Leo stared at the cracked screen of his smartphone, a digital casualty of a sidewalk fumble. He knew he had a gift card tucked away in his junk drawer, but he couldn't remember if it held enough for a replacement or just a few packs of AA batteries.
Combined with the $15.22 on the physical card, Leo realized he was sitting on enough credit to get the mid-range model he’d been eyeing. He grabbed his keys, headed to the store, and traded his digital "monopoly money" for a brand-new device before the sun went down.
First, he tried the digital route. He hopped onto the Best Buy website and navigated to the page. With the card’s 16-digit number and the hidden security PIN he scratched off with a penny, he hit "Check Balance."
His heart sank. That wouldn't even cover a screen protector, let alone a new phone.