If you’re part of a holiday gift grab (a.k.a. a Yankee swap or white elephant gift exchange), you may be lost on what to buy. Whether participating with family, coworkers, or friends, it can be tough to gauge shared interests and find a gift with mass appeal. While you can’t expect everyone in the group to love your gift, you want to make sure it fits the audience and stays within the price range set by your group. Below are some grab gift ideas for under $20.
Books
Who doesn’t love a great read? Books are accessible and entertaining. Pick up the latest bestseller or, if possible, tailor the book to your group’s interests. There are so many routes to go: a buzzworthy novel, a hilarious memoir, or quirky coffee table book, to name a few.
Games
A party game can be a great hit, depending on your audience. Stay away from traditional games that people may own already and instead try to find something fun and quirky. Scroll through Amazon to find unique games such as Curses, Spot It, and Dutch Blitz, as well as expansion packs to Cards Against Humanity and other crowd favorites.
Sports Team Gear
If you’ve got a room full of sports fans, chances are you won’t go wrong with a sports team themed item. Clothing is obviously a tough way to go for a grab, but you’re sure to find plenty of other items: coffee mugs, hats, blankets, décor, etc.
Small Kitchen Appliances
This one applies more for a group of college kids rather than an older crowd likely to own their fair share of kitchen appliances. A small George Foreman grill is convenient for grilling burgers, chicken, and sandwiches, while a slow cooker is great for making soups and pot roasts. Check out Amazon for a variety of affordable products.
Chocolates & Other Treats
Chocolate covered blueberries, chocolate covered pretzels, chocolate covered Oreos… The options are endless. People tend to appreciate a little basket of gourmet foods that they normally wouldn’t buy for themselves. If specialty food stores are too pricey for your budget, try TJ Maxx or Marshalls. You typically can find delectable treats at affordable prices in their home departments.
Novelty Items
Unusual yet useful gifts can be a huge hit in holiday grabs. You could buy a quirky calendar such as Nuns Having Fun or wacky kitchen supplies like these zombie cookie cutters. FunUsual at Faneuil Hall sells tons of these whimsical gifts.
Movie Tickets
Movie passes to your local theater are a great crowd pleaser, especially for those annoyed by the high costs of tickets these days. Grab as many as fit the grab’s price limit (Regal sells discount passes online for $8), and if you think the tickets alone look a little bare, add some candy or popcorn to the package.
Restaurant Gift Cards
Gift cards can seem like lame grab gifts (and some groups even establish a no gift card policy), but a gift card to a nice restaurant can be very appealing, giving people a reason to return to their favorite place or try that hot spot everyone has been talking about. Check Restaurant.com to find deals on gift cards.