need grab bag idea

[Mickey527]

Family has decided to do a secret Santa type of thing for Christmas for the adults and teens in the family.
I can't seem to think of anything that would be good for men ages 32 to 70, women 28 to 59, and teens ages 13 and 15.
Please help me come up with something.
I am not sure if they will just put them in a bag and let people take one or if they are planning on doing the dirty Santa type of thing. All I have been told is nothing dirty.

 

[clh2]

iTunes would generally be a great idea for the teens.

Nice spices (i.e. Penzey's) would be great for the adult women.

The guy ones are a little harder (IMHO) last year we did a selection of bungee cords for our adult male dirty santa gift. This year we are doing a 48 pack of AA batteries.

Another idea that we've done which could work for all 3- groups is a selection of office supplies - i.e. a couple of reams of paper, some pens, pencils etc. Very basic stuff, but useful.

To the OP - do you have a $ limit or $ range that you need to work within?

 

[Fueledbycoffee]

LED headlamp flashlight for the guys. My husband uses his around the house & at work (he's an electrician). He swears by them!

 

[Mickey527]

sorry should have included that.
Yes we have a limit, a bunch of cheapskates. $10 to spend on something that will be good for either man, woman or teen.
I probably could find something if we had a $20 limit but $10 really makes it difficult to find something good.

 

[snarlingcoyote]

Something food related maybe?

Popcorn
Chocolates
Cookies
Hot Cocoa Mix
Pretzel Rods
Candies


A nice fleecy throw maybe?
$10 gift card to CVS/Walgreens/Rite-Aid.
Photo Frame

 

[pat fan]

sorry should have included that.
Yes we have a limit, a bunch of cheapskates. $10 to spend on something that will be good for either man, woman or teen.
I probably could find something if we had a $20 limit but $10 really makes it difficult to find something good.

Bulk TP. Not romantic, but everyone uses it! Good flashlight. Car kit-ice scraper/windshield wash/dry gas/air freshener. Junk food-you can get a fair amount of snacks for $10...chips,crackers,cheese in a can, candy bars.

 

[clh2]

Ahhh - a $10 limit. The only way to get $10 in iTunes (that I know of) is 3-10's for $30. I did this, but gave my DD a GC, as well as used one for a different person on our Christmas list, leaving 1 for our gift exchange. a $10 GC for a local movie theater (if it works logistically for all the teens) might be an idea as well!

Other $10 gift ideas...for the guys - either a couple of car wash GC's - or some car wash items.

Adult (more unisex) a nice $10 container of cashews. I didn't get that at a previous dirty Santa, but I sure wanted it!

And -If you get "desperate" - 10 crisp $1 bills would be a gift that would be great for any of your groups.

NOW - to the PP who mentioned TP. One of my sisters brought TP as a dirty Santa item, and one of my other sisters was very excited to be able to steal that gift from someone. They were desperately low at their house, and this saved them a stop on the way home.

 

[3boymthr]

An alarm clock.
A cheap DVD and a package of microwave popcorn. On Amazon, there are bunches and bunches of DVDs that can be had for under $10 and many of them are hit movies. Hunger Games, Pacific Rim, Elf, Duck Dynasty Season 1, The Hobbit, to name a few.

But if you are doing a swap where the person gets to keep your gift or trade for a different gift then I'd say you don't have to go totally gender free as people will be able to trade it away if they don't want it.

 

[pat fan]

NOW - to the PP who mentioned TP. One of my sisters brought TP as a dirty Santa item, and one of my other sisters was very excited to be able to steal that gift from someone. They were desperately low at their house, and this saved them a stop on the way home.

Everyone uses it, one size fits all

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Pocket size Kleenex.

Hand sanitizer

DVD movie

Coffee

Dunkin Doughnuts gift card

Stretchy gloves

Bottle of wine

nail polish

Bath and Body hand lotion

 

[amie416]

Travel mug or reusable water bottle
Fun coffee mug (A cute Disney mug!)
USB key
fast food gift card
desk calendar
chocolates or candy
Winter "survival" kit (a collection of dollar items like hand cream, lip balm, hot chocolate, pocket warmers, etc...)

 

[MSSANDRA]

I'm pretty sue no teen is going to be happy to get TP. I say food. Everyone eats and chances are better it will get used by the recipient or someone in the family. Big box of candy or cookies, create a basket with hot chocolate mix and cookies, or popcorn, and a soda and candy, or makings for brownies. Other choice would be a gift card to somewhere like sweet frogs or subway, or starbucks.

 

[ready123go]

Package of LED mini-flashlights (Amazon and Tractor Supply).

Amazon also has some silly gifts like Canned Unicorn Meat, Look and Feel Canadian Breath Spray, Emergency Underpants Dispenser, etc.

 

[luvmy3]

Since the gift has to be something for everyone I think the best route is some kind of food/candy item.

 

[teacup princess]

A 6 pack of root beer (teens) or booze/coffee (adults) and a Tervis tumbler or if you prefer funny, Pick Your Nose cups



http://www.amazon.com/Fred-12-Ounce-Pick-Your-Paper/dp/B000V6OKA4

 

[Perditamarie]

Love these ideas, especially the flashlights and ice scrapers. Here are some more:

* giant snickers or reeses
* universal phone charger (seen in BBB flyer and Target)
* hands free soap dispenser

Hope to get some ideas for our Yankee Swap!

 

[CathiVee]

I just gave this as a Secret Santa gift at work and they loved it: Adult hot chocolate. You get a mason jar and fill it half with hot chocolate mix and half with marshmallows...then tie an airplane bottle of baileys to the top of it. Cheap and super cute! If it's for a teen, just take the baileys off.

 

[scrapquitler]

Family has decided to do a secret Santa type of thing for Christmas for the adults and teens in the family.
I can't seem to think of anything that would be good for men ages 32 to 70, women 28 to 59, and teens ages 13 and 15.
Please help me come up with something.
I am not sure if they will just put them in a bag and let people take one or if they are planning on doing the dirty Santa type of thing. All I have been told is nothing dirty.

For our family grab bag this year (everyone participates, we don't do age categories, we trade if a child gets something inappropriate and there are always a few kid friendly gifts in the mix) I bought:

1.) a plastic 'red solo cup' emblazoned with the name of our favorite brewery and I will get a good bottle of craft beer to go with it.

2.) One of those packages with 2 of the the GIANT Reese's Peanut Butter Cups in it.

3.) A package of LED flashlights (I think there are 3 in there)

and for gift 4.) I haven't purchased yet, but I think I will be getting a box of KCups from Dunkin Donuts.

Other ideas (with an emphasis on 'man' gifts): an assortment of hot sauces, a travel mug and a small gift card for Dunkin Donuts (or Starbucks, whatever is more popular in your area), some sort of tool gadget or a small pocket knife/multi tool, a car scraper (if snow is common in your area), instant lottery tickets.

 

[CJMickeyMouse]

One of the most popular gifts at our grab bag parties is a sampler pack of Jelly Bellies. I would think a sampler of any kind of food is a safe bet.... usually it gets opened and everyone gets some!

 

[ms1031]

I'm pretty sue no teen is going to be happy to get TP. I say food. Everyone eats and chances are better it will get used by the recipient or someone in the family.

TP - Everyone eats and chances are better it will get used by the recipient or someone in the family.