White Elephant - The Gifts Keep Coming, but the Value Stays at Bay

You want to give that gift that is going to be the life of the party? The gift that will be remembered for years to come? Of course you do. We all do. It's just thinking of something to give that can do that. Over the years i have seen my share of white elephant gifts. Some were funny and were remembered and others were... not.
Today I'm going to give a simple guidline of rules to use when picking that "special" gift.

Step one. You need to decide whether you want to give a gift that is remembered or not.
Remember, the ones that put smiles on poeples faces are the ones that are thoughtful enough to do so.

Step two. You need a price limit. Set a limit and stick by that. It's the thought that counts not the pricetag.

Step three. Be creative. Dont give someone a toilet bowl cover for a gift. Sure it would be funny, but it would lack thought. Unless of course they needed one.
Don't give gift cards. A gift card says you dont love them enough to pick out something that they would like. You dont know what they like? Spend some time with them. Get to know them. People are usually willing to tell you what they like.

Step four. If all else fails... get a gift card. Yea you might be saying "Hey you just told me not to get a gift card", but its the thought that counts right? OK OK there is one suggestion if you are going to give a gift card. Give it with a gift. For example, if you give someone a Gaming System and a giftcard for them to buy a game since you dont know what they want to play. Thats fine. Or you give a Coffee mug with a gift card to starbucks. Just don't give just a gift card. Think about the people you spend your money on. Get them something they want or something they will want once they see it.

Although these rules should apply to all gifts you buy they also work good when picking out that funny gift. Like the box of chocolates with a picture of all the poeple who ate some, or the autographed picture of yourself, or an ashtray that says no smoking. The best advice I can give to you is to be creative and think about the person receiving it. (even if you dont know who's receiving it.)

Have a Merry X-mas and a Happy New Year