I'd like to have a gift exchange for the family this Christmas and it is too difficult to draw names. I'd like to do something where we have everyone bring a generic gift of $20-$25 but I want to tell people to keep them generic (i.e. non-gender specific). Any ideas?
2006-09-05 15:01:44 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Holidays ➔ Christmas
I really want everyone to get something to take home with them other than a gift card. The kids are not included in this. The kids will still get presents. What I'd really like to do is eliminate the adult gift exchange altogether so we can just focus on the kids, but I'm compromising because some of the adults can't deal with that. So, hence my dilemma.
2006-09-05 15:15:04 · update #1
Yes, you can play the game Beg, Borrow, Steal.
Everyone brings a generic present...they can either all be real or they could be a combo of real & gag gifts. Then, at the party, everyone picks a # out of the hat. (getting a higher # is better). #1 goes first & picks a gift. #2 then has the option of stealing #1's gift or choosing their own. #3 can steal either #1 or #2's gifts or get one of their own, etc.
You can also make it so that each gift can only get stolen 3 times or something.
It's a lot of fun.
2006-09-05 15:09:53 · answer #1 · answered by Bonnie G 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Although it was in a different setting, the most successful "generic gift exchange" I saw was set up in the style of a white elephant. People were asked not to bring "gag gifts," but to bring a gift (men bought for men and women bought for women). There were no names on the gifts, though, just numbers. Then we drew names for order, and everyone either selected something that had already been opened or they selected an interesting wrapped gift from the pile. We didn't know in advance how the selection had been set up. Also, people were asked not to bring gift cards, so there were a lot of really thoughtful gifts. This worked pretty well, but my other experiences with gift exchanges would lead me to avoid them.
2006-09-05 15:14:14 · answer #2 · answered by JenV 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
This is how we handled this in our family. We started doing Christmas stockings instead. My mom sets out individualized Christmas sacks (stockings were too little) and we all bring little things to put in everyone's sack (think dollar or two tops).
Then we all gather around and open our sacks. And it is so much fun to see what people have picked out. There are gag items, lottery tickets, homemade candy & cookies, tiny bottles of booze, lip gloss, nail polish, pocket knives, etc. You get the picture - lots of little things. We have 25 in our family - so I mean a lot of things. It is so much fun though.
My brother always shops at the gas station. My Dad always buys lottery tickets for everyone. My nephew always does a gag gift (this year it was Bubba teeth). My niece made cookies and gave everyone a bag full. The little ones may draw a picture for everyone. Sometimes we get school pictures in a frame.
It is really a fun way to spend Christmas morning with your family, and it gets away from all the Gifts, gifts, gifts thing.
It started out it was just going to be the adults doing this, but the children wanted to participate too - so it has really been a fun thing. I hope that helps you.
2006-09-05 18:23:34 · answer #3 · answered by Karla R 5 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Yeah, my family is not a big fan of the gift exchange thing either! I wish we could do that so we could focus on our own immediate families and just enjoy the company of everyone!
Some ideas for "generic" gifts:
Big fuzzy slippers (bear claws, characters, etc - something funny)
Candy/Chocolates
Wine/Beer/Alcohol w/matching glasses (beer w/beer mugs?)
Cute/funny coffee mugs w/ground coffee beans
A board game (any kind of board game that appeals to adults)
Scratch Tickets
Candles (maybe something like Yankee Candle Midsummer's Night because men tend to like the scent as well)
Wind Chimes
Massager from Brookstone (or similar)
I don't know... hope that helps?
2006-09-06 03:54:28 · answer #4 · answered by PT&L 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
BONNIEs beg borrow or steal is a really really great idea...i have done it with a christian womens party and we had a blast...but so feelings are not hurt cause it sounds like there may be some maturity problems if some adults cant get over not getting gifts i would totally avoid gag gifts....
2006-09-05 15:31:55 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Gift cards can be great, one to a mall or sees candy anything that everyone in your family enjoys. As well gag gifts can be great, there are specialty gag gift stores you can just search for them on the Internet and find one in ur area.
2006-09-05 16:57:00 · answer #6 · answered by i<3 X-mas 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
you can get a gift card and go to like the dollar store or something. it should be about the kids. thats a great idea.
2006-09-06 05:09:26 · answer #7 · answered by teddybearleogirl 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
My family does this every year, but then my family is HUGE. some people get the gift certificates, but some buy board games, cook books, inexpensive appliances, DvD's, CD's, anything is possible. one year, my brother bought a amke your own -opoly game and made it specifically for our family. That was pretty cool.
2006-09-06 06:05:42 · answer #8 · answered by Genny 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
try gift cards for everyone so they can pick what they really like, even kids like to shop
2006-09-05 15:11:30 · answer #9 · answered by churchonthewayseniors 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
ive had this problem w. friends and family tons of times!
what works best is a gift-card to their favourite store.
2006-09-05 15:05:39 · answer #10 · answered by I'mhavingagoodtime 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋