[Discussion] Got a PSN Card as a Gift - What Should I Actually Buy?

OP: throwaway_gamer_2024

So my aunt gave me a $50 PlayStation gift card for Christmas. Cool. Problem is, I already have PS Plus and I'm not sure what to actually spend this on. My backlog is huge. Anyone else been in this situation? What did you end up getting?

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Top Comment by xX_ProGamer_Xx ⬆️ 847

Honestly? Don't rush to spend it. I made the mistake of immediately buying a game at full price, and it went on sale like 2 weeks later.

Wait for a PSN sale. They happen constantly:

• Holiday sales (obviously)
• Mid-year sales
• Flash sales (random but great)
• Publisher-specific sales

$50 during a sale can get you 3-4 solid games instead of one.

Reply from OP: Good point. When's the next big sale usually?

Reply: Usually mid-January there's a "New Year" sale. Check psprices.com - they track sales and you can set alerts.

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Comment by PlayStation_Since_1994 ⬆️ 523

PSN cards are region-locked, btw. US card = US PSN account only. Learned this the hard way when my cousin in the UK sent me one.

If you have the wrong region card, you basically have two options:

1. Create a new PSN account for that region (annoying but works)
2. Sell the card and buy the right one

Don't try to use a VPN or whatever. Sony will ban you.

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Comment by BudgetGamerDad ⬆️ 412

Here's my list of genuinely good purchases under $20 that aren't obvious:

• Avatars and themes - Sounds dumb but some are actually cool and like $2
• DLC for games you already own - Get more out of what you have
• PS Plus upgrade - If you're on Essential, bump to Extra for a month and try some catalog games
• In-game currency for F2P games - Only if you actively play them though

Worst purchase? Full-price games you'll never play. We all do it. Don't be me.

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Comment by SaleHunterPro ⬆️ 389

🚨 PRO TIP 🚨

Add funds to your wallet, don't buy a specific game directly. Why?

1. You can stack multiple cards
2. Wallet funds don't expire
3. You're ready when sales hit
4. You can split across multiple purchases

Only exception: If a game is on sale RIGHT NOW and you know you want it, just buy it before the sale ends.

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Comment by deleted_account ⬆️ 287

[Comment removed by moderator]

Reply by Mod_Sarah: Reminder that discussing grey market key sites is against sub rules. Stick to official PSN purchases.

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Comment by CasualGamer_Mom ⬆️ 256

I just wanna say - it's okay to not spend it right away! I had a $25 card sitting in my wallet for like 6 months. Finally used it when God of War Ragnarok went on sale and got it for $30. Zero regrets about waiting.

The psychological pressure to spend gift cards immediately is real but resist it.

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Comment by TechSupportNinja ⬆️ 198

Common PSN card mistakes I see:

❌ Buying at full price what'll be on PS Plus next month (check the rumors!)

❌ Getting the wrong region card

❌ Buying a game you already own on disc (yes, people do this)

❌ In-game purchases for games you'll stop playing in a week

❌ Not checking if there's a bundle that's better value

Do this instead:

✅ Check PSPrices for price history

✅ Read reviews BEFORE buying

✅ Ask yourself "will I play this in the next month?"

✅ Consider your existing backlog honestly

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Comment by ReturnsExpert ⬆️ 167

FYI Sony's refund policy on digital purchases is basically non-existent once you download. You get like 14 days BUT only if you haven't downloaded the content.

So if you accidentally buy the wrong thing and start downloading immediately... you're stuck with it.

Be careful. Double-check before confirming purchase.

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Comment by ChillVibesOnly ⬆️ 143

Unpopular opinion: if you don't game much and the card is just gonna sit there, sell it.

PSN cards typically go for 85-90% of face value on resale sites. That's $42.50-$45 cash for your $50 card.

No shame in turning a gift you won't use into money you will use.

Reply from OP: Wait, people actually buy used gift cards? Is that safe?

Reply: They're not "used" - they're unused cards being resold. And yeah, there are legit platforms for it. Just don't sell on random Discord servers or you'll get scammed.

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Comment by FinalFantasyFan99 ⬆️ 98

My personal recommendation for what to buy with $50:

• If you like RPGs: Wait for a Persona or Final Fantasy sale, get 2-3 older titles
• If you like shooters: CoD or BF in-game currency (if you play), or wait for a sale
• If you like indies: You can get like 10 great indie games for $50 during sales
• If you're unsure: PS Plus Extra for a few months, sample everything

Whatever you do, don't impulse buy. That's how backlogs are born.

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[LOCKED] - Thanks for the great discussion everyone! Locking this as it's getting spammy. Check the sidebar for our PSN guide and deals megathread.

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Editor's note: This community discussion has been curated and edited for clarity. Looking to sell a PSN card you can't use? Our platform connects sellers with verified buyers.