https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 09 Apr 2026 14:05:35 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/christmas-gift-exchange-ideas-please#post-2785997 Mon, 13 Nov 2017 09:23:59 +0000 josina 2785997@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We do a white-elephant type exchange with the premise, 'give something you'd live to receive', so not the crappy joke-gifts. Everyone draws a number, and then picks or steals a gift, it's a lot of fun. Our price limit is $15.</p> <p>I've seen a christmas sock exchange, where everyone fills a pair of socks with little gift items, could be manicure items, gift cards, food/candy, etc. </p> <p>Last year on one side, the host wrapped up a bunch of gift items, worth around $5 (new or found). Each guest paid $5 to play, and then we do the draw a number / steal or pick. One gift had a $50 bill in it, so as you're playing you want to either hide the fact that you have the money, or pretend you have it so someone will steal your gift and you can try again. A lot of fun! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/christmas-gift-exchange-ideas-please#post-2785880 Sun, 12 Nov 2017 17:06:28 +0000 NCSUchick27 2785880@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>For just the adults, we did a craft beer/cider exchange one year. That was pretty fun. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/christmas-gift-exchange-ideas-please#post-2785879 Sun, 12 Nov 2017 16:35:12 +0000 cake2017 2785879@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PinkElephant: Having everyone bring a wrapped gift based on a theme is good idea! </p> <p>We are playing a few games! </p> <p>Thanks! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/christmas-gift-exchange-ideas-please#post-2785873 Sun, 12 Nov 2017 16:11:11 +0000 cake2017 2785873@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@erinbaderin: Gift exchange idea that isn’t like Secret Santa because we’ve done it for so long. Sorry if I was confusing! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/christmas-gift-exchange-ideas-please#post-2785860 Sun, 12 Nov 2017 14:56:51 +0000 Pollywog 2785860@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have my FIL pull names and send out the gift exchange over email. That works well. The other thing that we do in my family is to bring something tasty to eat or drink, no more than $40, and then as you come in you draw numbers about which one you keep </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/christmas-gift-exchange-ideas-please#post-2785850 Sun, 12 Nov 2017 14:18:47 +0000 erinbaderin 2785850@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I’m not totally clear what you’re asking - you want some ideas for a gift exchange that isn’t Secret Santa? You don’t need everybody together to exchange names, I think is the point @Mrs. Champagne: was making. But if you’re not into that, you could say everything had to be handmade, you could do a book exchange (I’m not sure what you want to do for budget, though, maybe everybody buying everyone else a book would be too expensive) or an ornament exchange. Have each adult bring two bottles of wine and then pass them out at random so everybody goes home with a different wine, and then just buy presents for the kids? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/christmas-gift-exchange-ideas-please#post-2785844 Sun, 12 Nov 2017 13:26:20 +0000 PinkElephant 2785844@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>What if you played a game White Elephant style (taking turns picking a wrapped gift to open; you can "steal" from others - there are so many rule variations) - but don't use re-gifted/weird items, and instead go with a theme - for instance, board games or gift/luxury food items - that anyone could enjoy (or you could all open up and enjoy together at the gathering)?</p> <p>Not the greatest suggestion, but it's all I can come up with that involves gifts and isn't Secret Santa...</p> <p>You could also just do some sort of game that isn't gift related, but give it a holiday twist/or have a holiday prize at the end. My MIL always organizes a list of small, short games or challenges we play to accrue points at our family reunions. Things like stacking and unstacking 20 solo cups into a pyramid in under a minute using only one hand, getting an oreo from your forehead to your mouth without using your hands, moving m&amp;ms between bowls with a spoon held in your mouth....goofy stuff. You could do this with teams and have some sort of a prize at the end of the day/weekend, and use holiday color/theme materials....and participation can be optional (it's not for us, haha). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/christmas-gift-exchange-ideas-please#post-2785839 Sun, 12 Nov 2017 12:18:44 +0000 cake2017 2785839@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Champagne: We didn’t want to do Secret Santa... is this similar? Thanks! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/christmas-gift-exchange-ideas-please#post-2785830 Sun, 12 Nov 2017 10:41:27 +0000 Mrs. Champagne 2785830@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We used a website for deciding who gets who for secret Santa. You could put in people's emails and who they couldn't buy for (ie their spouse) and they got an email with the name of who they were buying for. </p> <p>As host, you could collect ideals from everyone and make a master list and send that out to the group so each person had a good idea of what the person they're buying for wants. </p> <p>I can't remember what the website was called but I think there was a few of you try googling it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/christmas-gift-exchange-ideas-please#post-2785827 Sun, 12 Nov 2017 10:04:59 +0000 cake2017 2785827@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DH and I are hosting Christmas this year for the first time since it will be baby’s first! We are inviting both sides of the family. I’m tired of Secret Santa and it won’t work because we can’t get everyone together to exchange names. We would like to avoid Secret Santa!</p> <p>We are looking for suggestions and ideas please? It will be approximately 14 people. Looking for something alittle unique, not too expensive,hard etc for the family. I’ve looked online and I keep finding “white elephant “ or re wrap old items type games. Honestly, that isn’t something everyone would be into. So please help!!!! </p> <p>Thank you!!!! </p>