banks can do so much more with it than we can.
Side note, this page just popped up a request to find and connect to other devices on my home network, which has never happened on your website and doesn't seem your style. Maybe a glitch?
Katy -
I love see what you thrift and what you sell (and what you thrift & sell). I'd love to see a post on how you keep it stored and organized in your home. Also - how you keep your shipping supplies too. Thanks for considering!