Stunning Yet Easy Ways to Make Your White Elephant Awesome

"White Elephant" gift exchanges, or as some like to call them, "Yankee swaps," are more popular than ever!

A recent survey showed that 58% of people have given one a go, and 27% participated just last year—a big jump from only 14% five years ago!  I know I've done them with some other civic groups I've been in.  And we did some at the Stations in the past. They're fun, if they're done right.

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But keep in mind, it’s a bit of a gamble when it comes to the gifts. A surprising 62% of folks said they didn’t get a gift they actually wanted the last time they played. This might be because the most common type of gift brought to these exchanges tends to be a gag gift, while what everyone really hopes to take home is something useful for their household.

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To make your next White Elephant gift exchange a hit, here are five friendly tips based on what people shared in the survey.

Make Your White Elephant Exchange Awesome

1. Aim for about 11 participants.It’s the sweet spot—too many, and things can drag on a bit.

2. The third week of December is the most popular time to host these exchanges, which is just around the corner!

3. Setting a spending limit is a smart idea, with the most popular amount being $25.

4. Consider having a maximum of three steals per gift. If you’re the third person to steal, the gift is officially yours! However, it’s worth noting that 19% of people would prefer to ditch this rule.

5. Lastly, skip the "timeout" rule where everyone opens their gifts first and then does a separate round of stealing. Many agree it’s just not as fun!

With these tips in mind, your next White Elephant gift exchange is sure to be a blast! Happy gifting!

Elephantly yours,
Behka