There are different rules surrounding White Elephant gift exchanges, but the gist is you bring a wrapped (relatively cheap) gift and pick a number out of a hat when you arrive. Then, in numerical order, guests can pick a gift under the tree or steal an already opened gift from a buddy. After three swaps, that’s it.
Most-Loved Under-$30 White Elephant Gifts
Barefoot Dreams CozyChic Heathered Socks, $15 Burt’s Bees Hand Repair Kit, $15 JBL Go 2 Bluetooth Speakers, $28 (was $40) Dreubea Faux Leather Tote Bag, $13 (was $20) Culture and Nature Reed Diffuser, $30 Yankee Candle Balsam & Cedar Large Tumbler Candle, $18 (was $31) Elixir Glassware Square Wine Glass Set, $26 Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask, $22 (was $24) Sharper Image LED Word Clock, $27 (was $30) The Hygge Game Conversation Game, $20
Truly, you can never have too many candles, which is why bringing one to your next White Elephant exchange is a no-brainer. You can always go classic with this popular, yet affordable Yankee Candle pick that comes in over 30 scents, including holiday-themed aromas like Christmas cookie and mistletoe, as well as this more subtle balsam and cedar smell. But if you want something with a little pizzazz, opt for this stylish soy aromatherapy candle that comes in a jar with a gold twist-off lid and a minimalistic label, making it look way more expensive than it is. Pssst, it’s only $17. If your friends are all into beauty, they’ll love unwrapping these picks from brands they know and love. We’re talking about this best-selling Laneige lip sleeping mask or this shimmery lip gloss set from Revlon that has more than 11,100 five-star ratings so far. However, those who work a lot with their hands (aka all of us) will definitely appreciate this Burt’s Bees skincare set. With hands in mind, this set comes with three different rich creams to hydrate the skin and cuticles for $15. For White Elephant parties that really anything goes, you’ll want to bring a cool, universal present that anyone can appreciate aka tech. You clearly don’t need to spend wads of cash on this gift, but items like this Sharper Image Word Clock will totally elicit a wow-factor. The stylish LED clock tells the time—just in word form. It highlights the words to literally spell it out and has a sleek copper finish that’ll look great in any office or living room. Plus, it has more than 6,300 five-star ratings from people who love how unique it is. And while you don’t know who will pick your gift, you can still ensure a personal touch with this JBL portable speaker that lets ‘em play their favorite tunes wherever they go. To buy: $15; amazon.com. To buy: $15; amazon.com. To buy: $28 (was $40); amazon.com. To buy: $13 (was $20); amazon.com. To buy: $30; amazon.com. To buy: $18 (was $31); amazon.com. To buy: $26; amazon.com. To buy: $22 (was $24); amazon.com. To buy: $27 (was $30); amazon.com. To buy: $20; amazon.com. To buy: $9 (was $12); amazon.com. To buy: $16 (was $23); amazon.com. To buy: $17 with coupon (was $20); amazon.com. To buy: $23; amazon.com. To buy: $15 (was $21); amazon.com.