‘I’m a self-made millionaire – here’s why buying gift cards will keep you poor’ | Personal Finance | Finance
Mark Tilbury explains why you should always give cash (Image: Mark Tilbury)
A self-made millionaire has revealed that gift cards are “basically a scam” and explained why cash is always the better choice. Mark TilburyLeaving school with no qualifications at 16, he now runs a multi-million pound business and has amassed more than seven million followers on the YouTube platform.
Gift cards remain a firm favorite among Brits, offering a hassle-free solution for those unsure of what to buy for their nearest and dearest. But Mark argues that they may actually be throwing money away. Mark: ‘Why do gift cards make you poor?’ He emphasized that many people forget to use them. Moreover, even those who remember often “never spend the entire balance,” resulting in perfectly good money being thrown away.
READ MORE: Brits earning £50,000 urged to check if they need to make urgent tax changes
READ MORE: State Pension February DWP payments after bank holiday change
Mark claims gift cards are ‘basically a scam’ (Image: Mark Tilbury)
He explained: “Gift cards are basically a scam that everyone falls for. Let me explain. Americans have around $15bn (about £11bn) worth of unused gift cards, meaning half of people who buy gift cards forget to use them.”
“And even if they do, most people never spend the entire balance and end up throwing it away. Brands call this ‘breakage,’ and that’s exactly what they want because they can make a profit on services they never provided.”
“So remember to use whatever gift card you have and always give cash, because it’s a gift card you can spend anywhere.”
This isn’t the first time Mark has offered vital guidance on our routine purchasing habits, either. Known for his wealth-building guidance, Mark revealed the four golden rules for lottery winners in June 2025.
If you find yourself in the extremely lucky position of winning the lottery, Mark, who aims to help people achieve “financially free” status, has shared the key steps you should take immediately.
He pointed out that many of us forget to use our gift cards. (Image: Mark Tilbury)
On the subject ‘You Won the Lottery, Now What?’ In a video titled , Mark outlined four specific steps you should take to help you protect your windfall, which can help you avoid “never running out” of money.
Mark explained: “What should you do in the first 24 hours after winning $50,000,000 (approximately £36,504,344)? Step one: sign the lottery ticket in case it gets lost or stolen so you can prove it’s yours.”
He added: “Step two: remain calm and collect your reward secretly to avoid unwanted attention. Step three: hire an attorney from a large firm specializing in trust and estate planning.”
“Step four: Calculate how much you want to spend per year, multiply that by 25, and invest in SandP 500 to make it last forever. That way, you should be able to withdraw four percent a year before it ever runs out.”
