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White elephant gift exchanges are a fun and exciting approach to gift giving during the holidays. The entire event creates light-hearted drama full of revenge and suspense about what everyone’s going to walk home with. There are plot twists and turns where one round you could have the most coveted beauty gift of the season in your hands, and the next you could end up with a dust-collecting regift. In every white elephant gift exchange, there are crowd-pleasing items and the not-so-exciting flop gifts everyone wants to trade. The range makes for a competitive camaraderie turned delightful bonding experience.
Whether you have a white elephant gift exchange with co-workers, your extended family, or with your besties, bringing a highly sought-after and entertaining item is always the goal. The best white elephant gifts touch upon humor, practicality and style. The trick is to find something with a universal appeal that will draw laughs and attention.
How to Find the Best White Elephant Gift
White elephant gift exchanges can have the reputation of a collection of knick-knacks that might get a few laughs, but when all is said and done they end up in the back of your closet holding no true purpose. The best white elephant gifts, however, are funny items that serve a purpose. If you’re stumped on what to get for a white elephant gift exchange, fear not. We have 30 of the best white elephant gift ideas ahead that everyone will want to steal, under-$50 and under-$20. Pro tip: Send this article around to your crew, so you have a higher chance of walking home with one of these highly coveted items.
An Eco-Friendly Fix
BAGGU Standard Reusable Shopping Bag
An Eco-Friendly Fix
BAGGU Standard Reusable Shopping Bag
At first glance, you might think it’s your typical plastic bag from the convenience store, but with a closer look, it’s actually a Baggu. If you’re unfamiliar, they are the best, most stylish reusable shopping bags in the game and make a great stocking stuffer.
A Helpful Planner
Brass Monkey Professional Procrastinator Pen & Planner Set
A Helpful Planner
Brass Monkey Professional Procrastinator Pen & Planner Set
Do you have someone in mind who is always perpetually late? Or that one friend that is constantly procrastinating? Poke fun at them with this planner, that will actually be quite useful.
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Surprise your white elephant crew with these luxurious cognac droppers from LOUIS XIII. Ending up with this set up five is like winning the lottery.
An Accessory for the Wine Lover
8 Oak Lane Wine Bottle Carrying Clutch Bag
An Accessory for the Wine Lover
8 Oak Lane Wine Bottle Carrying Clutch Bag
Now 50% Off
This wine bottle-carrying case will be a hit for the vino connoisseur. It has a spot for your license, credit cards, and 750ml bottle...the essentials. P.S. it makes a great hostess gift, too!
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A Surprising Sweet Treat
Beekman 1802 Goat Poop Timeless Chocolates
A Surprising Sweet Treat
Beekman 1802 Goat Poop Timeless Chocolates
From caramel to pretzel, cookies, butterscotch, and more, what sounds gross (but funny) is actually a surprisingly delicious treat. This tin of decadent chocolates actually has nearly 500 hundred perfect reviews.
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The Collab You Didn’t Know You Needed
Sugarfina Truly Hard Seltzer Gummy Bears
The Collab You Didn’t Know You Needed
Sugarfina Truly Hard Seltzer Gummy Bears
These gummy bears offer more than just a sugar rush. Part hard seltzer, part sweet treat, this bento box is the collab you didn’t know you needed.
A Self-Care White Elephant Gift
Cotsoco Electric Scalp Head Massager
A Self-Care White Elephant Gift
Cotsoco Electric Scalp Head Massager
It might seem funny at first, but with just one stroke on the scalp everyone becomes instantly hooked on this head massager. This particular one from Cotsoco was a part of Google's Holiday 100— 100 gift ideas and insights based on the most trending searches of the year.
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A Woo Woo Home Accessory
Attune Collective Aurora Floral Sage Wand
A Woo Woo Home Accessory
Attune Collective Aurora Floral Sage Wand
Saging your home brings in positive vibes and clears the negative energy. The nonbelievers will become hooked when they end up with this beautiful bundle on a white elephant stint.
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