Work gift exchange

[disneychrista]

My department does a "white elephant" type gift exchange but with "good gifts." I am at a loss. I know I do NOT want to give a gift card (I hate them as gifts). Any suggestions? I don't know what the "limit" is for this exchange but I am hoping the $20 - $25 range.

 

[ronandannette]

My department does a "white elephant" type gift exchange but with "good gifts." I am at a loss. I know I do NOT want to give a gift card (I hate them as gifts). Any suggestions? I don't know what the "limit" is for this exchange but I am hoping the $20 - $25 range.

You really need to find out the price limit but my suggestion would be a board game - what ever is trending right now. Practically everybody likes board games.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Liquor.

 

[ForMyBoys]

We do a $20 gift exchange. Here are some past items that I recall being stolen

• A big snuggly fleece blanket
• Starbucks travel mug with $10 GC
• Liquor
• A stack of recent People Magazines with scratch off lottery tickets
• Real Belgium chocolates

 

[DisneyHardin]

We've done these at work before too. My work is mostly ladies. Things that I remember being really popular are super cute Christmas decorations, candy, a "movie night" thing with a popcorn bowl, microwave popcorn, candy, etc in it.

 

[jaybirdsmommy]

We may be a little odd, but here are some of the more popular gifts at our exchange the last few years:

A cookie jar shaped like a Llama accompanied by Llama themed hand towels
A toilet light
one of those Christmas light projectors
Food storage bowls
A set of Pioneer Woman measuring bowls

 

[nkereina]

A candle perhaps? Bath & Body Works is having a sale on candles tomorrow for $8.95 each - you could get 2-3 of them, which I think is a nice gift. They have "masculine" scents as well.

I think gift cards are actually a safe bet for something like this - people can use them to buy something they actually want and will use. I can't tell you how many co-workers have given me wine, which I don't drink. They don't know me well enough to know that, so it usually ends up as a host gift for Christmas.

 

[disneychrista]

Liquor.

Alcohol is not allowed on the premises.

 

[focusondisney]

My view comes from a 60something who is trying to get rid of stuff. I don’t need more mugs or decorations; I don’t drink; have lots of bath & body works lotion that I can’t use on my sensative skin anyway & rarely burn candles. I appreciate consumable things like movie tickets, gift cards to local coffee or salad shops. And yea, I love lottery scratch offs!

I actually prefer not to do work exchanges anymore. But last year, I transferred to a much smaller department, only 7 of us. And yes, someone started passing out gifts. The hand sanitizer & foot lotion, still sitting in a cupboard a year later. The cozy socks got used a few times. The coffe shop gift card got used quickly! I gave lottery scratch offs that a couple of people won a few bucks on.

 

[BrianL]

A candle or some Godiva or other high-end chocolates make for a good, generic work gift. I got a bag of Ghirardelli squares once as part of a Secret Santa thing. I loved that!

 

[disneychrista]

My view comes from a 60something who is trying to get rid of stuff.
I actually prefer not to do work exchanges anymore.

I’m a 40-something who doesn’t need or want “stuff”. Like you I prefer the practical gifts. I don’t in general exchange gifts anymore. And never have in a work setting. But I’m new so kinda feel like I should because they all are. Thankfully it’s only one gift.

I was kinda hoping for a traditional white elephant because I have several “junk gifts” stashed in my closet.

 

[anniemae]

at my last work gift swap these were the three most sought after gifts:

a pizza stone with pizza cutter

two bottles of flavored "fancy" dipping olive oils in a basket (they sell these at home goods)

a basket with a few bags of higher end flavored coffee

 

[RUDisney]

My go to gifts for this year for the aunts and uncles from my kids are Tiles for their phones and probe thermometers for them to use for roasts and fowl. They were in the $20 range.

 

[Wendy31]

The felt boards that come w/ change-able letters are pretty popular right now -

https://www.amazon.com/Changable-Le...95046&sr=8-5&keywords=felt+board+with+letters

I like this sink set of soap & lotion from Thymes. It's a bit different than the usual Bath & Body stuff, & it's a consumable - (And for every product purchased in the "Frasier Fir" collection, the company plants a tree.)

http://www.thymes.com/Fragrances/Frasier-Fir/Frasier-Fir-Sink-Set/

And, I don't think you can go wrong w/ a "Cozy Basket" - purchase a really nice, soft throw, a pair or 2 of fuzzy socks, a cute mug w/ some Godiva hot chocolate mixes & package everything together in a basket.

 

[smiths02]

At all our gift exchanges....the thing that gets stolen most or is most desired is gift cards. The other thing that people like is a getting to leave early pass or someone agreeing to do some work for the other person (obviously, this only works in certain scenarios)

Anyhow, as far as a good $20 gift...maybe this:
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Hyper-Tough-116-Piece-Home-Repair-Tool-Set/737573796

My MIL bought me one, even though we have all those tools in the basement, in junk drawers, in a utility closet...I love having this in my pantry because I can always find them

 

[smiths02]

Other ideas:
Nice umbrella (I am always short on umbrellas for some reason), portable charger (https://www.amazon.com/Anker-PowerCore-Lipstick-Sized-Generation-Batteries/dp/B005X1Y7I2), cell phone holder (https://www.amazon.com/Bondi-Silico...&ie=UTF8&qid=1543596078&sr=1-1&keywords=bondi)

 

[smiths02]

We may be a little odd, but here are some of the more popular gifts at our exchange the last few years:

A cookie jar shaped like a Llama accompanied by Llama themed hand towels
A toilet light
one of those Christmas light projectors
Food storage bowls
A set of Pioneer Woman measuring bowls

That reminds me. I think Walmart usually has an "As Seen on TV" aisle or display. Some of that stuff is stuff I wouldn't purchase it myself, but it is fine as a gift.
My DH had an aunt who was a big QVC shopper, so I have things like the Edge Brownie Pan. Yes, it is a little gimmicky, but I did get some use out of it

 

[SC Minnie]

I've done the movie night basket before. You need a big popcorn bowl,

Other ideas:
Nice umbrella (I am always short on umbrellas for some reason), portable charger (https://www.amazon.com/Anker-PowerCore-Lipstick-Sized-Generation-Batteries/dp/B005X1Y7I2)

I really like the umbrella (the ones that fold in) and the portable phone charger. Both of those are generic but would be useful!

 

[minnie1012]

I have given or received, a nice umbrella, either Coach or betterbrella, a Swell waterbottle, Peppermint bark from Williams & Sonoma, a monogrammed door mat, Amazon Alexa, blanket scarf, battery operated candles, I made a basket with: an insulated coffee mug, Dunkin coffee and biscotti, also a batter bowl or new muffin tin with spatulas, wooden spoons etc.

 

[Luv Bunnies]

My work group does a gift exchange every year. We're preschool staff members, all women. Christmas-themed gifts tend to be popular such as mugs, bowls, baking supplies, etc. One year I brought a Mickey-shaped ornament with a pair of Disney socks inside. Our group also tends to like bath items, soaps, lotions, etc. A few years ago, I bought a bunch of discounted items after Christmas. I have some travel mugs, dish towels, salt and pepper shakers and few other things. If I need an extra gift for some reason, I can pull things out of the bag and put together something nice.