My job has a lot of great perks, including the work at home program and a nice child care stipend. Another of the perks is rewards points. Rewards points used to be plentiful, awarded for a job well done, and never expired. In the program’s heyday, I acquired and hoarded many points and scored great stuff like the original FoodSaver, Eddie’s bed, a crock pot, luggage, coffee maker and toaster, and Oh, our Wii. I used the points to buy jewelry for my mother and mother-in-law for several Christmases. I used them for our double stroller after Cait was born, and to get the best exersaucer EVER when Eddie was a baby. I got myself a Kate Spade bag at one point. You get the picture; the program was AWESOME.
A few years ago, the points program went completely away, and then about a year after that, it was reintroduced in a much more restricted format. Points come quite sporadically now and they expire quickly. I’ve recently acquired points equal to $200 if I redeem them for a gift card, and probably more than that if I get merchandise because of various corporate sponsorships. I’m having a hard time deciding what to get. Something for me? For the kids? For the family? It’s so hard!
Most of the giftcard options are out, I think. I could do Macy’s, Build A Bear, Bath and Body works or Chili’s, or a combination of those. I don’t feel strongly about any of those places though, which leads me to merchandise.
Here are some of my top picks, all of which would leave me with points left over:
This is one of those things that sounds good in theory but that I would probably never use.
Although, this seems like just another thing to take up space on my counter.
This seems like a solid choice.
Otherwise I could get a slew of smaller things. Toys for the kids, earrings or necklaces for me, and so on. So tell me…what would you do?
Incubation Nation 
I would go for either the camcorder OR the car DVD players.
And while I loooove gift cards, the dithering that comes along with it for me is AGONIZING. I can spend hours strategizing. It is pretty ridiculous.
For merchandise – the car DVDs players. Otherwise, get a gift card and spend it on YOU.You earned it, it’s a special treat.
DVD Players. Mostly because we have a beach trip planned and *I* need some. Heh.
I want to learn to sew. They have lessons here in town. I WILL do it. Someday.
if it were me, I would get the dvd payers. they would definitely get used (as opposed to the sewing machine…) 🙂 and they would benefit the kids AND you (you get peace and quiet in the car) 🙂
I think you know what I am going to say. RIGHT! Love you. Paprika.