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Not quite ready for your White Elephant gift exchange? Whether you’re planning an in-person or virtual gift swap this year, the pressure of finding the right present can feel overwhelming, even though White Elephant exchanges are supposed to be fun and lighthearted. If you don’t feel like going the gift card route this year, we gathered up a list of affordable, thoughtful, and unique White Elephant gift options.
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For techies, TV lovers, movie buffs, and more, keep reading for 25 of the best White Elephant gifts to give to your co-workers, family, friends, and anyone else on your list. Of course, you can also use this gift guide for Secret Santa, and Christmas gifts. For more seasonal shopping recommendations check out our roundup of holiday cocktail books, board games, and Advent calendars.
“Can’t Adult Today: A Snarky & Slightly Sweary Coloring Book for Adults” by Crazy Diamond Studio
Buy:
Amazon
$7.99
Buy it
Adulting is hard. The “Can’t Adult Today” coloring book makes a great gift that comes in handy when adulting becomes overwhelming. It features delightfully sarcastic illustrations to make you feel better about your unwillingness to adult on any given day. Find floral patterns, butterflies, ocean, western patterns, mandalas, tropical patterns, feathers, mushrooms, cactus, nature patterns, yoga humor, millennial humor, and tons more.
Insignia 5,000 mAh Portable Charger
Buy:
Best Buy
$15
$7.99
Buy it
This portable phone charger from Insignia is on sale for just $7. The USB port provides 12W of power to charge most smartphones, tablets, and other USB devices. This portable battery also has a 5,000 mAh capacity, and a slim design that slips easily into your purse, pocket, or backpack.
Aduro U-Stream Flex Phone Tripod
Buy:
Amazon
$14.99
$12.74
Buy it
Social media has made phone tripods more popular. If you know someone who could use one, this flexible but compact design from Aduro works as a tripod or selfie stick, and it has a remote.
A Year of True Crime Page-a-Day 2022 Calendar
Buy:
Amazon
$15.99
$14.39
Buy it
For fans of true crime, this calendar lets you indulge all year long. Learn the sordid stories behind the Black Dahlia and other infamous crime tales, along with trivia, true crime quizzes, inspirational survivor stories, and a list of documentaries to keep you up at night. Click here for more gift ideas for the true crime obsessed.
Pizza Socks Box, 4-Pairs
Buy:
Amazon
$25.99
Buy it
Hungry? You really can’t go wrong with a box of pizza socks! Surprise a pizza lover on your shopping list with this four-pack set of socks that come in Pepperoni, Capricciosa, Italian, Hawaiian, and Vegetarian designs. The set features different mixes so that each sock has a different pattern.
TMNT Shredder Cheese Grader
Buy:
Fun.com
$19.99
Buy it
If pizza socks put you in the mood for more pie-inspired accessories, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Shredder Cheese Grader is a clever gift for TMNT fans. And it goes nicely with this TMNT Waffle Maker.
Baby Yoda Chia Pet
Buy:
Amazon
$24.99
Buy it
Who doesn’t love Baby Yoda? This adorable Chia Pet will make a fun and amusing gift option for adults and kids. Easy to do and fun to grow, you’ll see a full coat in as quickly as a week, and you can reuse it indefinitely by replanting it with Chia seeds.
Anker Soundcore Mini Portable Bluetooth Speaker
Buy:
Amazon
$24.99 + Save an extra 23% with instant coupon
Buy it
Everyone can use a Bluetooth speaker. This ultra-portable mini speaker from Anker Soundcore cost just $25, but it delivers powerful sound and robust bass thanks to an advanced 5W driver and passive subwoofer. Additional features include Bluetooth 4.0 with connectivity of up to 66’ away, and up to 15 hours of playtime on a single charge. Want more affordable tech options? See our list of portable photo printers, and tech gifts under $100.
Bentgo Leak Proof, 4-Compartment Lunch Box Container
Buy:
Amazon
$29.99
Buy it
The Bentgo lunch box container is great for maintaining healthy portions. Each compartment is designed to keep your entrees, sides, or snacks in place. The 9″ x 7″ lunch box comes in red, blue, green, purple, aqua, and gray. It holds up to five cups of food, and lets you customize your meals from three to four bento-style compartments. Bentgo lunch boxes are safe in the microwave and dishwasher.
Icewater 3-in-1 Smart Water Bottle
Buy:
Amazon
$39.99
Buy it
Another useful White Elephant gift: the Icewater 3-in-1 smart water bottle. It keeps your water cold for up to 24 hours at a time, and hot for up to 12 hours. This 20-ounce bottle has a double wall vacuum insulated stainless-steel, leak-proof bottle. It even glows hourly to remind you to drink more water.
Theory11 “Saturday Night Live” Playing Cards
Buy:
Amazon
$10.53
Buy it
Playing cards are a cool collectible for a White Elephant gift exchange. This particular set pays stunning tribute to “Saturday Night Live,” but these specialty playing cards are available in multiple designs.
Adesso Dimmable Desk Light
Buy:
Target
$20
Buy it
Shopping for someone in the office? Check out this budget-friendly desk light for just $20. It features a 300-lumen integrated dimmable LED bulb, and a USB charging port in the base that lets you charge the device while you work. This high-powered, high-tech, and high-functioning lamp with a sleek, modern design will look nice in an office setup, and it’s available in white, black, and gray.
Uncommon Goods Recycled Record Bottle Opener
Buy:
Uncommon Goods
$12
Buy it
For the music lovers: Pop a bottle with with one of these awesome bottle openers, each of which showcases a unique vinyl design. Made from stainless steel and recycled records, these handmade bottle openers measure 6.5” x 1.5.”
Nostalgia Indoor Electric Stainless Steel S’mores Maker
Buy:
Wayfair
$39.99
$24.99
Buy it
It’s s’mores season! This indoor, stainless steel s’mores maker from Nostalgia lets you skip the need for a bonfire and bring the taste of the campfire into the kitchen. Simply fill the compartment tray with marshmallows, chocolate, and graham crackers, and roast the marshmallows over the flameless electric heater until they’re perfectly brown. The set comes with four compartment trays making it easy to hold and share all of your s’mores.
Artinova Elephant Wooden Pen/Pencil Holder
Buy:
Amazon
$12.99
Buy it
An animal-shaped pencil holder might be a little cliché for the occasion, but it’s a nice gift for anyone who loves elephants and desk organization. This uniquely designed desk accessory isn’t just for pens and pencils — the elephant’s trunk is made to hold a smartphone.
ChopSabers Lightsaber Chopsticks, 2 Pairs
Buy:
Amazon
$29.99
$12.99
Buy it
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Here’s a perfectly affordable gift for a “Star Wars” enthusiast. Bring “The Force” to lunch or dinner with ChopSabers Ultimate Lightsaber Chopsticks. These 10” chopsticks feature red and blue LED lights powered by three x LR41 batteries (included).
“I Work Hard So My Cat Can Have A Better Life” Desk Plate
Buy:
Zazzle
$17.89
$15.21
Buy it
A hilarious conversation starter that cat lovers can relate to, the “I Work Hard So My Cat Can Have a Better Life” desk plate from Zazzle comes in two sizes, with interchangeable plastic inserts printed in full digital color. This desk plate is available in silver, black, or rose gold.
Santa Hat Adult Christmas Face Mask Set
Buy:
Amazon
$22.99
Buy it
It doesn’t look like we’ll be throwing out the face masks this holiday, so why not make it festive? The set featured above includes a Christmas hat and two Santa beards with two adjustable-length mask lanyards. The hat and masks should be washed before being worn for the first time.
“Schitt’s Creek” Ew, David Mug
Buy:
Fun.com
$17.99
Buy it
Celebrate “Schitt’s Creek” by gifting a fan of the show this 12oz. ceramic mug. You can almost hear Alexis Rose saying “Ew, David!” just from looking at the photo, but if you’d rather buy something more holiday-friendly, Amazon has a wide selection of holiday mugs.
Foster & Rye Stainless Steel Snapshot Flask
Buy:
Macy’s
$59.99
$28.69 with code: FRIEND
Buy it
Drink responsibly and enjoy a few laughs with this photogenic flask that hangs around your neck. Measuring 2.5″ x 4.5″ x 3.75,” this discreet flask holds up to 11 ounces of liquid, and it’s available at several major retailers including Macy’s, Walmart, and Amazon. If you’re interested in other flask designs, try this flask shaped like a pair binoculars, which has two separate chambers that hold up to eight ounces each. Push the envelope even further by purchasing this Bible flask.
Grandin Road Ice Metallic Battery-Operated Candles
Buy:
Grandin Road
from $18.50
Buy it
Grandin Road’s Iced Metallic Battery-Operated Candles offer luminescent ambiance — without the worry of an open flame. The optional remote control (sold separately) allows users to turn on/off, adjust brightness, select flickering or continuous light, or set the timer for 2-8 hours of operation.
Beer Mitten Gloves Knit Stitched Drink Holder
Buy:
Amazon
$15.99
Buy it
Hold my beer! Whether you’re shopping for a White Elephant or Secret Santa gift, stocking stuffer, or gag gifts, this beer mitten is a super useful (and cheap) choice. Perfect for watching the game at home or tailgating outside, this knitted wool glove has a hole for a beer and other bottled liquids.
Ecolution Original Microwave Popcorn Popper
Buy:
Amazon
$12.99
$10.39
Buy it
This cute little microwave popcorn popper makes 1.5 quarts of popcorn. It’s made from temperature safe, easy-to-clean, borosilicate glass with a 3-in-1 lid that lets you measure, cover, and melt butter. There’s also an ergonomic handle that stays cool to the touch, and a wide-mouth lid that’s easy for preparing and sharing your popcorn. No butter or oil are needed beforehand, simply place the kernels inside and pop it in the microwave. One thing to note: use fresh kernels for the popcorn popper (if they don’t start to pop within two minutes, replace them with new ones).
Monopoly Hallmark Channel Holiday Edition
Buy:
The Paper Store
$39.99
Buy it
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas! Experience all the thrills of classic Monopoly but with a festive twist from the Hallmark channel. Travel around the game board to buy, sell, and trade properties inspired by the holiday season.
Saucemoto Dip Clip, 2-Pack
Buy:
Amazon
$12.99
$9.99
Buy it
If you know someone who likes to eat in their car, Saucemoto is the solution to creating a mess in your vehicle, or worse, being forced to eat sauceless food. These dip clips fit snuggly in your car vent and work perfectly for dipping barbecue sauce, ketchup, ranch, and more.
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