If so, check out the iPhone app called Tango Card. I downloaded it a few days ago and registered my partially used gift cards in about 10 minutes. While you can register any gift card to simply keep track of it, those that match up with stores in the Tango Card database derive the most benefit. Once you enter your gift card number and PIN, for example, Tango Card can verify the balance and update it on demand.

To test it out, I registered a $10 gift card for Target. On my next trip to that store, I bought a drink at the food court with my gift card. Then I pressed “refresh” on my phone. The balance accurately dropped $1.49 showing I now had $8.51 to spend. Pretty cool.

Tango Card will also send me an e-mail once a quarter to remind me to use the gift cards registered and tell me what the current balance of each card is.

I must admit that the simple act of registering my unused gift cards prompted even me (someone who is ALWAYS thinking about gift cards) to use them. One card, in particular, had been in my wallet for a few years because the store in my area closed. I went to the web site and found out I still had about $17 on the card. Rather than carry it around any longer, I ordered something online instead. Already Tango Card did me a favor. I’ll see how the rest of the features work over time.

I’m adding this insight to the Solution Center where you can find solutions to other gift card problems.

I started this site because I want to show people how to gift card without feeling guilty. But I discovered that most of us need a little more help than that. We need to know what to do with unwanted gift cards, what to do with the balance left on a card, how to avoid gift card fraud, and so forth.

To meet this need, we added the “Solution Center” to our site. This is where I’ll put advice and information on some of your biggest concerns, such as:

• Gift cards are too impersonal.
• Not sure what to do with unwanted gift cards.
• Givers don’t want recipient to know how much they spent on a gift.
• Gift card fraud, expiration dates, and hidden fees can ruin the gift card experience.
• Kids and gift cards create a new set of problems.

As I navigate the gift card industry, I’ll update this page with ways to help you avoid gift card pitfalls so you can gift card with confidence instead. Check it out: Solution Center.