Once upon a time, in an office not too far away, a team of dedicated professionals found themselves in a bit of a pickle. You see, their company had recently transitioned to a hybrid working model.
The team recognized that they needed a solution to bring them together. They needed something that would help build camaraderie and foster the kind of positive environment they all craved. That’s when it hit them: a work gift exchange! Not just any gift exchange, but one with a unique twist that would capture the hearts of everyone involved. They needed to come up with a list of work gift exchange ideas that would engage, entertain, and ultimately transform their office culture.
And so, our brave heroes set forth on a journey to find the most innovative and memorable gift exchange ideas for work, eager to create an event that would strengthen their bonds and banish the negativity that had been creeping in. They discovered an array of gift exchange game ideas that promised laughter, surprises, and maybe even a little friendly competition.
The intrepid band of coworkers knew they needed to find gift exchange gift ideas that would not only bring joy but also foster a sense of unity and equality. They sought out gifts that were suitable for any gender and age, ensuring that everyone felt included and valued. This led them to the marvelous world of unisex gift ideas for adults, a treasure trove of fun, practical, and thoughtful presents that could make anyone smile.
They discovered that the key to a successful gift exchange was finding items that struck the perfect balance. They began to explore and experience gifts that ranged from gadgets to home essentials. Each one was designed to delight the recipient and create lasting memories. As they delved deeper into this realm of unisex gift ideas for adults, they found themselves enchanted by the variety.
As they prepared for the big event, the team knew they had done something truly special. They had found the perfect gift exchange gifts that would not only lift everyone’s spirits but also help to rebuild the bonds that made them a remarkable group of coworkers. Little did they know, however, that their journey was just beginning…
The holiday season is a joyful time for celebrating with coworkers. An office gift exchange is a fun way to spread some cheer without breaking the bank. Whether it’s a White Elephant game or Secret Santa draw, you want a gift that will put smiles on faces.
This list of 25 affordable and creative gift ideas takes the stress out of office gift exchanges. With presents ranging from $10 to $30, you can show appreciation for colleagues without overspending. They strike the perfect balance of fun, practical, and thoughtful.
Useful Gifts to Brighten Their Day
Everyone appreciates gifts they can use day in and day out. These useful picks will remind coworkers of your thoughtfulness all year long.
1. Fun socks + a donation ($12)
A pair of funky socks paired with a small donation to charity makes a meaningful gift Pick socks featuring their favorite animal, food, hobby, or a funny phrase
2. Wireless charger and stand ($18.99)
End the hunt for spare charging cables with a streamlined stand It wireslessly charges any Qi-enabled phone when placed on top
3. WoodWick candle ($16.87)
These natural soy candles crackle and pop like a cozy fireplace thanks to their wooden wicks. Choose an inviting winter scent like balsam and cedar.
4. Productivity planner ($27)
An organized planner helps tame a busy schedule. Find one tailored to their role like marketing, teaching, or project management.
5. Tea by Mood gift set ($24.97)
Sample a variety of soothing teas formulated for different moods and times of day. It makes a healthy, comforting gift.
6. Letters for a Year of Gratitude ($19.82)
This set contains 52 cards with prompts for thank you notes, compliments, and good deeds. Spread positivity in 2022!
Gifts for Relaxation and Self-Care
We all need to recharge our batteries. Give the gift of relaxation with these pampering presents.
7. Bath bombs gift set ($10.99)
Treat a coworker to fizzy, colorful bath bombs infused with essential oils. They transform bath time into an aromatherapy escape.
8. Sheet mask kit ($15)
Masking is the trendy skin care ritual. This set lets them try hydrogel, charcoal, hydrating, and brightening sheet masks.
9. Adult coloring book ($9.12)
Unlike tedious paperwork, coloring relaxes the mind. Choose designs featuring their favorite creatures, places, or hobbies.
10. Weighted sleep mask ($29.99)
For destressing before bed, a weighted sleep mask hugs the face gently. Bonus: It blocks out light.
11. Herbal tea diffuser ($19.99)
A small diffuser emits tranquil scents from water and essential oils. Add soothing chamomile, lavender, or eucalyptus oils.
12. Bath caddy tray ($27.95)
This expandable bamboo tray holds a book, tablet, phone, candle, and beverage hands-free in the tub.
Fun and Unique Gift Ideas
Think outside the box with these quirky and memorable gift ideas your coworkers won’t see coming.
13. Desktop punching bag ($25)
Let them release office frustration on this tiny punching bag. It bounces right back up thanks to a weighted base.
14. Eco-friendly plant pots ($12.99)
These teardrop-shaped pots made of rice husks biodegrade when planted. Available in vibrant colors.
15. Scented putty ($8)
Similar to Silly Putty but scented to reduce stress! Comes in relaxing options like lavender, eucalyptus, citrus, and more.
16. Magnetic poetry kit ($24.95)
Tap into their creative side with a kit of words and punctuation magnets for fridge poetry fun.
17. Mini waffle maker ($16.48)
Whip up individual sized waffles in minutes. An adorable appliance for breakfast lovers.
18. Bob Ross bobblehead ($15)
Keep the iconic afro’d painter’s legacy alive with a Bob Ross bobblehead doll spreading happy little trees.
Sentimental Gifts From the Heart
Sometimes the most cherished gifts are heartfelt ones. Share a piece of you or bring back nostalgia with these sentimental ideas.
19. Homemade baked goods
Nothing says you care like something homemade. Bake cookies, bars, breads, or other treats and package them in a sweet tin.
20. Nostalgic candy
Take them back in time with retro candy favorites like Nerds, Laffy Taffy, Smarties, Sugar Babies, Runts, and Atomic Fireballs.
21. Handwritten cards
Heartfelt messages are always appreciated. Write sincere thank yous, praise, or holiday greetings to teammates.
22. Photo calendar or book
Make a custom photo calendar or Shutterfly book using fun office memories and inside jokes.
23. Engraved office supplies
Add their name or initials to nice pens, notepads, desk organizers, or other items they’ll use.
24. Succulents ($12.99)
An adorable potted succulent lasts longer than cut flowers. Choose their favorite color and decor.
Gift Ideas for Learning and Growth
Stimulate minds with educational gifts supporting hobbies, personal growth, and new experiences.
25. The Bucket List: 1000 Adventures Big & Small ($19.89)
This bucket list book provides inspiration to dream big. Check off life goals together!
26. Adult paint by numbers kit ($19.99)
Relieve stress by gradually forming a colorful image on canvas, one numbered paint section at a time.
27. Coding for beginners book ($11.69)
Introduce programming basics with a hands-on book teaching HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
28. Herb gardening kit ($20)
Make any home chef smile with an indoor herb garden kit for planting basil, oregano, thyme, and more.
29. New language learning subscription ($12/month)
Learning a new language expands horizons. Give subscriptions to fun apps like Duolingo or Babbel.
How to Get the Most Out of Your Office Gift Exchange
The success of a holiday office gift exchange ultimately comes down to the personalities involved. Lean into inside jokes, interests, and good humor. Avoid gag gifts that may offend. Get creative without going overboard.
Most importantly, relax and have fun socializing with coworkers. Don’t stress about spending limits or impressing others. As long as gifts come from the heart, they’ll be treasured. Spread holiday cheer!
10 Interesting Secret Gift Exchange Ideas
As they explored the world of unisex Christmas gifts for adults, they discovered a veritable treasure trove of gifts that transcended gender, age, and personal preferences. They encountered everything from sleek and practical kitchen gadgets to quirky board games that promised hours of entertainment. The team knew they were onto something, as they compiled a list of interesting gift exchange ideas that catered to a wide range of tastes and interests.
As the team prepared for the big event, they couldn’t help but feel a sense of accomplishment. They had found interesting gift exchange ideas that would not only delight their fellow employees but also help to break down the barriers that gossip had created. With their list of unisex gift suggestions in hand, they eagerly anticipated the moment when they could unveil their carefully curated selection of unisex Christmas gifts for adults, confident that this time, the only rumors spreading through the office would be ones of laughter, joy, and camaraderie.
- Virtual Exchange: For those who can’t meet in person, a virtual exchange is a great way to celebrate the holidays. Create a group chat and have everyone share their gift ideas and exchange gifts online.
- Themed Exchange: Pick a theme for the gift exchange and have everyone bring a gift that fits the theme. This can be a great way to add some creativity to the exchange.
- Christmas Craft Exchange: Have everyone bring a craft they’ve made or have a craft night together and exchange the crafts each person has made.
- Charity Exchange: Have everyone bring a donation to a local charity in lieu of a gift.
- Secret Santa: Pick someone to be the Secret Santa and have everyone write down their name and creative Secret Santa ideas. Then have Secret Santa anonymously pick out a name and buy the gift for them.
- Re-Gifting Exchange: Have everyone bring a gift that they’ve received in the past that they don’t want or need.
- White Elephant: Have everyone bring a random gift and exchange it with someone else.
- Mystery Gift Exchange: Have each person put their name in a hat and draw out a name. Then have them buy a gift for the person whose name they drew without knowing who it is.
- Home-made Gift Exchange: Have each person make a homemade gift to exchange with someone else.
- Virtual Mystery Gift Exchange: Have each person put their name in a virtual hat and draw out a name. Then have them buy a gift for the person whose name they drew without knowing who it is and exchange the gifts online.
Curate the perfect box of handpicked gift they’ll love and send joy their way
As it turned out, the hybrid work schedule didn’t do much to quell the office gossip. Instead of gathering in the break room, employees simply migrated to the virtual realm. Turning Zoom breakout rooms into gossip hotspots. Recognizing that things had gotten out of hand, the higher-ups at corporate decided to bring everyone back to the office full-time. They hoped that in-person supervision would help curb the issue.
05 Unique Gift Exchange Fun Games to Play at Workplace
Desperate for a solution, the team knew they had to introduce a fun and engaging element to the gift exchange – games! They searched high and low for gift exchange games for large groups, games that would delight adults, and even Christmas gift games for adults and gift exchange games for adults that would bring out the festive spirit. By incorporating these captivating gift exchange games into their event, they hoped to redirect the focus away from gossip and toward creating a positive, team-building atmosphere for all.
- Left Right Story: This game is perfect for large groups of adults. Begin by having someone read a story, but instead of reading the whole story, they can only read the words “left” and “right”. Everyone follows the instructions of the storyteller and passes the gift to the left or right depending on the direction. This game is sure to have everyone in stitches.
- Santa’s Hat: In this game, each person stands in a circle and passes a Santa hat around the circle. When the music stops, whoever is holding the hat pulls out a gift from the pile and can open it or exchange it with someone else in the circle. This game is perfect for larger groups and is sure to bring out the Christmas cheer.
- Gift Swap: This game is perfect for those who want to keep their gift a surprise. Everyone draws a number and the person with the highest number goes first. They can choose to open the gift or exchange it with someone else in the circle. This game can be great for large groups and is sure to add an element of surprise and fun.
- Secret Santa: This classic gift exchange game is perfect for small to medium-sized groups. Everyone is assigned another person to buy a gift for and they can’t reveal who they got the gift for until the end. This is a great way to get everyone in the christmas spirit with this holiday exchange gift ideas.
- White Elephant: This game is perfect for those who are looking for a bit of chaos. Everyone brings a gift to the exchange and each person takes a turn selecting a gift. Once a gift is selected, the next person can either choose a new gift or steal the previous person’s gift. This game is sure to bring out the competitive side of everyone.
EVERYDAY THOUGHTFUL INEXPENSIVE GIFT IDEAS
What to get for a holiday gift exchange at work?
If you’re still uncertain about what to get for a holiday gift exchange at work, consider seasonal or holiday-themed gifts. For instance, holiday-themed notebooks, pencils and pens, office gear, small clothing items and other seasonal items are great for last-minute gift exchange ideas.
What is a good gift for a work gift exchange?
Gag gifts make fun and humorous ideas for a work gift exchange. Things like humorous quotes on mugs, mousepads and notepads are fun gifts that can work in a White Elephant type of office gift exchange, where everyone gives a present that is funny (yet appropriate) in nature.
What are office gift exchange ideas?
Office gift exchange ideas are games and activities that make gift-giving more fun. Examples include Santa’s Casino, musical gifts, and cookie swaps. The purpose of these activities is to celebrate holiday gift-giving in a fun and engaging environment. These games ensure team building and foster friendly relationships among employees.
What can you give a coworker for a gift exchange?
Wines, beer and other unique beverages make great ideas for a gift exchange. You can even find specialized gift cards or gift certificates for wine and spirits for the coworkers who love to sample diverse beverages.
