Learn from my mistake -- Don't delay using with those gift cards

I learned this the hard way. This HEB gift card was given to me some time ago, and today when I tried to use it the sad reality sunk in. It was worth a big fat zero.

Read the fine print. After 12 months it begins depreciating at the rate of $2.00 per month. The number "10" was written on the back. So if that was the initial value, it became zero after 17 month. Bummer.

Lesson learned.