White elephant gifts are great for any occasion, but they’re especially fun at the holidays. If you’ve been assigned the task of buying a white elephant gift for your next office party, or if you’re looking for ideas on what to bring to the party itself, look no further! We’ve compiled a list of our favorite gender-neutral white elephant gifts below.
What is a white elephant gift exchange?
A white elephant gift exchange is a fun, holiday game that can be played in many ways. The most common form is to bring a wrapped gift to a party and then draw numbers at random to see who will be the first person to choose a gift. Once you’re in the running, there are two options: steal someone else’s gift or pick any other one on offer. But it’s 2022, who says you cannot play it online or with digital gifts!
How much should a white elephant gift cost?
To keep things fair and fun, the cost of your white elephant gift should be within your agreed budget. The same goes for the person receiving it; don’t go overboard on buying something that might embarrass them if they have to open it in front of everyone. In general, it’s best to choose a price limit around $20 or $25, which encourages everyone to be creative when they shop. That being said, you can still find some great gifts under this price range if you know where to look!
1. Coffee in the pocket
This is a great gift for the office white elephant exchange, and it’s gender neutral. This can be used to make any kind of coffee drink and works with both ground coffee and pods. The best part about this white elephant gift is that anyone who drinks coffee will want to steal it from you at the party because they know they can use it later on in their own home too.
2. NFT
If you want to get your white elephant gift noticed, we suggest buying a NFT from notaboringgift.com. Not only will this be the most talked about gift at the party, but you can also print it out and turn it into home decor items like wall art and t-shirt prints.
3. A meme pro kit
A meme pro kit from whatdoyoumeme.com is the perfect gift for a person who loves to laugh, or who has family or friends that they want to make laugh. You can use it to make memes, or just have fun with your friends! What Do You Meme® is Inspired by pop culture, their products bring the relatable fun of internet humor from your phone into your life — wherever you are.
4. Happy hour kit
This is the perfect gift for a cocktail lover. It contains all of the ingredients you need to make one drink: a shaker, tongs, jigger, stirrer and garnish. It also comes with a recipe card so that you can show off your new found skills at making drinks!
5. A smiley friend
This gift is a small plastic sculpture of a smiley face. It is made from a durable plastic, so it can endure being passed around or dropped on the floor during your white elephant party. This bobbing and smiling figurine now comes to you straight from Denmark with only one goal: bringing you cheer. It’s small enough to fit in your hand and makes a great toy for kids as well as a playful conversation piece for the desk or worktable.
6. Zen garden
While the idea of a zen garden may seem like an odd gift, it’s actually one of the best ones you can give. Zen gardens are relaxing and good for your mental well-being, so everyone will be able to enjoy this gift. I’ve been using a zen garden in my home for years now and I love it. They’re also really easy to make if you don’t want to buy one yet (they cost around $10).
7. Waving cat
This cat is both a motion detector and a speaker. When you walk past it, it turns on and plays happy cat noises, which makes the cat look like it’s waving at you. It’s also very cute! If you’re looking for an unorthodox white elephant gift that will make people smile, this is the one for you.
8. Wine tumbler (appropriate for all genders)
You can never go wrong with a gift that will be used every day, and wine tumblers are the perfect white elephant gift. They’re gender neutral and can be used for other drinks besides wine, such as beer, water, coffee or tea. You can even use it to keep your soda cold on hot summer days. If you want to go even further with this idea check out our post about 10 awesome gifts under $10!
9. Stress ball (appropriate for all genders)
Stress balls are a good option for your white elephant gift. They’re gender neutral and can be used by anyone. You might even want to consider getting one for yourself so you have something to squeeze when the stress from your job builds up!
10. Reusable straws (appropriate for all genders)
Reusable straws are a great gift because they’re both environmentally friendly and reusable. Faced with the choice between buying a single-use disposable plastic straw or investing in a reusable one, you can make an impact on the environment while saving money in your own pocket. Plus, if you get someone who uses straws regularly, they’ll appreciate receiving this gift!
Conclusion
It’s not about how much money you spend on a gift, but how much thought you put into it. Your white elephant gift doesn’t have to be gender-specific, but rather something that will bring joy and laughter to everyone at the party.
