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Any great ideas for a versatile gift exchange gift?

last month

Rules - no gift cards

Less than $30.00


30 Attendees

Ages from 18-80, male, female, single, married . . .

Middle income - more blue collar than professionals. (People I know who are attending include beautician, a practical nurse, a claims specialist, a construction worker and a tattoo artist)


Typical white elephant type exchange - take a gift or steal from someone else . . .

Best if I can get something from Amazon as the party got moved from the 20th to this weekend (13th).


Got some ideas from my sister - but her group exchange are all female, over 60 and higher income and all foodies, so a lot of olio oils and balsamic vinegars, wines, a French press and Italian coffee, fountain pen and journal.


Just not coming up with something that most anyone could use and would enjoy . .


Comments (33)

  • last month

    Assortment of nuts and munchies? Local consumables that people like?

    Jennifer Hogan thanked RNmomof2 zone 5
  • last month

    A foot massager ball or other massage tool. Especially since it sounds like some people there stand on their feet a lot.

    Jennifer Hogan thanked Kendrah
  • last month

    Nice bag of coffee (ground), festive cocktail napkins and paper plates, chocolate, nuts, gourmet preserves, Apple air tags, nice hand towels/dish towels, mini LED flashlights - some people may not want some of these things but since people can take from others there will likely be someone who wants the gift.

    Jennifer Hogan thanked 3katz4me
  • last month

    A nice throw blanket

    Jennifer Hogan thanked mtnrdredux_gw
  • last month

    Lego Botanicals?

    Jennifer Hogan thanked porkandham
  • last month

    You can get this on Amazon


    I have given numerous people this and am using mine right now.



    Jennifer Hogan thanked eld6161
  • last month
    last modified: last month

    An electric milk frother! And the one I own is on sale for $29.99! In case the linke doesn't work, it's the Instant Pot brand elecrtic milk frother.


    Instant Pot brand electric milk frother


    Another idea (from a purchase I made and love from the last year: a weighted heating pad. Amazon has a few choices for less than $30

    Jennifer Hogan thanked Bestyears
  • last month

    I got a table gift at a golf event recently - a little JBL bluetooth speaker. Intended to be used in the golf cart but I don't like playing music while I golf. However DH was happy to take it over for use it in the bathroom. It's quite nice and was even mentioned this week in the WSJ as a good gift.

    Jennifer Hogan thanked 3katz4me
  • last month

    Amazon has Bombas





    Jennifer Hogan thanked eld6161
  • last month

    Emergency fire blanket

    Jennifer Hogan thanked njmomma
  • last month

    Add these in if you get the phone stand

    Target but I’m sure Amazon has them



    Jennifer Hogan thanked eld6161
  • last month

    Car wash kits

    Jennifer Hogan thanked njmomma
  • last month

    My DBIL’s answer to this is always a nose hair trimmer He has a warped sense of humor, but his gift gets a lot of laughs and a lot of “steals”

    Jennifer Hogan thanked bbstx
  • last month

    Cocktail sugar cubes

    Jennifer Hogan thanked njmomma
  • last month

    Cavallini puzzles are nice and the box even just looks nice on a shelf! Amaz has several options.



    Or a little more lighthearted. I got this for my adult son.


    The lego flower or plant kits are fun, too. I got a poinsettia kit as a gift last year, I just added it to my ”plant table” again.

    Jennifer Hogan thanked Sueb20
  • last month

    I love seeing what people consider to be universally liked or appreciated gifts!

    Jennifer Hogan thanked Kendrah
  • last month
    last modified: last month

    I like the coffee idea! Here are a few more....Scratch off lottery tickets. Rechargable hand warmers (just saw some at Costco). Geometry dish towel ($18) and something else to go along with it - I'm seeing Geometry in gift shops, hardware stores and floral shops. A Hero Clip (fancy carabiner). Hardware stores have a lot of great ideas. We have an Ace nearby that is part hardware, part home goods and part gifts.

    Jennifer Hogan thanked Bluebell66
  • last month

    Popcorn maker

    Jennifer Hogan thanked njmomma
  • last month
    last modified: last month

    k $28 heated blanket




    Link $25 Air Fryer/Target 3qt



    Twinnings tea bag sampler



    A manicure travel kit. $26 by Pete & Pedro or

    A Japanese Manicure kit.


    Jennifer Hogan thanked Nicole
  • last month



    I found things at Uncommon Goods. In addition to the Dog Bubbles they have edible cat bubbles also.

    I thought about getting vodka to go with the drink mix but some of our staff our younger. I’ll definitely add some crushed candy cane for glass rimming and whole ones for fun.

    The Christmas morning candle is cute.


    Jennifer Hogan thanked lisaam
  • last month

    that’s hard! Chia pets are sometimes popular. definitely food. Card games, a puzzle, a plant or Christmas centerpiece/arrangement. You can never have too many warm throw blankets if you’re in a cold environment.

    Jennifer Hogan thanked legomom23
  • last month

    Looking over the list, the rechargeable hand warmers look like something everyone could use!

    Jennifer Hogan thanked bpath
  • last month

    I'm giving a color changing umbrella at a white elephant party next week. Very appropriate for my crowd.


    https://www.amazon.com/color-changing-umbrella/s?k=color+changing+umbrella


    Jennifer Hogan thanked ljwrar
  • last month

    I mentioned a throw blanket because my sister was at one of these recently and a particularly soft throw was the thing everyone wanted. Gag gifts destined to be thrown away are always suboptimal in my mind.

  • last month

    I ”won” 2 pairs of Barefoot Dreams socks last night…love them!

  • last month

    that's a good gift


  • last month


    Toiletry Travel kit $30

  • last month

    Rotavirus has taken hold of the host household, so the party was cancelled.

    One of the first comments here suggested nuts and snack items and made me think about decadent treats. Ghirardelli sells dessert topping sauces that you can add to coffee, or put over ice cream, drizzle on cake . . . so I ordered a 3 bottle variety pack (Chocolate, Caramel and Sea Salt Caramel https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FSJ68FRW?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title&th=1


    Sadly, I don't drink coffee and don't eat a lot of ice cream or deserts, so this will need to be gifted to someone.


    I do love a quite few of the ideas that were suggested . . . some that I have purchased before or own. Bomba socks, Cavallini puzzles, a soft throw blanket, weighted blanket.

    I bought every one in my family Emergency fire blankets a few years back,

    I can imagine the kids loving a color changing umbrella! I am fussy about my own umbrellas - like the Blunt brand that has rounded spokes so you don't poke anyone when walking in a crowd. Mine is over 10 years old and still looks new.

    I love my JBL bluetooth speaker - have it hanging in my shower and listen to my audio books while showering.

    I have not tried Barefoot Dreams socks - will be looking these up.

    I think my favorite idea was the rechargeable hand warmers - thinking of the guy who always clears the snow from my driveway, and one of my friends who owns horses and has to be out in the cold and another friend who has arthritis in her hands and they hurt when they get cold. I will probably think of half a dozen more who would love these. (me included).

    So many great ideas! Thanks everyone!

  • last month

    My DH has and loves his rechargable hand warmers. He has bad circulation and uses them every day in the winter. They are a great gift for a lot of people.

  • last month

    Love the Barefoot Dreams socks. And Bombas, especially the merino wool low cut and no-show socks.

    I’m adding rechargeable hand warmers for DH to my list for him. I know many runners who use heated gloves in winter, and if was still running, they would be on my list.

    Barefoot Dreams has had a lot of sales this year in their throws and blankets. I gave one as a birthday gift a few months ago that I found on Nordstrom Rack.

    I was in Fresh Market the other day and they always have some nicely packaged snacks and treats. I put together a bag of sweet and savory things as a hostess gift for a friend’s party, but you could easily do one for a gift exchange.


  • last month

    Consumables. Gift box of candy/meats/nuts. Wine. Liquor in a fancy bottle. For sure nothing that will still be here next year.

  • last month

    All great ideas here. For sure consumables are good.

    I particularly like the hand warmers ( I may go look for them at Costco. I have used the 10 hr disposable ones- hand and toe ones and they really do work.....as long as you remember to take them)... and I really think the color changing umbrella sounds like a hit too!

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