Your office is having its annual White Elephant gift exchange, and you can’t bear the thought of ending up with another pair of Mr. and Mrs. Claus salt and pepper shakers. You weigh the social consequences of bringing an unwanted gift versus just sitting this year out. Don’t despair! This article contains ten creative White Elephant gift ideas that are sure to please your coworkers.
Choosing the right White Elephant gift – the one that will have your colleagues buzzing at the water cooler for years to come – is a delicate art. Whether you choose a gift that is practical or attractive, edible or spendable, you’re shopping on a budget and often at the last minute. With that in mind, this list compiles ten gifts that are easy to find at major U.S. retailers and cost under $20.
The Fun
Ultimately, the White Elephant gift exchange is about fun. Extend that idea of office camaraderie by gifting a game. The 20 Questions Handheld Game by Radica ($12.99 at Toys R Us, in purple or blue) is a fascinating twist on a classic game. The player thinks of an item, and the game asks increasingly specific questions to determine what the item is. The artificial intelligence of the game is uncanny, and the new owner of this gift is bound to spend hours trying to outsmart the machine.
The coffee drinkers of your office will get a kick out of the whimsical Emergency Coffee ($10 at Restoration Hardware), four servings of coffee presented in a sardine can. And if your coworkers don’t want this gift for themselves, they’ll be trying to nab it to stuff the stocking of a coffee-guzzling friend or relative.
Throw a little political controversy into your office’s White Elephant exchange with Stephen Colbert’s I Am America (And So Can You!) ($26.99 list price with discounts online at both Borders and Barnes & Noble). Colbert’s political irreverence is sure to liven up the conversation at the gift exchange!
The Practical
This may sound so simple that it’s silly, but postage stamps ($8.20 for a sheet or book of 20) are always in demand. As a last minute purchase for the White Elephant gift exchange, stamps can be found at grocery stores, pharmacies, and a number of other locations. If you think ahead, visit the post office for more artful options. You’re guaranteed to give a gift your colleagues can use, particularly if they’re late sending out their holiday cards!
Have you ever eaten lunch at your desk? And have you ever looked down at your keyboard to realize that all manner of crumbs, dust, and who knows what else has fallen down between the keys? So has your officemate. The USB keyboard vacuum ($4.99 at The Container Store) plugs into your computer’s USB port and removes all of the otherwise irretrievable grime. Maybe your coworker will let you borrow it once in a while.
The Enviable
Cater to the java lovers at your White Elephant gift exchange with the Bodum Bistro Mug Press ($19.99 at The Container Store). This stainless steel French press sits inside a mug to brew a single serving of fresh coffee at the desk.
Add to your colleagues’ desk décor with a classic silver frame. The Mini Silver-Plated Grosgrain Frame ($10 at Pottery Barn) comes with a green or red mat and fits a 2 X 3 picture. The frame is engraved with the word “unforgettable.” It’s perfect for this year’s picture of your coworker’s kid on Santa’s lap.
The Stress-Relieving
It’s hard to focus on fitness when you have an office job. You can help your colleagues with their New Year’s resolutions by gifting a pedometer ($15 and up at Target). They’ll be reminded of the good they’re doing for themselves each time they take a walk to blow off steam!
Sometimes it helps to step back from a project and take a few moments to clear your head. To that end, the Brain Teaser Value Pack ($5.98 at Toys R Us) can provide a useful but short distraction. Your coworkers can keep these ten assorted metal and wooden puzzles on their desks for an occasional break.
Great for the office or the home, yoga balls ($19.99 at Target or Sports Authority) provide a variety of benefits for the body. Your colleagues can sit atop the yoga ball while working to reduce strain on the back or roll it out from under the desk for a stretch.
Now that you’ve picked the perfect gift, there’s just one more problem. What if you end up with someone else’s lame offering? There’s an easy fix! Circulate this list around the office to increase your own chances of going home from your office’s White Elephant gift exchange in high holiday spirits!
