They were trying to be kind.
One gift card. One gesture.
But what followed? Lost friendships. Ghosted group chats. Years of silence.
These aren’t made-up stories. These are real American regrets — over one small mistake that snowballed into heartbreak.
1. The “Empty Card” Birthday Disaster
San Diego, CA — Emily gave her college roommate a $100 Sephora card.
The next day? “Hey… it says $0.”
Emily swears she loaded it. Her friend didn’t believe her.
Silent tension. Ghosted texts. Five years of friendship — gone.
Mistake: Not checking the balance before gifting.
2. The Forgotten Card That Felt Like a Lie
Detroit, MI — Jordan promised his cousin a $150 Best Buy card as a thank-you.
He forgot to send it.
Weeks later, his cousin asked about it. Jordan felt awkward and avoided the convo.
Now they haven’t spoken in over a year.
Mistake: Forgetting to actually send the card you talked about.
3. The Expired Wedding Gift
Phoenix, AZ — A couple received $500 in restaurant gift cards from an old friend.
But they didn’t use them in time.
When they told the sender, she was embarrassed — and felt they blamed her.
Now? Awkward social distance every time they meet.
Mistake: Not checking expiration dates or inactivity fees.
4. Sharing Details… with the Wrong “Friend”
Tampa, FL — Chris trusted an old schoolmate with a $200 card trade on Snapchat.
He shared the code. Never heard back.
What hurts more than the money? The betrayal.
Mistake: Sharing gift card codes without verification or protection.
5. “I Didn’t Mean to…” But It Looked Like Theft
Portland, OR — Lisa’s friend gave her a Target card.
Lisa saw a charge 2 days later — her balance dropped by half.
She assumed her friend used it afterward. Trust broken. Friendship ruined.
But it turned out to be a system error.
Mistake: Misunderstanding balance changes — and assuming the worst.
6. Selling a Used Card by Accident
Atlanta, GA — Marcus sold a Macy’s card to an old coworker.
He thought it was unused. It wasn’t.
His coworker called him a scammer. Word spread. No one from that job speaks to him anymore.
Mistake: Not verifying card value before reselling.
7. Letting a Card Sit… Until It Meant Nothing
Chicago, IL — Amanda got a $100 Starbucks gift card from her best friend.
She meant to use it. She really did. But forgot.
When the friend asked, “Did you like it?” — Amanda panicked, lied… then avoided her.
Over a card. Yes.
Mistake: Letting the card expire — and the relationship along with it.
Final Thought
These aren’t about money. They’re about trust.
One small mistake, and everything you built with someone… unravels. Silently.Before you send, share, or sell a gift card — double check. Think twice.
Because the biggest losses don’t show up in your bank account.
They show up in your contact list — as names that never text back.