When you’re the host of the gift exchange, determining the price range is one of the most significant pieces of information you need to tell your guests. Since the whole point of a gift swap is to have a good time with the people you care about, it’s really important that everyone agrees on a budget in advance.
Though there are no rules on the amount of money that should be spent on a White Elephant gift, most people will tell you that these types of presents should be pretty inexpensive. I’d usually go for $20 or less, but it’s not uncommon to go well beyond (or above) that number. What you should focus on is the people you have invited to the swap, making certain that the price range works for literally everyone. Every group of people is different, so you have to be considerate when choosing the figure for your swap – what is affordable to some is unacceptable to others and the other way around.
To begin with family gatherings and parties, they are much different from other types of gift exchanges. When you are looking for presents for the people you love, chances are that you want to get them something memorable, not a cheap gag gift. Besides, you would certainly buy your loved ones presents for the holidays even if there was no gift swap, so it’s perfectly acceptable to set a higher price range. In other words, you should probably spend somewhere between $20 and $50.
If you’re choosing gifts for your friends, there are a few factors to take into consideration, including the number of guests, if you are all close and if the gift swap is supposed to replace individual present-giving. When purchasing gifts for your closest friends, it’s normal and somewhat acceptable to set a higher price whereas you can go with a lower budget if there are a lot of invitees, some of whom you don’t know that well.
What about office parties? Well, these seem to be the trickiest of them all because not everyone will be thrilled to participate in a gift exchange. Moreover, some of your colleagues might not like the idea of going home with a naughty gag gift whereas others might even be offended if they end up with an undesirable present. My advice to you is not to worry about those things, as you can’t make everyone happy. However, you can make sure that the swap won’t be unpleasant for anyone by setting the budget at $10 or less. This way, even the grumpiest of your co-workers won’t have an excuse to complain about the price range and ruin everyone else’s fun.
As far as other groups are concerned, you should set a low price limit (up to $10) to ensure that everyone can participate in the game. This is especially true for large gatherings where you don’t know most people very well.
Finally, you’ll be happy to know that you can host an amazing White Elephant party, have loads of fun and spend zero bucks. How’s that possible, you wonder? Well, there’s this traditional version of the swap that calls for your guests to bring items they already own. For example, if you received a hideous or useless gag gift last year and have no idea what to do with it, you should bring the present to the party and watch other people’s reactions when they end up with it. Your invitees won’t be happy with their gifts but they’ll definitely have an unforgettable time, which is your main goal when organizing a gift swap.
Another fantastic option is to tell people to bring homemade presents to the exchange. Though not all your friends may be crafty with their hands, everyone will certainly make an effort to impress other guests. If you still have any doubts regarding the price range, you should remember that White Elephant and similar gift exchanges have become so popular and widespread because most people want to buy something for all the folks in their life but can’t afford it. That being said, you can’t make a mistake with a lower figure, as a modest budget will give everyone the opportunity to join in on the fun and enjoy the holidays.
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