Step 1: Profit Step 2: Profit Step 3: Profit. Take Two

OfficeMax has an instant $20 rebate if you spend $300 or more on MasterCard gift cards, with the promo limiting you to two rebates (a total of $40 off if you spend $600).

Using an Ink Bold/Plus card that gives you 5x points at office stores, you can manufacture up to 3,000 Ultimate Rewards points if you buy two $200 gift cards twice and then end up making a $22.50 profit:

• Buy three $200 MasterCard gift cards = $20.85 activation fee for all four cards cards ($6.95 per card)
• $40 instant rebate (two $20 rebates) - $20.85 activation fee = $19.50 (Profit! Like, literally.)

I wasn't able to get the $200 gift cards on my first day, so I altered the strategy and went for the $100 gift cards instead. I bought six of them (to get maximum of two rebates for every $300 spent). This meant I only got a total of 3,000 UR points and a profit of $4.30.

I asked the cashier if she would allow me to buy above the restriction, she said, "No, but I'm not working tomorrow." Hint, taken. I returned the following morning to make another "purchase" for the same amount. ("Purchase" in quotes because I earned money for showing up and taking their inventory.)

NOTE: Some people are reporting that the limit restriction sometimes is not enforced and is very cashier dependent. Give it a shot and see what happens!

This is a great way to manufacture spend or to meet those large minimum spend requirements for your new card. These cards can be easily added onto bluebird via Walmart money center kiosks after adding a PIN via telephone. Or if you have enough to pay off your credit card bill, just use these gift cards as regular gift cards. Go get some free money!