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Every year, people are putting a fun spin on the conventional holiday gift exchange with a white elephant party. The rules lend themselves to a playful environment and even some light-hearted shenanigans.
So, what is a white elephant gift exchange? Also called a Yankee Swap, there are a few basic rules. Essentially, each person in the swap contributes a wrapped present to a gift pool. Usually, the event organizer has stipulations on price and type of gift. Some white elephant exchanges, for instance, encourage people to re-gift something they never wanted in the first place.
Once the items are in, players draw numbers to determine the order they’ll select a gift. Then, everyone sits in a circle so they can all see the presents. The first player picks their gift and opens it. Here’s what makes the white elephant exchange different from something like a Secret Santa: the following players can take an item from the pool or steal a previous player’s gift. If someone has their present stolen, then they can either choose a new gift or steal it from someone else. This continues until everyone has had a turn.
This year may be a bit different as many people will be holding their white elephant parties virtually. But the responsibility of purchasing a gift should remain the same. If you’ve been invited to participate in one of these exchanges, it can be tricky to pick a gift. You’re not buying for a specific person; instead, you’re purchasing something that would appeal to at least several people. To help you in this endeavor, we’ve selected a variety of quirky and creative gifts that are all $25 and under. We’re sure that there’s an art lover, tea enthusiast, and cat lover in your group! See our entire selection, below.
Need something for a white elephant gift exchange? Here are quirky and creative gifts all for $25 or less!
Rainbow Yoga Joes
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Brogamats | $25
‘The Great Wave’ Tote Bag
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Loqi | $14.95
Bob Ross Mug
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Unemployed Philosophers Guide | $16.95
Avocado Food Huggers
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Anthropologie | $12
Storm Cloud
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UncommonGoods | $25
Chill Beer Flannel
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Tyrone Hazen | $14
Animal Society Temporary Tattoo Set
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Tattly | $15
Salvador Keychain
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Sketch.Inc | $25.95
Cookie House Mug Buddies
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Margen Soliman | $24
“642 Things to Draw” Book
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Chronicle Books | $16.95
Vincat van Gogh Enamel Pin
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Niaski | $12.50
Cherry Measuring Spoons
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Ototo | $16
Animal Multi Tool
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Kikkerland Design | $22.50
Bartender Glasses
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Kikkerland Design | $25
Agate Coaster
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Anthropologie | $16
Moon Chalk
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Nikolas Bentel | $12
Pop Art Crew Socks
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Yellow Owl Workshop | $10.95
1,000-Piece Moon Puzzle
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Four Point Puzzle | $25
MagnaShapes Spinning Circles
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The MET | $24
Tokens of My Love: 24 Redeemable Coupons
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Jordan Sondler | $12.99
Cat Butt Magnets
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Kikkerland Design | $17
Birds on a Wire Mug
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Unemployed Philosophers Guilds | $16.95
Nail Polish Holder
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Tweexy | $9.99
Build-On Brick Mug
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Triumphic | $15.75
Silicone Wine Glass Holder for the Shower
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30 Watt | $14.99
Basquiat Skull Tote Bag
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LOQI | $14.95
Baby Nessie Tea Infuser
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OTOTO | $14
Lollipopter Kinetic Toy
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John Edmark | $25
Cactus Cool Mist Humidifier
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AmuseND | $14.89
Small Wooden Cat Pile
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Comma | $20
Pasta Monster Serving Spoons
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OTOTO | $17
Puffer Fish Dryer Buddies
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Kikkerland | $9.50
Louis C. Tiffany Favrile Domed Magnets
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The MET | $22
Death Star Ice Cube Mold
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WiiRun | $13.97
Cacti and Succulent Tealight Candles
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Zoet Candles | $12.95
This article has been edited and updated.
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