The Definitive Guide to Winning White Elephant Gift Exchanges

Ah, the White Elephant gift exchange—the time-honored tradition where awkward laughter, fake enthusiasm, and a little gift-stealing chaos combine for the holiday spirit. You want your gift to shine, to make people laugh, and maybe even ignite a minor battle. But what do you bring? Look no further. I’ve got the ultimate list of gift ideas to elevate your White Elephant game and leave your coworkers, family, or friends saying, “What in the world… but also, genius.”

A Framed Photo of Yourself

Nothing says “personal” like gifting someone a framed 8×10 glossy of your smiling face. Bonus points if you dramatically autograph it like a celebrity headshot. It’s the kind of gift that keeps on giving because, let’s be honest, who wouldn’t want you on their mantel? For added hilarity, preface it with, “This is for someone special.” Cue the uncomfortable chuckles.

A Photo Album Full of Lottery Tickets

It’s thoughtful. It’s hopeful. It’s chaotic. Fill a dollar-store photo album with scratch-off lottery tickets. On one hand, it’s an invitation to dream big. On the other hand, it’s a reminder of how the lottery is essentially a donation to the government. Either way, it’ll keep the recipient entertained (or bitterly scratching) long after the party ends.

AirTags: For the Forgetful and the Paranoid

AirTags are practical yet borderline creepy. Package a few of these bad boys with a note that says, “For when you lose your keys or want to track your nemesis.” Suddenly, you’ve introduced a gift with both utility and a touch of espionage.

Selfie Stick or Phone Tripod: The Gift of Perfect Angles

Sure, selfie sticks peaked in 2015, but they’re still a staple of ridiculous gifting. If you’re feeling generous, upgrade to a small phone tripod with a remote. Pair it with a note that says, “Because everyone deserves to look Instagram-ready, even at a White Elephant exchange.” Throw in a giant jar of cheese puffs and call the whole thing, “Say Cheese”.

A Giant Jar of Pickles and a McDonald’s Gift Card

Picture this: a comically large jar of pickles paired with a $10 McDonald’s gift card. It’s a statement piece. It says, “I care about your salty cravings, but also, here’s some fries.” You’ll baffle and delight in equal measure. Plus, someone will definitely try to steal it—everyone secretly loves pickles.

A Ceramic White Elephant with an Amazon Gift Card

Stay on theme! Get a cute (or hilariously ugly) ceramic white elephant and tie a nice gift card to it. It’s both literal and metaphorical, and the recipient gets something genuinely useful. The fun lies in everyone’s indecision: “Do I want this weird elephant figurine? Or am I just here for the gift card?”

A Loaf of Bread… With Actual Bread Inside

Hand over a loaf of bread that looks suspiciously ordinary. Inside, however, you’ve hidden a baggie of cash. It’s the gift of “bread” in both the literal and slang sense. Make it $20 for a laugh or $100 to blow everyone’s mind. Either way, you’ll be a White Elephant legend.

A Piggy Bank … With the Savings Already Started

Get a nice piggy bank online and fill it with a lot of quarters. Where to get quarters you ask? The bank, a car wash, your own couch cushions or even your car’s console!

Terrible Ideas

These ideas are making the rounds on social media this year, but we don’t recommend them as they are a little far afield: fishbowl & goldfish, live lobster, and a rotissere chicken.

We may be biased, but we feel the best gift at the holidays is a nice new office chair or desk. If this is on your gift-giving list, we’re here to help! Otherwise, happy holidays to you and yours from all of us here at Office Furniture EZ.