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<\/a><\/p>\nBy Jurissa Ayala<\/p>\n
With Christmas fast approaching, holiday parties\u00a0and gift swap planning are in full swing. Whether yours is\u00a0a traditional Yankee Swap, or\u00a0white elephant gifts<\/a>\u00a0are the office’s favorite way to celebrate,\u00a0you need a strategy. The following tips can make the\u00a0season and the parties fun for everyone… even you!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n New to the company? It’s best to ask:<\/p>\n Got your rules? Time to head out shopping.<\/p>\n “White Elephants”\u00a0are those gifts that no one really wants, but everyone loves to see opened. Many times they’re so popular for a laugh, they’re brought back\u00a0year after year.\u00a0They may\u00a0be funny, or tacky, and include things like a strange shaped lip balm collection, toilet paper printed with odd messages, a truly ugly Christmas sweater, or an inflatable wearable unicorn horn. Be careful with these types of gifts. Some things that are funny to some may\u00a0be embarrassing to others. You need to know your team to know what gifts will get a laugh, and what might actually cause a department problem. Some white elephant gifts become so popular that they’re brought back every year, and people wait to see who’ll get the “prize” this year. Pet Rocks, bacon scented candles, and a Bonny Boy Liquor dispenser<\/a>\u00a0are\u00a0perfect examples of this type of gift.<\/p>\n Gifts that are welcome, and can keep you under the $25 price tag include:<\/p>\n Inexpensive gifts need to be fun, and usable. They\u00a0also work well for\u00a0Secret Santa. Especially if Secret Santa involves multiple smaller gifts.\u00a0One day a pen, another day a scratch ticket, another day a special cookie or coffee shop gift card. Just little ideas that let someone know they are appreciated.<\/p>\n Some companies have ethics policies that limit value for gifts, but if you’ve been told “the sky’s the limit” be prepared for a bit more thought in your shopping. Unique, usable, and\u00a0memorable guarantee\u00a0the gift you bring will be “stolen” more than once!<\/p>\n Monthly Gift Subscriptions<\/strong> – “Beer- or Wine-of-the-Month Club”, an online magazine, or even healthy lifestyle boxes, shave clubs, and underwear <\/a>are all available “by-the-month (although underwear\u00a0may not be office appropriate).<\/p>\n Technology Lovers Unite<\/strong>\u00a0– A\u00a0higher end power bank for mobile devices, a tablet sleeve and earbuds<\/span>,\u00a0or a power bag<\/a> (an actual\u00a0backpack with a built in charging station).<\/p>\nGift Giving\u00a0Ground Rules<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Gag Gifts – aka The White Elephant<\/h3>\n
Safe and Inexpensive Gift Ideas\u00a0Everyone Can Use<\/h3>\n
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No Spending Limit? Time to Get Creative!<\/h3>\n