Depends on what you have and what your recipient wants. I believe it was started with the intention of people hopefully using stuff in their trade box, but not everybody holds on to stuff they don't want. I don't think there's ever been a year in which I didn't spend some money, but I always try to throw in some extra stuff I have on hand. Me, I always make a wide-open wish list, basically saying anything I don't already have is okay, which both makes for a fun surprise and also hopefully makes it easier on my Santa to get rid of dupes or unwanted games they may have instead of having to go shopping.