Mark Tilbury explained why you should always give cash instead (Image: Mark Tilbury)
A self-made millionaire has declared that gift cards are “basically a scam” and revealed why cash is always the superior choice. Mark Tilbury, who departed school at 16 without qualifications, now operates a multi-million-pound business and has accumulated more than seven million followers on his YouTube platform.
Gift cards remain a firm favourite amongst Britons, providing a hassle-free solution for those uncertain about what to purchase their nearest and dearest. However, Mark argues they could actually be throwing money down the drain. In a brief video entitled ‘Why gift cards keep you poor’, Mark highlighted that numerous people simply forget to redeem them. Moreover, even those who do remember typically “never spend the full balance”, resulting in perfectly good money being discarded.
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Mark claimed that 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 about $15 billion’s worth (about £11bn) of unused gift cards, which means half the people that get a gift card forget to use them.
“And even if they do, most people never spend the full balance and end up throwing it in the trash. Brands call this ‘breakage’, and it’s exactly what they want because they can profit from services they never provide.”
“So, remember to use that gift card you have laying around, and always give cash, as it’s the gift card you can spend anywhere.”
This isn’t the first occasion Mark has offered vital guidance regarding our routine purchasing habits, either. Back in June 2025, Mark, recognised for his wealth-building guidance, revealed four golden rules for lottery winners.
Should you ever find yourself in the exceptionally fortunate position of scooping the lottery, Mark, who aims to help people achieve “financially free” status, shared the crucial steps you should take straight away.
He pointed out that many of us forget to use our gift cards (Image: Mark Tilbury)
In a video on the subject, titled ‘You Won the Lottery, Now What?’, Mark outlined four specific steps you should take to help you protect your windfall, and one that may help you avoid “ever running out” of money.
Mark explained: “What to do in your first 24 hours after winning $50,000,000 (around £36,504,344). Step one: sign the lottery ticket, just in case it gets lost or stolen, so you can prove it’s yours.”
He added: “Step two: stay calm and collect your prize secretly to avoid unwanted attention. Step three: get a lawyer from a big firm that specialises in trust and estate planning.”
“Step four: make it last forever by figuring out how much you want to spend per year, then multiplying that by 25 and investing it in the SandP 500. That way, you should be able to withdraw four percent per year without it ever running out.”