I was asked recently if I’d be buying Christmas gifts with my ITEX credits this year, and my answer was a resounding, “YES!” I always buy gifts on trade. There’s just so much to offer, I can’t go wrong.
Actually, what I normally do is take my family to the annual holiday trade fair, which is held on December 4th this year (which is sneaking up on us, but there’s still time to get in by paying $5 ITEX at the door or bringing toiletry items to donate). I tell them to pick out whatever they want, and I go back and pay for it with my ITEX credits.
The vendors at the fair have everything my family could want or need. My 15-year-old son usually goes for sports collectibles, apparel, tennis shoes, or computer games (this is an increasingly popular item, and there’s always a good selection). My husband tends to pick out tools, parkas, pullovers, sweatshirts…he always find something (or more like a few somethings!) that he wants me to wrap up and leave under the tree.
Being in this business, I’m exposed to so much great stuff that it can be hard to resist picking up things for myself and my family. We have a standing joke in my family that we had to buy a bigger house because 1800 square feet wasn’t cutting it, so we had to upgrade to 4500 square feet just to hold it all!
Sometimes, if I want to add more of an element of surprise to Christmas, I’ll take the family to Nebraska Furniture Mart to get gift ideas. My husband and sons will point out what they want, and I’ll go searching for it on trade. Chances are, I’ll find what they want or something very similar. I’m telling you, ITEX members really don’t have a lack of access to great gifts.
But enough talk. I’ve gotta go; there’s Christmas shopping to be done (through ITEX, of course)!
