White Elephant Gift Ideas for Christmas

While the credit cards are getting a serious workout during the holidays, white elephant gift exchanges are a fun way to get into the spirit of the season without going broke in the process.

What is a White Elephant Gift?

Merriam-Webster's online dictionary defines the term "white elephant" as an "object no longer of value to its owner but of value to others" or "something of little or no value." In other words, a white elephant gift is something you own but don't want or a gift that is so worthless that it's funny. By setting a dollar amount and a theme, these exchanges certainly liven up an office party or family gathering.

Gag White Elephant Gifts

When people hear the phrase "white elephant", they immediately think of musical toilet paper holders and t-shirts with obnoxious sayings on them. For this year's exchange, throw down the gauntlet to see who can bring the most outrageous gag gift. Stupid.com has a list of the dumbest holiday gifts of the year and my favorite for 2007 has to be the biologically correct Poo-lar Bear. There's something oddly festive about a toy bear that drops a load of jelly beans at the touch of a finger.

White Elephant Gifts Under a Buck

Most cities have stores such as Dollar Tree or Family Dollar where everything costs a buck or less. Make sure everyone agrees to buy one item from the store and wrap it for the party. Depending on what's in stock, you can find gift wrapping paper, scented soaps and even an interesting selection of reading material in these stores. One year, my mother gave me an brand-new book about the television show "Taxi" and proudly told me that she found it at Everything's a Dollar.

At one get-together with friends, we all agreed to buy one cheap household item and I received a plastic coat hook that attached to the top of a door. Surprisingly, it really came in handy.

White Elephant Gifts Found Around the House

One man's junk is another man's treasure, so white elephant gift exchanges are a good way to get rid of a horrid pair of socks or that hand-painted tie from Father's Day. Unfortunately, you might go home with a holiday fruitcake that was baked when Ronald Reagan was in office.