If nothing comes to mind right away, then perhaps set the money aside for when you do need it.

It’s entirely dependent on what you want or need. If you’re good right now throw it in savings until you want or need something.

The absolute best use is opening a Vanguard account, putting $75 in VOO, and forgetting you did it for about 20 or 30 years. Even better, put a $10 in there every month as well.

For a gift for myself when I’m not strapped for cash, I use gift cards and cash for something I would never buy myself. It just feels like it makes a bigger impact that way. I remember it.

If going the charity route, go to your nearest unhoused shelter and ask what they need. I volunteer at one that is hanging on by a thread (no real funding other than a small grant from the county, it’s just volunteers). Sometimes donations aren’t hitting everything we need and something has run out. Hot chocolate packets and cup of noodles are so valuable (easily transportable, usable, stable, and withstand outdoor weather) that we were giving out handfuls yesterday instead of our typical limit of 1 per person per day. It’s wild how important those little things are.

Save it, preferably in something interest bearing. Pretend you never got that money.

Having $75 when you really need it is worth a lot more than spending $75 just because you have it.

Do you have to spend it right now? You could just wait until you need the money and spend it then.

Go to a mom & pop nonprofit thrift store. You’ll have a fun time and the money often goes to supporting non profits

Can you use that gift card anywhere? If yes, then first convert it to cash. Your parents may be covering all your expenses, but they still need to buy groceries. The next time they do, ask them to use your gift card and give you the equivalent amount in cash. Now you have more flexibility to do whatever you want with that cash. Buy something nice, save/invest, etc. You have plenty of advice from others on this already.

2rocks and a handy

Safe bet is corn

Buy as many stick on googly eyes as you can and put them on everything you see

$75 might get you a power washer or a lawn mower, maybe a snowblower depending on your area. Could make that money back real quick if you have a little charisma.

One gallon of gas.

Whatever you spend it on, may I make a suggestion, if you have a little extra money yourself? Spend the gift card money, yes: buy something you’ll enjoy, share that joy with the people who got it for you, let them see how happy they’ve made you.

Then take the card that the giftcard came in, put in $75 cash, and put it in a special place. Do that every time someone gives you money or a giftcard. As I’ve gotten older, a lot of the people in my life have died, gotten ill, or moved away. Sometimes, when I’m feeling sad or depressed, I’ll go to my little drawer of cards and pull one out at random. I’ll re-read the message, and think about the person and the love that we shared at that time, and I’ll take the money and do something special for myself, to cheer myself up a bit.

Then sometime in the next few days, I’ll get the same amount of cash from the bank, put it in the envelope, and replace it in my stash: the caring we felt for each other at that time was true (regardless of how things eventually turned out), so the cards give me a little emotional boost and the cash lets me do something for myself that I’d normally not spend money on. It helps me feel better, even if only for a little time.

[I’ll also be honest and say that sometimes I’ve run out of money, and something will twinge and I’ll remember I have this little stash of cash, and having that has helped me get through some slightly tough times. But I always put the money back in the cards when I can afford it.]

How to wisely use $75.

Step 1) Send it to me.

There is no step 2.

Use it for whatever will bring you the most pleasure.