Go to a local bank and ask for $40 in quarters. Then visit a coin-changing machine operator CoinStar at your local Supermarket or a Walmart to exchange for a $40 gift card. There is a promotion from Coinstar whereas you get an extra $10 gift card by mail. Some of the popular gift cards are Lowe’s, Amazon.com, Starbucks, etc.
From the website:
Obtain an official claim form when you convert in a single transaction at least 40 U.S. dollars (in coins only) into a gift card or eCertificate at participating Coinstar Centers. The claim form will be displayed at the end of qualified Coinstar® receipts.
General terms and conditions: the $10 holiday bonus offer ends 12/6/09. Offer valid in the U.S. only and excludes Puerto Rico. Offer good on qualified coin transactions made between 11/9/09 and 12/6/09. Transactions occurring before or after these dates are not eligible for this offer. Limit 1 per name, address, or household.
Free with the promo. No fees when you get the gift card.
Coinstar machines charge an 8-10% fee of the change you deposit. Are they waiving this fee for the gift card promo? Otherwise you aren’t getting $10 for ‘free’ you’ll be getting $6.