Community Chat

[sandy53]

Here are my ideas: (I could pick any of them from my house)

Good books you have read

A piece of costume jewelry you no longer wear

A fleece throw you don't use

An unopened canister of Girl Scout cashews I just bought

A Corningware casserole dish with lid

Christmas socks, never worn

Or any combination of the above ideas.

[Sooner]

@wismiss I would order some $10 crazy colored socks from Amazon, throw them in a gift bag and go.  It isn't something to sweat over unless you would wanting to get attention for a clevar gift.  

I agree that this is pointless now.  

[Bri369]

I hate these types of things.  I'd rather not participate

[Stelladorable]

I went to one and people wrapped up a half used bottle of geritol, a cigarette case, a foam "donut" for people with hemorrhoids, a crocheted lap afghan (which I won and still have!!!!!), a back scratcher and a cheese grater. Don't buy anything. The point of the white elephant is for everyone to end up with a weird, useless gift that someone had hanging around their house.

[Winkk]

I too hate these kinds of exchanges, but I would not buy lottery tickets.  The point is you're supposed to "not buy" anything and find something around the house you don't want.  Is there a way to attend and not participate in the gift exchange?

[Cakers3]

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@4kitties wrote:

I agree with @candys mine 

I would try to speak with someone familiar with this gift exchange.  

The last gift exchange I went to was to be a $10.00 gift suitable for men or women.  I chose a nice Christmas Yankee Jar Candle.  well......  When the exchange was finally started after dinner, I saw that everyone had purchased gifts well over $10.00.  Bottles of liquor and wine, and some other expensive gifts.  😳😳😳😳

The lady that got my candle was annoyed and very vocal about it.  I felt like two cents.....

Sadly I had to attend the same Christmas function the next year and I told them I did not care to take part in the exchange.  

@4kitties   Good for you!  No matter how much it is supposed to be "fun" there are always nice gifts and there are always junk gifts.  There will always be people who spend more than they should which puts them out in front as "my gift was better than your gift" nonsense.

I saw one person receive a nice bottle of rum (more that $10) and leave to hide out in the kitchen. This was a Yankee swap where you could keep your gift or take one from another person.  And this person who hid was an executive.

It's so stupid-and people who are adults get hurt as though Santa put coal in their stockings..

I have always believed that a toy drive is more appropriate or a Secret Santa where employees have a wish list-and you get something you really want.

But overall I didn't have to suffer through these swaps often due to my career and at one place I did refuse to participate, too.

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[4kitties]

It was my first time at this gathering and I went by the rules on the invitation.  I had no idea no one followed the rules and bought more expensive gifts, mostly alcoholic beverages.🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

If I would have had any idea, I would have purchased a different gift than a candle.

[eadu4]

I would buy a bottle of cheap wine, and a canning jar mug...

[shoptilyadropagain]

A white elephant exchange gift can be anything.  We always put a $5.00 spending limit on it if you wanted to buy something.  I've seen those headbands with Antlers (or other Christmas themes) given, candles, a pound bag of M&M;s (or any candy), Christmas socks, or something you might want to get rid of around home (decor item, can of soup....anything).

[On It]

Now may be the time to go with the Poo-Pourri, nose hair scissors, cuticle scissors, or any other "Why would anyone give that as a gift items?" That is, if everyone has a good sense of humor. 

The funniest twist was a bait and switch we did one year. My husband wrapped a six pack of soft drinks in cans. The guys thought it was beer. The one who unwrapped that gift sat there all through the stealing and trading. No one wanted his soft drinks. At the conclusion of the exchange, my husband called out the guy and told him to look to see what was taped inside the six pack in a small envelope. It was a $100 bill. He and the guy got the last laugh.