White Elephant Gift

Bubble wrap is so cool to give. or just got to the dollart store and get anythting for a dollar those are the best kind and you end up spending little money!!

Funny you should ask, I'm actually hosting a White Elephant party in about 20 minutes! Anyway, I say go through your house and find things that you don't use or need anymore (those are the rules for ours, it has to come from your house, no money involved). Mine is with all girlfriends, and can get a little girly and "fun", but if you have some old figurines, pictures (not family. like from decorating but you changed your style), books you don't want, a bottle of alcohol (preferably unopened) is always a good one. Use your imagination and take the opportunity to purge! Have fun!

I given so many white elephant gifts away...it's usually something in your house you are tired of looking at...it can be a nic-nac or an ol' vase...anything that you think would be nice to give away...like a cheese cutter...or a mug...we accumalate so many items that we never really use and they just lay around in a box in a drawer or on a shelf...there you go! a white elephant...have fun!

A white elephant gift should be anything you find around the house that you don't want, but that could be useful to someone else. (something you'd put in a garage sale) We used to go to them all the time and have received items such as an old thigh master, chili pepper Christmas lights, basket steamer, musical picture frames, old videos with hot chocolate and popcorn, a travel bag filled with hotel soaps and shampoos, an old toy, etc. Get creative, but don't give garbage. Last year I got a really cheap plastic crumpled up Leprechaun hat which was worthless and really spoiled the fun. Enjoy!

Have you ever attended or know someone who attends this particular event before? Each group of people that I've known do it differently. If they take it seriously, I'd give a DVD you don't watch much any more or an extra gift like a candle you never opened or gave. If they do it as a joke, as my office does, have some fun with it! One year an officemate wrapped up an open box of kleenex! It was hilarious - for our group. It's best to get some input from someone who's been before.

Shannon & Diane are right on with what a true White Elephant gift is. We had a great time with a party we hosted and here are some of the most coveted that night: an actual white elephant made of glass or similar (we actually got that one and it holds a place of honor in our home after 16 years!), a plastic bowling set, a gaudy/tacky christmas towel set, and an old bad vhs movie.

Basically, look around for a gift that you received and it's in a closet colecting dust or something childish/crazy. Those are the funniest to pass around and steal from each other. Have fun with it!!

This is a great way to re-gift! We do this each year at a work holiday party. everyone truly enjoys it. just look around at some of the things you have been given, and don't use.

Once I wrapped up a cookie maker that I got and never used. People actually fought over that one. Also once I took a package of toilet paper and another time an old game my kids didn't play (if you need to take kids gifts).

I think you should choose gifts that you would want to receive. Personally, I love to put gift cards in the mix. Costco is doing a AMC gift card with two tickets to a movie and free large drink. You could find a cute popcorn bowl or flavored popcorn to go with the whole thing. Make a theme out of it. You never can go wrong with Target, Jewel, Barnes and Noble... etc.

I had not heard the term, but we go to something similar -- a Re-gifting party. Last year we gave an unused breadmaker. This year, a 40 channel CB radio in perfect condition.

Not sure what your price limit is - we do a Yankee Gift Exchange every year with a $10-$20 gift. This year we are bringing 2 - one is a fun card game, the other is a matching oven mitt, pot holder, and dish towel. Think about things that are useful, cute, and not too big or expensive. Avoid useless items, gag gifts, and candles, I've found. Other good items I've seen in the past: a handful of mix CDs (or even just copied from your own collection), a bottle of wine, travel mugs, hot chocolate mix (good stuff - not cheap stuff), tea, etc.

I gave a picture of me and an ex-boyfriend in a frame one time. I didn't need it anymore! In the past, I got a bunch of travel size soaps and lotions from a hotel. Old CDs or a movie VHS would be great too. Have fun!

I would suggest asking the host what the theme of the white elephant is. In my family, we do a white elephant every year at christmas and it is mostly silly or embarassing gifts that are given (still tasteful because there are lots of kids there too). Then some people throw good stuff in there, like lottery scratch-offs, cute coffee mugs, gift cards, etc. But sometimes a white elephant is intended solely to be actual gifts that are somewhat useful or nice.

I would just clarify that to give you a starting point and to make sure you're bringing something appropriate for the group.