Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 28, 2017 17:31:12 GMT -5
I vote for the Dot. We play it the opposite way -- Dirty Santa.
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alabamagal
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Post by alabamagal on Nov 28, 2017 17:49:34 GMT -5
Hasn't it dawned on everyone what a dumb idea this is since 95% of the "gifts" are unsuccessful. Unfortunately, there are many people who feel that it isn't the holiday unless there are gifts - even crappy things you don't really want. I guess for them the pay off is the expectation and the suspense of unwrapping something - not what's actually in the wrapping. I am amazed at the store where there are multiple aisles of "crappy gifts", overpriced boxed sets of cheap lotion, small candies, etc. I had a coworker who bragged about how his family loved the hickory farms gift sets. I mean you spend $50 and you get 2 sausages, 2 cheeses plus a ton of waste. . Last year I received a Moscow Mule gift box. I had to google what a Moscow Mule was. The box had a drink mix plus two copper looking cups. No vodka. So I bought vodka. They were ok, not really my thing. So now I have to copper-looking cups, but I don't really have any use for them and I don't want to throw them away. Can you tell I don't like gift boxes.
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Artemis Windsong
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Post by Artemis Windsong on Nov 28, 2017 17:54:44 GMT -5
I looked at the link and would pick the game Cards Against Humanity unless the office is a bunch of pruds.
Also the clip on lense for cell phones.
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thyme4change
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Post by thyme4change on Nov 28, 2017 18:16:09 GMT -5
It's all women. I am very hesitant to go any kind of "taste" route - it's such a crap shoot with blankets and lotions and decor items and even alcohol. More and more I am leaning towards GC....or scratch off tickets... I am probably making this too complicated and projecting my own dislike of crap. Except for cash, I would really not want to anything in any kind of swap I like fancy hand soaps and dish detergents. Everyone needs them. Great if you can find a holiday themed disposable dispenser to go with it. Either they will use it, or if they don't the smell or whatever, they can give it to someone.
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Lizard Queen
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Post by Lizard Queen on Nov 28, 2017 18:44:02 GMT -5
Omg, the last thing I need in my life is another throw blanket. I'd personally like lottery tickets, or a bottle of good amaretto, like I got for my DH last Christmas. I really hate these kind of gift exchanges, though. I really need less shit in my house, not more.
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NoNamePerson
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Post by NoNamePerson on Nov 28, 2017 19:17:03 GMT -5
Unfortunately, there are many people who feel that it isn't the holiday unless there are gifts - even crappy things you don't really want. I guess for them the pay off is the expectation and the suspense of unwrapping something - not what's actually in the wrapping. One thing I'll point out is that the entire idea of this kind of "game" is that it really isn't about the "gifts" at all...it's about the game and using it as a way to interact with others. Heck, you could even argue that a part of that game is in trying to get people to leave with things they don't really want. Whether you like the game or not is up to the individual...but it's certainly more about the game itself than the gifts (you could just pick one thing and leave without the game component if you just wanted to unwrap something). I guess I don't get this stuff at a work place. Just seems juvinile to me and I bet 2/3 of the people would just as soon it die a slow death.
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chapeau
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Post by chapeau on Nov 28, 2017 19:21:15 GMT -5
My most successful gifts in these kinds of things are either a bottle of wine from a local winery in a wine tote, or a holiday themed candy dish with holiday candies. Once the wine tote was more popular than the wine!
They’re both the kind of doodad that can be easily regifted, and they’re perfect for a hostess gift when the last thing you want to do is go shopping. Again.
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Post by empress of self-improvement on Nov 28, 2017 20:35:36 GMT -5
I am so glad we aren't having the family one this year. Instead we get to spend time staring at each other at other at a wedding. Joy. Some of the more memorable ones: a grill manual - the grill was outside in a box-DH used to work for a grocery store and got it on deeeeeeeeep discount at the end of the season a Reddi-Whip cooler from same grocery store filled with some vast assortment of crap a yellow M&M filled with another vast array of crap Last year, I think it was, was a Patriots tool box filled with yet another vast array of Patriot and Red Sox crap. Dh spends entirely too much time thinking about this stuff. The best one I did was a toilet mug filled with appropriate goodies. Immodium, a couple bottles of Poo-pourri, ginger-ale and I think there may have been a roll of toilet paper.
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hoops902
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Post by hoops902 on Nov 28, 2017 21:41:26 GMT -5
One thing I'll point out is that the entire idea of this kind of "game" is that it really isn't about the "gifts" at all...it's about the game and using it as a way to interact with others. Heck, you could even argue that a part of that game is in trying to get people to leave with things they don't really want. Whether you like the game or not is up to the individual...but it's certainly more about the game itself than the gifts (you could just pick one thing and leave without the game component if you just wanted to unwrap something). I guess I don't get this stuff at a work place. Just seems juvinile to me and I bet 2/3 of the people would just as soon it die a slow death. I agree, but I think that pretty much applies to 99% of "social" things associated with work.
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lynnerself
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Post by lynnerself on Nov 29, 2017 0:32:11 GMT -5
I've had best success with BBQ sauce samplers or jam and jelly packs. Also very popular, those "100 places to see before you die" kind of books.
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Cookies Galore
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Post by Cookies Galore on Nov 29, 2017 9:04:30 GMT -5
We do a swap at work and with my dad's family. It's all about the fun! The stealing gets pretty cutthroat with my family exchange, and there's usually some strategy. Like, one year my dad stole something that was stolen from me so i could steal it back.
Good gifts I've seen that i can recall, hmm... wine, beer, wood and slate cheese board, sports team stuff, kitchen gadgets and small appliances, throw blankets.
We pick themes with the work exchange to help people narrow down their shopping and i got music (groan), i might buy a board game where you have to name songs or sing songs or something like that. A bunch of my coworkers have kids so it seems like a family and friend friendly gift. Last year people bought a bluetooth speaker and a karaoke microphone for the music theme, so i didn't want to repeat. But a bluetooth speaker might be a good idea. Maybe for my family exchange.
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Cookies Galore
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Post by Cookies Galore on Nov 29, 2017 9:07:44 GMT -5
Unfortunately, there are many people who feel that it isn't the holiday unless there are gifts - even crappy things you don't really want. I guess for them the pay off is the expectation and the suspense of unwrapping something - not what's actually in the wrapping. I am amazed at the store where there are multiple aisles of "crappy gifts", overpriced boxed sets of cheap lotion, small candies, etc. I had a coworker who bragged about how his family loved the hickory farms gift sets. I mean you spend $50 and you get 2 sausages, 2 cheeses plus a ton of waste. . Last year I received a Moscow Mule gift box. I had to google what a Moscow Mule was. The box had a drink mix plus two copper looking cups. No vodka. So I bought vodka. They were ok, not really my thing. So now I have to copper-looking cups, but I don't really have any use for them and I don't want to throw them away. Can you tell I don't like gift boxes. A mix? Blech! It's just vodka, ginger beer, and lime!
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GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl
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Post by GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl on Nov 29, 2017 12:04:16 GMT -5
Uncommongoods.com
Both fun and useful gifts.
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debthaven
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Post by debthaven on Nov 29, 2017 15:51:33 GMT -5
I'd go with a bottle of wine or Champagne. Seems like you can't go wrong there, and if the person isn't happy they can gift it to someone else. But it doesn't take up space and it can easily go in an evening.
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andi9899
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Post by andi9899 on Nov 29, 2017 16:01:40 GMT -5
Yankee Swap is you having to exchange useless crap with your coworkers. Yes, boss participated too. Learn something new every day. I call it a White Elephant.
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Lizard Queen
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Post by Lizard Queen on Nov 29, 2017 16:06:43 GMT -5
I think we call it a white elephant, too, but the gifts are much cheaper--$5-10 range. Played it at work parties before, but I think work supplied all of the gifts, which were more in the $20+ range.
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toomuchreality
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Post by toomuchreality on Nov 30, 2017 2:20:56 GMT -5
It's all women. I am very hesitant to go any kind of "taste" route - it's such a crap shoot with blankets and lotions and decor items and even alcohol. More and more I am leaning towards GC....or scratch off tickets... I am probably making this too complicated and projecting my own dislike of crap. Except for cash, I would really not want to anything in any kind of swap Ideas for giving cash: Put cash in an inexpensive picture frame, to disguise it, then wrap it. Or you can get single $1 bills (your bank will usually give you nice ones if you ask) and put them in a small photo album. Wrap. Roll up bills and put them inside a clear balloon that you have also put confetti in, then blow it up. (Not a wrapped gift) Attach crinkled bills to a branch. Tell them it is a "start" off your money tree. Carefully open the end of a box of sandwich bags. Insert money. Glue end shut. - This is for "money bags". Good luck!
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weltschmerz
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Post by weltschmerz on Nov 30, 2017 4:54:32 GMT -5
How about a throw in a neutral color? That's always gone over well at the ones I've attended. That and wine or liquor. Sam's club had 5 foot by 6 foot fleece-y 'blankets' for $15.00 in assorted colors. Got myself one and DAM! it's nice - the cats love it too (it's big enough for all of us to share). For $15 when spring comes - I'll probably just toss out the fur covered throw rather than attempt to wash it. Disposable awesomeness. (my cats pretty much were like "Oh. My. Cat. THAT LOOKS AWESOME must snuggle in it!!!" when I used it the first time).
Alcohol also goes over well.
I had great success last year with a package of "battery operated candles" and the batteries to make them work... (spent about $20.00 total) ALDI recently had 4 candles (with a remote) for $9.99. so they are still a thing <-- an indication they aren't super pricey (the Aldi candles are nice - bought some for myself) - Bed Bath and Beyond use to sell them too.
Don't toss it. Animal shelters always need small blankets and towels.
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raeoflyte
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Post by raeoflyte on Nov 30, 2017 16:45:33 GMT -5
Sam's club had 5 foot by 6 foot fleece-y 'blankets' for $15.00 in assorted colors. Got myself one and DAM! it's nice - the cats love it too (it's big enough for all of us to share). For $15 when spring comes - I'll probably just toss out the fur covered throw rather than attempt to wash it. Disposable awesomeness. (my cats pretty much were like "Oh. My. Cat. THAT LOOKS AWESOME must snuggle in it!!!" when I used it the first time).
Alcohol also goes over well.
I had great success last year with a package of "battery operated candles" and the batteries to make them work... (spent about $20.00 total) ALDI recently had 4 candles (with a remote) for $9.99. so they are still a thing <-- an indication they aren't super pricey (the Aldi candles are nice - bought some for myself) - Bed Bath and Beyond use to sell them too.
Don't toss it. Animal shelters always need small blankets and towels. Good point! They'll happily throw it in their washers too that are constantly washing fur (and other less desireable) covered towels and blankets.
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Knee Deep in Water Chloe
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Post by Knee Deep in Water Chloe on Dec 1, 2017 23:03:03 GMT -5
We call it White Elephant also. I agree with hoops in that it's far more about the game than about what you get. However, there are those who honor White Elephant as strictly gag gifts. It sounds like the Yankee thing is the same concept but with "good" gifts. Because we're government employees, we don't do alcohol with the work versions.
I like a lot of the suggestions already listed here. Whatever your version of Coffee Cash is might be good too. (ie, Starbucks Gift Cards).
Lastly, WHAT DID YOU TAKE LAST YEAR
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toomuchreality
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Post by toomuchreality on Dec 2, 2017 1:22:29 GMT -5
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gambler
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Post by gambler on Dec 4, 2017 15:48:24 GMT -5
swap the damn Yankee for a redneck, we are a lot more fun
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beergut
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Post by beergut on Dec 6, 2017 2:36:14 GMT -5
Get a decorative bottle of oil and vinegar. Someone will want it.
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Apple
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Post by Apple on Dec 6, 2017 3:03:25 GMT -5
I've heard of someone wrapping a $20 bill around a banana, then wrapping the banana in tin foil so it was very obvious what it was. It was last to get picked, but ended up being the favorite.
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Apple
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Post by Apple on Dec 6, 2017 3:07:54 GMT -5
I work with all guys, so not helpful for you, but maybe for someone else... Things that would go over well here would be stuff like jerky and bars of Duke Cannon soap (I got some of the soap for my son for his birthday and he was using it that night). Also nerdy stuff like Star Wars mugs/travel mugs, pot holders, etc.
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whoisjohngalt
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Post by whoisjohngalt on Dec 13, 2017 15:10:59 GMT -5
I wasn't able to go this year, that was a bummer. My boss always takes us to such nice places.
But for those who wanted to know what I brought last year.......
it was a fondue set. It was NOT popular
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gooddecisions
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Post by gooddecisions on Dec 13, 2017 15:33:49 GMT -5
I actually don't mind Yankee gift swaps. I'd much rather do that with coworkers than a secret Santa. The big hit this year was an aluminum water bottle. But other hits were wine, coffee travel mug with Starbucks gift card, desktop zen garden, magnetic sculpture desk toy, 3d pin art board, portable sit or stand laptop table, and a throw blanket because it's freezing cold in our office.
I like them so much I wish we would do Yankee gift swaps with extended family instead of having to spend way too much money buying everyone crap they don't want. And, I love that it extends the gift opening process and you can steal if there is something that specifically suits your taste.
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gs11rmb
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Post by gs11rmb on Dec 13, 2017 15:42:04 GMT -5
I wasn't able to go this year, that was a bummer. My boss always takes us to such nice places. But for those who wanted to know what I brought last year....... it was a fondue set. It was NOT popular I would have liked it!
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Apple
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Post by Apple on Dec 13, 2017 17:43:42 GMT -5
I wasn't able to go this year, that was a bummer. My boss always takes us to such nice places. But for those who wanted to know what I brought last year....... it was a fondue set. It was NOT popular Aw, I would have liked it too. If not for fondue (which I like and often requested for my birthday meal growing up), then for chocolate. It's easier to use a fondue pot or mini-crockpot for melted chocolate when making chocolate dipped candies.
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beergut
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Post by beergut on Dec 13, 2017 19:01:40 GMT -5
I wasn't able to go this year, that was a bummer. My boss always takes us to such nice places. But for those who wanted to know what I brought last year....... it was a fondue set. It was NOT popular I would have stolen that right away. It sounds like the problem was not your gift, but your coworkers
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