Here’s the formula for the perfect pick.
Bringing home the most sought-after gift in a white elephant exchange is a great feeling. A close second? Being the person who brought that gift. And while rules vary between families, friend groups, and regions, the most stressful part of the shopping process is always true—you have to buy a gift for someone…but you have no idea who that person is.
So, how do you do that? I’ve got four easy tips for making sure your gift is the one everyone is trying to steal at the end of the night:
1. Get the guest list: If you can, ask the host who exactly will be at the exchange. Sure, you might not know every person, but even knowing whether the group will consist of family, coworkers, kids, or just close adult friends will let you tailor the tone of your gift to the crowd. When in doubt, this holiday-themed ring toss game will be a hit with just about any group.
2. Shop a gift set: You don’t want to be the person to ignore the agreed-upon price limit and make everyone feel uncomfortable, but you can make your budget stretch a little further by looking at gift sets, like this popcorn seasoning pack. Usually valued a little higher than their actual cost, gift sets also have more products, making it more likely that there’s a little something everyone wants.
3. Pick a niche gift with broad appeal: Candles, chocolate, and gift cards are all going to be appreciated by whoever gets them—but the gifts everyone remembers are the ones that are just a little bit weird. For example, chances are good no one at the party has a mug warmer already, but this one will appeal to coffee, tea, and hot cocoa drinkers alike.
4. Stay zero-proof: While it may seem easy to bring a bottle of wine if the guest list is full of adults, many experts would recommend against it—people may not feel comfortable disclosing health issues, lifestyle changes, or pregnancies in the middle of a holiday party. Instead, grab something drink-adjacent that could be used by anyone, like this puffy drink jacket. |
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