Poor Aunt Mabel still doesn't understand that you are now a grown man and, while it fulfilled its purpose when you going through your "confused teen" stage, Hot Topic is no longer your go-to store of choice. Bless her gift-card-giving heart.

So what do you do with a gift card - or three - for stores you'll never set foot in? Sell 'em. Or trade them for cards to stores where you actually shop.

There are a number of places online where you can get some value out of those unusable cards. (And you might as well... the store already has its money whether you redeem your card or not.) But not all are created equal. Some let you trade for VISA cards. Some let you use them to pay bills. And the fees, selection and guarantees vary widely.

Besides the most obvious place to buy, sell or trade, eBay, here are three others that have been around for a while and will let you post your card for sale or trade, or even let you auction it off to the highest bidder. You most likely won't get full value for it, but it beats letting it sit in a drawer. And you bargain hunters may also want to troll the sites looking for deals on cards to buy at less than face value.

CardAvenue.com
- Allows you to buy, sell or trade cards.
- Charges 3.95% of the purchase price, plus a 50 cent closing fee to the seller in the case of a sale.
- Charges both parties 3.95% of the purchase price, plus a 50 cent closing fee in the case of a trade.
- No fee to buyers when buying cards. - Has categories you can search to find cards to buy.
- Has a side bar on the front page listing new card arrivals, their value and whether it is available for sale or trade.
- Offers CardCowboy Card verification to independently verify the actual value on the card you are getting.
- Has CardAssure which is their guarantee of what you are receiving. They guarantee that the card you purchased matches its value description and that the transaction is completed based on your final agreement. It also covers cards lost in transit only if verifiable delivery confirmation is purchased. And covers the purchase, selling or trade price of the card up to $150.00 per transaction, with a $10 deductible.

PlasticJungle.com
- Allows you to buy, sell or trade cards.
- Offers QuikCash. If you need the cash now, your card has a value of at least $20 and is from a merchant on their list, they will buy from you. (Usually for a little more than half the face value.)
- Can search categories by item type, store or gift occasion.
- PlasticVault lets you keep your cards organized and keeps a running total of all your cards' value. Also protects you in case cards are stolen or destroyed.
- Charges a 10% commission on sales, plus shipping fees, only when your card sells or trades.
- Has a "Make an Offer" feature, letting you offer any amount to a seller, that they can either accept or decline.
- Guarantees all transactions.
- Tracks and confirms delivery.

SwapAGift.com
- Allows you to buy, sell or trade cards.
- Will buy your card from you as long as the value is above $25 and the merchant is on their Preferred list. Pays 60%-70% of the card's value.
- VersiCard BillPay lets you pay bills with your gift card.
- VersiCard exChange lets you swap your unused cards for a VISA gift card useable at ATMs and anywhere VISA is accepted.
- Cards That Care lets you donate your cards to charity.
- Charges a flat fee of $1.99 to sell your card, no matter the value.
- Shipping is free.
- Guarantees all transactions up to $100. (See site for policy.)