Family Gift idea, similar to white elephant

[Tink-n-MrIncredible]

I need some family gift ideas. We do a gift swap similar to white elephant, except we purchase things that can be used between 20-30 dollars. The family's have a wide age range, therefore the use of "games" would be a waste. Several families are over 40 with no little children in the house, but then we have some families with children that range in age from 12 and under. Some things done in the past: blanket and hot chocolate, block buster card, microwave popcorn, candy and beverage. As I said I need some ideas but I prefer not to use games.

 

[Mickeypooh99]

Scratch off lottery tickets.
Restaurant gift cards.
Christmas decorations.
Christmas music CD
3 months of netflix

 

[gigi1313]

our family does this every year and the age range is 1yo to 89yo, so i feel your pain! LOL!

the big hits have been:
magazine subscription (winner selects magazine)
lottery tickets (scratch offs)
snow shovel/windshield scraper
nerf guns (don't ask, but the adults liked them more than the kids)
homemade anything
fruit and candy basket
movie basket w/some junk food and a blockbuster or redbox card
most recent disney release (i.e. this year TS3)
starbucks card and mugs
mcdonalds gift cards
snuggies
sports blanket (the kind soccer-moms use)

 

[Dizneydaz]

We do the same thing and we have a wide range of ages. The kids now want to get involved so they are starting as young as 12/13. Makes it harder to find gifts that will suit all. So I basically buy a gift for my age range and most of the family does the same. It seems to work out in the end.

After our first year where we had way too many Gift Cards we have said no more gift cards.

Some of our more popular items have been:
Snuggies (last year, this year probably not)
12 pack of Yankee candles
Anything Oakley (I have family that works there and gets a discount)
Warm furry pretty blanket for the family room.
Themed movie basket.
Beautiful Bath Sets
Booze (not my preference but a few of our group seems to enjoy this)
A nice Stock Pot.
Sets of picture frames.
Newest DVDs-last year I got some of the newest releases from Target for really cheap. I put 4 of them (together) in the exchange.
Tools-depends on the tool.
Flashlight Sets.
Artwork (framed or ??)
See's Candy (usually a 2 lb. box)

Something that hasn't been too popular is the newest, latest and greatest, appliance. Like a quesadilla maker, etc.

I usually buy something that I would like to have and wouldn't mind stealing (or exchanging after it's all over)

We leave the dollar amount up to the person who is hosting Christmas Eve at their house. It has ranged from a low of $15 to $30.

Oh, and we label items Boy, Girl, or Neutral. Oh, and Adult for anything for over 21.

Our rule is a gift is frozen after it's been stolen 3 times. It's pretty interesting to see H&W work together to get something.

I'm thinking this year we may do 2 separate ones-one for the under 18 set and one for us older folks.

We used to do this, years ago, at our Mary Kay holiday party. The limit was $5. Made it pretty interesting.

 

[happily single]

I was just in Sears and they had something that I thought was great! It was like a snuggy, but I guess you could call it a poncho. It went over your head and had batwing arms. I beleive the inside was sherpa and the outside was suede like. Best part?? On sale for $19.99

Also I am putting together a basket of necessary, but often forgotten home items (thanks to CVS); razors, toothpaste, soap, dishsoap, candy (cause you can never have too much candy). I also am putting together a small bag with one of those Fisher Price Sing-A-Migs, I heard they were hard to find and they are funny.

 

[DominicaAnne]

I tried to get my family to do this and my dad said, and I quote "My family is not a fun family and would not handle this." They are a bunch of fuddy duddies, which is why I was hoping to get them into it, cause Christmas is BORING at my grandfather's house, but oh well.

 

[Dizneydaz]

I tried to get my family to do this and my dad said, and I quote "My family is not a fun family and would not handle this." They are a bunch of fuddy duddies, which is why I was hoping to get them into it, cause Christmas is BORING at my grandfather's house, but oh well.

Maybe they'll do it if you keep the budget low, like $10? The way we do it is if you want to play, then bring a gift. If you don't, don't bring one. Sometimes H&W will bring 1 gift, other times they'll each bring one. See if you can get it started, maybe the old fuddy duddys will get into it. It's pretty funny when people start "stealing" gifts. Sometimes my DM, DSis, or DBiL will steal just to get things started!

Sometimes people will do a themed one. Like DVDs, or Gourmet Food, or ????

 

[libinatorsmom]

Gas Cards
Movie Basket (popcorn, bowls, DVDs, etc)
Blanket
Amazon GC

 

[bettyann29]

I was just in Sears and they had something that I thought was great! It was like a snuggy, but I guess you could call it a poncho. It went over your head and had batwing arms. I beleive the inside was sherpa and the outside was suede like. Best part?? On sale for $19.99

Also I am putting together a basket of necessary, but often forgotten home items (thanks to CVS); razors, toothpaste, soap, dishsoap, candy (cause you can never have too much candy). I also am putting together a small bag with one of those Fisher Price Sing-A-Migs, I heard they were hard to find and they are funny.

Those sing a ma gigs are CUTE!! I bought one today for our granddaughter and everyone had to play with it.. I got it at Walmart for $9.97 and they had bunches.. Im about to head back and pick up some more for the rest of the grandbabies after I saw how they were a hit with the adults.. I cant imagine how the kids will go crazy over them..

 

[bettyann29]

we do the white elephant exchange for the adults.. this year Im making a bath and body works basket and making a movie basket for DH to bring.. I got a nice size bowl and putting popcorn in there and getting the movie Grownups and getting a few boxes of candy..

Our limit is usually around $25..

 

[nowellsl]

We're all doing gift cards ($25.00).

 

[wtrmlnlabs]

We don't do this but I had a friend tell me about theirs once. They said everyone's favorite thing is useful stuff you don't buy your self like a gas can, tools, car safety kits... stuff you can always use or say you should get this but never do.

 

[jadeblue13]

Can you explain the rules for this? Where I'm from a white elephant is a rummage sale. Thanks!

 

[dbogen]

You can always pick up a body wash, lotion, bath poof (do they have a name), and a towel. This would be something that everyone could use, and hot just sit up on a closet shelf.

 

[Tink-n-MrIncredible]

Can you explain the rules for this? Where I'm from a white elephant is a rummage sale. Thanks!

The way we play the game is: If you want to participate you purchase a gift between $20-$30. It is wrapped (try not to use the same wrap as your other presents) with no names on it. Put it in the middle of the floor. Every family who participates gets a number ( pulled from a hat or what ever) 1-?. The highest number goes first. They pick a gift from the pile in the middle of the floor and open it up it is their's. The catch is someone with a lower number than them can "steal" their gift if they like the gift and the person who's gift was stolen gets to pick a new (unwrapped)gift, they can't steal someone else's gift. Once you get a gift you can't steal someone else's, but your gift can get stolen. Now if you have number 1 you can have any gift you want or the last unopened gift. Some gifts never get stolen, some gifts go from hand to hand. We have lots of fun. Every family has their own set of rules, you just need to decide your before the game begins. We do a family game, therefore we do not pick names or any other type of adult gift swap.

 

[DominicaAnne]

Maybe they'll do it if you keep the budget low, like $10? The way we do it is if you want to play, then bring a gift. If you don't, don't bring one. Sometimes H&W will bring 1 gift, other times they'll each bring one. See if you can get it started, maybe the old fuddy duddys will get into it. It's pretty funny when people start "stealing" gifts. Sometimes my DM, DSis, or DBiL will steal just to get things started!

Sometimes people will do a themed one. Like DVDs, or Gourmet Food, or ????

I think that the family would have fun if they'd be willing to try it, but I can't really organize it, because Christmas is in NY this year and I'm in Texas, and my parents vetoed the idea. Oh well, maybe I will talk to my cousins about it this year and see if they would be interested for Christmas 2012, which is the next time my immediate family will have Christmas in NY. I do love the theme ideas though, that could make it easier for people who have never played before to come up with a gift.

 

[griergirl2]

We do this too, but only for the adults. But we can only spend $5 max. Makes for some really interesting gifts! We often hit up the clearance sales and buy crazy things. It usually becomes a contest who can come up with the craziest gift. This year my husband found two large red lobster lawn ornaments on clearance for $1 a piece. They are about twice the size of a bowling ball. They are crazy heavy and together in a box will make everyone wonder what the heck is in there! Last year my manly construction worker uncle ended up with a Hannah Montana set-too funny! My dad ended up with a magic wand with sounds and everything which actually wasn't bad since DD fell in love with the thing (we still have it). We usually end up at the dollar store or targets dollar section and see what we can come up with. Sometimes it's actually something useful (popcorn bucket and popcorn, matini shaker, funky ice cube trays) but usually it's something totally funny Last year my dad wrapped up a box full of sweet potatoes..I think that big huge box got stollen more than any other!

 

[Malibustyle23]

How about one of those flat multi use griddles with some gourmet syrup or a flag set with the pole for outside even the mini flags are nice to have different ones for each season. A set of grilling utensils with some seasonings and a gift card for some meat at a local grocer. A carwash kit with a Yankee car jar, and a cd case. If all of the families have the same last name you could do a set of monogrammed towels. A nice large beach tote bag with a set of large beach towels and some sunscreen

Some of these are summer use gifts but you would get a larger present/more bang for your buck if able to find them on sale or clearance this time of the year.