From silly gifts to practical ones, White Elephant gifts make or break the group activity.
The following gifts will make your friends and family laugh, love and bring joy to their lives.
1. String Lights Price: $5.59
Everyone loves an aesthetic room. If your dorm allows it, these will act as a great addition. String lights would lighten up any room, especially a dorm due to the terrible lighting system. They also prove very inviting. Whenever I go into a dorm with string lights, I feel comfortable. Now, you can bring that feeling to someone else. No matter what, these lights would bring a little life and happiness to any room.
2. Play-Doh
Work out your essay writing hands with Play- Doh this holiday season. Play-Doh brings not only nostalgia but childish fun. It can help you relax after a stressful day, but also makes you even more frustrated when you can’t separate the colors. You could even add accessories to the gift like plastic knives and containers to play with the Play-Doh. That’s right, with the right tools you could make the viral rainbow pasta but with Play-Doh!
“When I was younger, I got a tub full of playdoh,” Drake University freshman Dakota Eiselstein said. “It was a picnic set so you could make a whole bunch of different things with it.”
This gift can be great for all ages. Kids will love anything they can make a mess with, and adults can tap into their inner child. Get into your creative, artistic groove without consequence.
3. Ring light
With TikTok videos blowing up, only a few people ask “What’s TikTok?” excluding your grandparents who still ask if you got your ripped jeans on sale. With more and more people dropping out of careers or school to make money on TikTok, what better way to encourage it than to gift a ring light. With the perfect light, you have another reason to become a TikTok star.
4. Embarrassing Picture
Looking to spice up the annual White Elephant exchange? Are you the jokester looking for your next victim? Add an embarrassing picture of your friends and family into the gift mix. It doesn’t cause fist fights but gives everyone (hopefully the person in the picture too) a laugh. After all, White Elephant isn’t White Elephant without something stupidly funny?
“My favorite White Elephant gift is a really embarrassing photo of someone else because then it embarrasses them and it’s funny,” Drake University junior Faith Norris said.
If you wanted to spice it up even more, add a frame or magnet. That way the beautiful picture won’t simply get thrown to the side. It will serve as a memory on the fridge or become a dusty picture on a desk.
Price: printing
5. Fanny pack
Fanny packs exist as practical, trendy items for a White Elephant gift. From all different colors, fanny packs simply do not disappoint. Fanny packs can help hold your phone, keys and money at the club or during a stroll in the park. In my fanny pack, I keep chap stick, gum and a portable charger since these tend to be my essentials anywhere I am. To personalize the fanny pack, you could include glitter, gems or stickers that help make it the best one of them all.
6. Avocado Growing Kit
How great would a gift of responsibility be? An avocado growing kit happens to be a great gift for those friends or family that suddenly think about getting a pet or friends overcome with baby fever. Encourage them to start small. Plus, fresh avocados for avocado toast, game changer. Maybe add an extra instruction sheet just in case the kit doesn’t use words to help a five-year-old.
7. Succulent
Who likes taking care of anything? Not me. Although sometimes I think a plant would be nice. A succulent arises as the perfect gift for people just like me since it barely takes any sort of care. Water it once a week — if that — and it will bring you oxygen and peace. Plants tend to increase focus and productivity too. Who knows, maybe you’ll end up starting a plant family.
8. Themed undergarments
Wearable items will always act as an easy win for White Elephant gifts. Underwear brings it to the next level. From a wide range of themes, colors, sizes and designs, let your creativity run wild. This gift will give a shocked reaction followed by slight embarrassment, especially if your grandma watches. Depending on the kind of underwear, reactions from family and friends tend to be more fun than the actual gift.
“I got these boxers that were “Space Jam” themed,” Drake University junior Isaac Gavin said. “It was pretty fun.”
Get the most fun themed underwear. After the funny moment when the gift receiver holds it up and everyone blushes, no one will see them anyway. Why not make it the best underwear they’ve received?
9. Random Item
Traditions step up gift exchanges. Here’s the idea: find a unique item that must be gifted each year. If you receive the item during the exchange, you must keep it for the next White Elephant. Throughout the years, different members will end up with the item. Eventually you’ll hear, “Dang it, I got the Garfield (or whatever item you chose)!”
10. Fry Cup Holder
Drive-thrus have been a man’s best friend, and it won’t change anytime soon. But have you ever spilt your fries everywhere because you had no one to hold them? Your car becomes trashed, and your soul dies a little. Never fear, a fry cup holder is here. You’ll never have to endure the crushing slow motion scene of your warm, salty fries falling to your car floor ever again.
It’s your turn. You have no idea what lies beneath that beautifully wrapped present—it could be a ceramic mug or a My Little Pony. Have your fake “I love it” response ready because if you open up the worst present imaginable and are fighting back tears, no one else needs to know how serious you are taking this White Elephant gift exchange. So save the tears and find the best white elephant gifts out there for this classic holiday party game.
Be the hero of Christmas this year with the best White Elephant gifts for only $10.
11. Lottery ticket (and a penny)
Imagine what it would be like for you to receive this perfect white elephant gift. Nothing beats a free chance to win a million bucks. Even though the odds are against you, the few seconds of dreaming up a life of riches while scratching furiously with your new penny would be worth the thrill. If you don’t win anything, at least you’re one cent closer to the million you’ll make on your own.
12. Cool socks
How many pairs of boring, white socks do you own? I’ll answer that for you: too many. Throwing in a pair of hipster socks with a sick pattern is great for both guys and girls. Plus, what’s better than sliding around on your hardwood floors with new socks during Christmas break?
13. Starbucks Gift Card
Starbucks Gift card: $40 (includes four $10 gift cards)
Let’s admit it, we’re all basic. If you add in a Starbucks gift card to the mix of great white elephant gifts, you’ll surely be the most popular gifter. Everyone’s eyes will grow wide as they imagine the smell of their favorite latte calling their name. So be the hero of the party, and give someone the chance to move up in the world and go for the venti.
14. Ghirardelli Chocolate
Ghirardelli Milk and Caramel Squares: $9.98
Let’s just hope the non-human friend of yours who claims they “don’t like chocolate” (uhhh what is wrong with them???) doesn’t end up with this gift. Or maybe it could be good for them to rethink their life choices because if someone doesn’t like chocolate, obviously they’ve never tried Ghirardelli.
15. Calendar
Sometimes practical gifts are the best holiday gifts, and a calendar is a college student’s best friend. It would also be funny to watch someone carefully study the wrapped present and expect a record. Surprise, it’s a calendar.
16. Two movie tickets
It’s difficult to set aside time and money to venture off campus and go see a movie—especially when Netflix lures us into its trap so often. Plus, giving someone two movie tickets is basically presenting them with a clear opportunity to take you. Make sure the tickets are to a movie everyone knows you want to see.
17. Tervis Tumbler
Why bring a wine glass or a coffee mug when you could bring a gift a person can drink every liquid out of? You can never have too many Tervis tumblers…
18. Bumper stickers
Bumper stickers are a great conversation starter for a White Elephant gift exchange. Because they are relatively cheap, you can buy a bunch of them; whoever ends up with this gift is bound to like at least one of the stickers. Plus, bumper stickers can make you the coolest cat in college if you use them to jazz up your laptop.
19. $10 bill
Everyone might assume that this gift was a mere act of procrastination. Little do they know, it was you, the sly economist, who concocted this scenario. Wouldn’t it be entertaining to see your friends wrestle with the concept of gains and losses during an innocent White Elephant exchange? Who would be willing to sabotage others by trading their gifts for the cash? It would be like watching your friends return each other’s gifts right in front of one another.
So sit back, relax and let the chaos unfold.
Looking for more white elephant gift ideas? We’ve got your back.
You’ve purchased all of your Christmas gifts and have your stocking stuffers ready to go. Don’t forget the most important holiday tradition: your favorite game, White Elephant. If you’re in a rush to find unique gifts to win over the party, we’ve updated our White Elephant gift guide to help you out.
20. Enamel Pins
Along with the 90s vintage fashion coming back into our lives, enamel pins are making a comeback. Cover your backpack or add style to your clothes with your own personal touch. With thousands of pins to choose from, picking the right one can make such a simple gift extremely meaningful.
“I just bought a $10 enamel pin for a Secret Santa I am in,” said Syracuse University junior Bridget Slomian. “Lots of websites have really cute little pins you can get, and they are 10 or 11 dollars, so there’s pizza pins, feminist pins, cars, anything you can think of.”
With a quick Etsy search, you’ll find beautifully designed enamel pins that will make everyone jealous they didn’t choose your gift.
21. Photo Frame
22. Cookbook
“The best gift that I have ever received was, my freshman year, my friend gave me Oreos and an Oreo cookbook because she knew how much I loved Oreos and it felt really special to me because she knew me that well,” said Syracuse junior Lyssa Thomas.
23. Chia Pet
College students have little to no personal outdoor space, so why not bring it indoors? Surprise your friend with a Chia Pet for a major #tbt. These small, indoor plants will not only brighten their day but will also make them leave with a smile on their face each time they see it.
24. Hot Chocolate
Nothing says staying warm and cuddling up by the fire more than a nice cup of hot chocolate. Treat your friends to a relaxing night by giving them a warm cup of love.
“If I were to get a gift, I would want an assortment of hot chocolate because I love hot chocolate,” said Syracuse senior Brielle Minnefield.
25. Onesie
If you’re a fan of funny white elephant gifts, you might consider going for something cozy, as well.
“Last year I got my friend a Secret Santa gift and it was a onesie with smiley faces on it from Forever 21,” said Syracuse junior Zoe Stern.
What sounds better than pajamas and a blanket in one? Get your friend a gift that will undoubtedly make them think of kindergarten. You know, the good old days when we worried about nothing more than crayons and naptime. Better yet, buy yourself a matching one and prepare for adorable Insta-worthy selfies.
26. Gas card
Have that one friend you keep forgetting to give gas money to? Is it someone driving you home for winter break? Here is your time to pay up. Really, no one will pass on this helpful gift card.
27. Pet Supplies
Most student living facilities place large restrictions on pets. Going from cuddling your pup every day at home to having practically no interaction with animals on campus comes as a shock for some students. You cannot bring their furry friend from home but you can give them a small, life-like pet that starts to fill the void. “One time I got a battery-operated hamster toy that came with its own ball and I always wanted a hamster growing up but this was as close as I was going to get so I hid it under my desk when we did our classroom Secret Santa,” said Syracuse junior Anna Bupp.
28. Face Masks
The weeks building up to winter break seem to always be the most stressful time of year. The overwhelming pile of work you have to do seems to never stop growing and you feel like you are ready to pull your hairs out one by one. The day simply does not have enough time in it. Give your friend a much-deserved spa day without having to break the bank. She will thank you later.
29. Scarf
By the time you walk to class you literally feel like a human icicle. Your poorly windblown hair and now bright red cheeks just cannot warm up no matter what. During the winter, only scarves can help this situation. Even better, they never fail to be a true fashion statement and pull together any outfit. Give your friend a cute scarf and watch them receive compliment after compliment.
30. Extra Long Phone Charger
We all have that one friend that always uses their phone dying as an excuse to not hang out. Not only will giving them an extra-long phone charger be funny, but it will also be more than helpful. They will never stop thanking you, and they will need to find a new excuse.
Read on for 10 more White Elephant gifts for the college student’s budget of $10 or less.
White Elephant.
Dirty Santa.
Yankee Swap.
It goes by many names, but the game you look forward to all year has arrived. After all, people’s true colors come out during White Elephant. The game is even more polarizing for friends than MarioKart, or, dare I say it, Monopoly. Even if you receive a garbage gift during your exchange, you don’t have to worry about the Christmas cake tasting like defeat. With these 10 White Elephant gifts for under $10, you’ll be sure to make Santa’s nice list.
31. Poo-pourri
32. Dad jokes
I’m pretty sure that every father has to read and memorize at least one dad joke book before the birth of their first child. It’s like an elaborate fraternity initiation, except with a lot of cheesy puns. Even if fatherhood doesn’t lie in the stars for you, a couple of corny jokes will always brighten a bleak winter day.
33. Bertie Bott’s Every Flavor Beans
Earwax. Boogers. Dirt. Can you hear your stomach rumbling yet? While these beans won’t lead you to a giant in the sky, they look just as magical. Bertie Bott’s Every Flavor Beans are the what you need when you’re feeling impulsive—but not too impulsive. In each bean lies the perfect amount of risk. The only downside? The nasty beans don’t just taste like their flavors. They taste like defeat, too.
34. Tea Infuser
If your friends always tell you your gifting game is out of this world, and your mission is brewing the perfect cup of Earl Grey, look no further than this infuser. Make ground control proud once you complete your objective. P.S. I promise I haven’t been reading the dad joke book. Please forgive me.
35. Ugly Christmas Sweater
What’s a White Elephant gift exchange without an ugly Christmas sweater? The two are like peanut butter and jelly, eggs and ham or astronauts and tea. After all, a Christmas closet without an ugly Christmas sweater is like a sleigh without jingle bells. Everybody loves the horrendous holiday guy, so this one might make for the perfect swap.
36. Batteries
Warning: Please only include this in your White Elephant if you do not care for anyone in your gift exchange. Playing this gift is more evil than going for a high-five after sneezing into your hands. I know you previously thought there was no greater evil than that, but think again. The gift is simple. Unwrap the batteries, throw them in a little plastic baggie, and write very plainly on the top: Present not included. But don’t worry too much about being mean–your tech-nerd friend will love getting this gift to power up all their gadgets.
37. Gift of Nothing
If you consider yourself the trickster of your friend group, look no further. While not as bad as the battery gag, this one still ranks as sneezing-in-your-hands-and-forgetting-to-wash-them evil. While your gift of ‘nothing’ might not scream practical, the gift itself has infinite possibilities and you can remind your friends of this, too.
38. Himalayan Salt Lamp
Even if you don’t believe that this lamp will cease all suffering in your life by magically removing all the negative ions from the air, you can’t tell me that your dorm room doesn’t need one, ASAP. This lamp paired with some house plants, an essential oil diffuser and a cute cat becomes the epitome of cool vibes. Plus, they’re actually salty.
Don’t ask how I know that.
39. Chill Pills
You have 15 minutes before your 12 o’clock deadline and the corpses of your stress balls and the empty cans of your forgotten Redbulls litter the floor around you. You can feel your hands shake with nerves. You wait until you have all the attention and then grab your mysterious tin box. You down the whole thing in one go. People gasp in horror. They think the stress must have finally made you crack.
40. Fuzzy slippers
When you yawn yourself awake and rub your eyes in the morning, what’s the first thing you do? You don’t get your coffee mug out of the cupboard. You don’t brush your teeth. You put on your fuzzy bunny slippers, and then face the world like the adult you are. That’s what you do.
Check out more white elephant gifts for this years New Years bash you’ll head to tonight.
41. Stockings
42. Boxes inside a big Box
You already know that everyone will be fighting over the biggest gift. You’ll sit back. You’ll smile. They’ll tear each other apart over boxes upon boxes beautifully wrapped into each other. I didn’t think it could be possible to unwrap disappointment, but this present makes defeat almost tangible.
Price Varies
43. Bob Ross Chia Pet
44. Tooth tunes
45. Beatles White Album puzzle
If this present makes it into the Dirty Elephant mix, pray that a Beatles fan receives it. This album was a best seller, but this puzzle probably isn’t. Whoever completes this puzzle would lose all of their blood, sweat, tears and brain cells. Have mercy on them.
46. A single M&M inside a PS4 Box
I know. This one’s just mean. I’d take a poll right before the party asking if the public prefers skittles, M&Ms or Reese’s Pieces, so maybe this disappointing gift won’t make the recipient completely hate you. You may owe them a shot of tequila once the game ends.
47. Framed and autographed picture of you + paper
If the people at the party aren’t fighting each other over this perfect gift, you need to attend a different party. One where they appreciate your penchant for the best white elephant gift ideas.
Price Varies
48. Canned Unicorn Meat
Arguably the most versatile meat. Unicorn burgers? Done. Lasagna? Let’s get it. A unicorn soup, with glitters and sparkles for seasoning? Bring it on. I hope the chef of the party receives this one.
KEEP READING FOR MORE CHARMING PRESENTS UNDER $10
With COVID-19 safety in mind, the following white elephant gifts can all be found on Amazon. Whether you host a socially distanced white elephant party or celebrate virtually, these presents can be shipped to your friend’s house in 48 hours. They might come without ribbons and tags, but perhaps, Christmas means a little bit more than that.
49. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
If everyone received a scroll titled “Being a Good Human 101” at birth — Maya Angelou’s I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings would definitely make the list. Angelou communicates the significance of ethics and empathy in this award-winning novel. She discloses her experiences as a Black woman and recommends all people read diverse literature to survive racism and trauma. In the wake of 2020, I think we could all benefit from Angelou’s insight through her beautifully crafted words. Let’s just hope this gift gets picked by someone who could benefit from… a new perspective.
50. Alice in Wonderland Shot Glass
You don’t need to fall down a rabbit hole to understand this gift. I think we can all agree that a shot glass that says “Drink Me” needs no further explanation. Sure, Alice in Wonderland fans will definitely react with an increasing level of surprise and curiosity. However, no matter the person, this particular cup will come in handy. For the non-alcohol preferring individual, the glass can also hold 1 shot of espresso. You can then pour it over steamed milk to make a macchiato. With this gift and the tenacity to level-up your alcohol or coffee drinking, the options are endless.
51. Jordan’s Skinny Syrup
Do you like coffee? As much as oxygen? Same. With winter festivities right around the corner, brewing default black coffee just doesn’t cut it anymore. Plus, resisting holiday sweets proposes an impossible quest. Lucky for us, these three sugar-free syrups give coffee a candied taste without the calories.
“I’m all about watching Christmas movies snuggled up with a tasty drink,” UCLA graduate Sarah Martinyan said. “So anything that helps heighten that experience, is a great gift.”
The traditional flavors include salted caramel, vanilla and mocha while holiday gourmet options include cinnamon vanilla, salted caramel swirl and white chocolate mocha. These sweet selections can also be used to level up your hot cocoa, apple cider or even flavor popcorn. Jordan’s trio will surely receive some silver-tongued praise at your next exchange of white elephant gifts.
52. Collagen Eye Patches
In an era where the skincare industry navigates at an all-time high, I bet you’ll find this product favorable. The under eyes happen to require a decent amount of care, so in the name of glowing and younger-looking skin, protect them. This set by Etude House comes with 10 collagen eye patches. You can even put them on your forehead, if needed. The packaging definitely conveys more feminine energy, but the product’s purpose to improve skin moisture and elasticity can translate to all.
53. “Dwight, you ignorant sl—t.” Pillow Case
What is my perfect gift? I break into Bed Bath & Beyond at midnight. Do I go for the vault? No. I go for this iconic Dwight pillow. It’s priceless… Just kidding. You really don’t need an elaborate scheme to get this sitcom reference.
“It’s kind of hard to get something good for under $10 so getting something funny balances out the cheap,” UCI graduate Maggie Goschin said.
This gift could go one of two ways. Someone will either lose their mind due to excitement or finally be given a sign from the universe to start watching The Office. Both results seem sufficient.
54. Wooden Bamboo Hair Brush
One of the most famous TikTok trends this year involved teaching audiences about proper haircare. Whether you have thick or thin hair, an anti-frizz wooden brush benefits the scalp and encourages hair growth. The wooden bristles also distribute your hair’s natural oils.
“I can’t brush my hair with regular combs or else I turn into Hermione,” Pasadena City College sophomore Alexa Rubin said. “Wooden brushes have been a saving grace, though.”
A non-metal brush also produces less environmental waste. Not to mention, wooden brushes bring lower stress levels. With the health benefits all laid out on the table, this may be your sign to switch tools. This unexpected stress reliever offers an environmental way for self-care. Any white elephant gift participant would be happy to receive it.
55. Cable Knit Winter Beanie
A crazy funky junky hat? Nope. A classic beanie. With 16 different colors and varying prices, this knit beanie feels flexible and won’t be too tight on the head. The one pictured above comes in the color black gray.
“Last December, I picked a beanie from the stack of white elephant gifts, and inside there was some yummy wrapped candy,” UCR senior Vicki Martinez said.
If you buy the cheaper one-color beanie at $6.99, you could potentially recreate that hidden treasure effect. You can even reinvent Jim Halpert’s classic teapot surprise and put a note inside. The more creative, the more likely someone won’t trade the gift.
56. Reusable Glass Drinking Straws – 6 Pack
Glass straws just might be the unsung heroes of sustainability. While paper straws disintegrate and metal straws leave a weird after taste, only one superior option remains: glass! This pack comes with six colorful straws and two cleaning wands.
“Honestly I felt a little grossed out by the thought that metal straws aren’t transparent,” UCLA graduate Marvin Lee said. “So being able to see with my eyes that my glass straw is 100% clean is a huge plus.”
Amazon also holds a variety of colors in stock, so head on over there to bring the fun and sustainability to your next small gathering that features white elephant gifts.
57. Ultra Thin Webcam Cover Slide – 3 Pack
If you’ve ever seen or fallen victim to an embarrassing Zoom moment, you understand the necessity of webcam covers. Whether your mom barges in during an important Zoom meeting or you did something unspeakable right in front of the camera, mistaking your video for being turned off can lead to cringe-worthy events. So, a sliding cover helps avoid that anxiety. The cover’s slender form makes it compatible with both a computer as well as an iPhone or iPad. Don’t underestimate the power of a quality screen cover!
58. LED Fairy Lights
The most glistening white elephant gift of all — twinkling lights! Measuring at 3.3 ft each, they don’t need an outlet, so no worries about that. They come with energy-saving batteries already in place and an on-off switch that controls its starry moon appearance style. These cool white-colored fairy lights work under rain or shine. Nothing says “holidays” quite like festive decor you can drape over a Christmas tree, place inside a jar, a bedroom wall or an outdoor patio. This white elephant gift will definitely ignite the most cheer.
As 2021 comes to a close and more and more people receive the COVID-19 vaccine, we may have a holiday season this year that looks a little more normal. That means we get to relaunch the best Christmas game: White Elephant.
59. Burt’s Bees Gift Set
Nothing says priority like some well-needed self-care. This kit contains five products: a deep cleansing cream, hand salve, body lotion, foot cream and lip balm. The kit containing all five of these products makes it especially useful during the cold winter months that negatively affect your skin. The kit comes in a small travel size packaging, making it convenient for you to take along with you on a trip.
“I think this is a really great gift because it is a natural brand offering multiple products for people to try. It also is a very essential gift that would get a lot of use,” Hunter College freshman Sarah Alam said.
Burt’s Bees, a company known for making Earth-friendly and natural products. This makes it a great gift for people who want to prioritize the environment by using sustainable products. Plus, coming in a set of five works especially well as a gift for a game of White Elephant. The 5-in-1 concept allows the items to come in one convenient package to give to someone. Why get someone one Burt’s Bees product when you can get someone five?
60. BLANC Face Mask
Everyone deserves a self-care night. With the stress college brings, nothing beats the benefits and relaxation of putting on a face mask. It comes with six different types of face masks. An infused mix of egg white, Vitamin C, Honey, Avocado Oil, Aloe and Tea Tree makes up each mask. Each one provides benefits for your oily, dry and combination skin types. Some useful benefits of these face masks include toning, moisturizing and hydrating of the skin.
“Skin care is super important! And who doesn’t love a good face mask? I’d definitely give this to a friend,” St. John’s University senior Alexandria Caggia said.
This gift can make for a fun spa-night with friends or an enjoyable self-care night. You’ll enjoy putting these masks on by yourself while watching a movie this holiday season.
61. L’Oreal Paris Voluminous Makeup Lash Paradise Mascara
What make-up junkie wouldn’t enjoy a brand-new mascara as a white elephant gift? If you buy them a brand of mascara they already like, then you know your money went to good use. This also means they will get a lot of usage out of your white elephant gift. If they never tried the brand before you might introduce them to a product, they never knew they needed. Most mascaras make your eyelashes droop down, but this one doesn’t. This brand not only helps lengthen the eyelashes but also maintains the curl and adds volume. The gift receiver will feel like a model during New York Fashion Week.
I used this exact brand of mascara and it made my top three list of best mascaras. I would even go as far to say it could possibly be my number one favorite mascara I ever used. I’m not a huge makeup wearer, but whenever I wear this mascara, I receive countless compliments. My friends even noticed how much longer it makes my eyelashes look. I would definitely rate this product five stars. So, if you know a friend looking for a new mascara, I highly recommend buying them this as their white elephant gift.
62. Microwave S’mores Maker
Who says you can only eat S’mores as a campfire treat? Everyone loves food and this snack makes for the ultimate interactive experience for white elephant gift giving. With this nifty product, you no longer need to worry about immediate access to a campfire. Camping in the great outdoors may not suit everyone. Luckily, you can enjoy the deliciousness of S’mores from the comfort of your own home or dorm.
“Want S’mores? This gift is an easy and mess free way to make S’mores at home and on the go,” College of Staten Island junior Alexandra Fuca said.
This simple but classic snack includes the common ingredients of two graham crackers along with marshmallows and chocolate in between. Its small size makes it a convenient present for a gift exchange with friends. Along with a convenient size, because of the dish-washer friendly design, it makes for an easy clean-up process too. This gift allows you to enjoy the scrumptious snack with your friends while watching holiday movies and sitting around the fireplace.
63. Starbucks Reusable Cup
Even with winter approaching, no coffee lover can resist a nice refreshing drink like a Grande Frappuccino. Now you get to enjoy whatever drink you want to create this holiday season. Do this by taking it with you on the go with your very own Starbucks inspired reusable cup. Using this reusable cup means you won’t waste a new cup every time you drink coffee or whatever beverage you decide to make. You’ll help the environment and buy your friends a useful gift at the same time. You can never go wrong when the gift you buy causes a win-win situation for everyone.
“Let’s face it- if you’re a college student, you run on coffee. I would definitely give this cup to a friend because not only is it reusable, but it reduces single-use cup waste,” Caggia said.
The reusable feature of the cup makes it easy and convenient when traveling anywhere. With it coming in a pack of three, even the highest coffee connoisseur will never need a spare cup. If people in your friend group love coffee, get this gift the next time you play white elephant and need to exchange affordable gifts.
64. Coffee Cup Warmer for Desk
Speaking of coffee… if your friend doesn’t do their work on the go then consider gifting them a coffee cup warmer for their work space. The small and convenient warmer allows you to place it on your desk right next to the outlet. You no longer need to worry about your coffee cooling off. This gives you an excuse to save money and motivate you to make your own coffee rather than buying it.
“I think it’s safe to say most college students find themselves up late with a cup of coffee or tea while studying or doing homework. This coffee cup warmer is the perfect way to keep that beverage warm while you get your work done. Nothing is worse than a sip of cold coffee, tea, or hot chocolate while stressing over a big assignment,” St. John’s University junior James Imperatrice said.
The best part about this gift—it turns on and off automatically. Simply place your cup on the warmer, wait for your coffee to finish heating, lift up your cup and it watch the warmer automatically shut off. This makes it a perfect gift for those late-night study sessions when you need an energy boosting cup of coffee to get you through it.
65. White Twinkling Fairy Lights
Fairy Lights make a wonderful gift for someone who wants their dorm room to sparkle and shine. With flexible 33ft long copper wire, the lights bend into any shape so you can wrap it around pretty much anything. You can hang polaroid pictures on the lights for additional decoration. Taking pictures on a polaroid makes for a picture-perfect time with friends that you get to watch develop in front of your own eyes.
“This is a great ‘fun’ gift as most people use Polaroid cameras now. It is great to make dorms feel more homey and include pictures of friends/ family. A great decoration but also provides a good night light,” Alam said.
This gift comes in two colors for you to choose from, warm-white and purple. It also comes with a remote control to adjust the brightness. These lights make for a perfect gift for those who want their dorm room to look like the ultimate Instagram picture aesthetic.
66. Clean Swear Word Coloring Book for Adults
For all the artists out there, you’ll love this unique coloring book. This gag gift makes it best for joking or comedic purposes. The adult coloring book provides gut-twisting laughs and a fun and creative way to relieve stress. It challenges artists to color in clean versions of curse word phrases. Instead of “What the F—k? artists can color in “What the Fork?” For those of you who don’t draw in coloring books regularly, give it a try and reconnect with your inner child.
“Ever feel stressed? Well with this adult coloring book, you can color your stresses away. It is not only a good way to pass time, but it will also give you a good laugh,” Fuca said.
The comical nature of the gift makes it ideal for a white elephant gift exchange. If you ever feel stressed and need a way to relax, you can even use this coloring book as a therapeutic stress reliever.
67. Erasable Highlighters
As students, if you want to give your friends a useful back to school gift, give them Erasable Highlighters. Highlighter’s ability to separate important information in notes makes them a college student necessity when it comes to studying. One struggle of using highlighters— you get carried away with the beautiful colors and end up highlighting the entire page. With separate highlighter and eraser sides, this gift can help manage any over-highlighting. So, if you make a mistake you don’t need to worry about completely ruining your notes.
“These highlighters are so enjoyable to use while studying, reading, or doing any other college related work. The fact they are erasable not only makes them super fun, but they help when you may make the occasional mistake. Every college student needs highlighters so why not make it a bit more exciting,” Imperatrice said.
The pack comes with six different color highlighters: blue, light blue, yellow, orange, pink and purple. What a great way to remind everyone about the start of the new semester during your time off. You also simultaneously prepare everyone for the spring semester when winter break ends.
68. Jelly Belly BeanBoozled Mystery Beans
Last but most certainly not least, time to introduce the ultimate throwback of a gift… the Bean Boozled Jellybeans. The Bean Boozled Challenge broke the internet challenge back in 2014. It filled everyone’s recommended videos timeline with different people attempting the challenge. To this day it still resonates with all of us because we all remember how much fun it was to watch and even try ourselves.
“I think the jellybean dispenser is a fun twist to the Bean Boozled Challenge. This gift can be given to your friend and everyone can play the challenge and have a lot of fun,” College of Staten Island junior Kaitlyn Cornacchio said.
Each jellybean color contains two flavor variations. One potentially good… and one potentially bad. For example: Blue either tastes like berry blue or toothpaste. This combination tastes the best out of all of them, the others taste a lot worse. The Bean Boozled Challenge still makes for a one of a kind White Elephant gift because of the nostalgia and entertainment it could provide. Maybe you could even make a drinking game out of it once everyone opens their gifts.
*Updated on December 1, 2017 by Allison Ingrum to include white elephant gifts 21-31.
*Updated on November 28, 2018 by Lianne D’Arcy to include white elephant gifts 32-41.
*Updated on December 21, 2018 by Lianne D’Arcy to include white elephant gifts 42-51.
*Updated on November 24, 2020 by Irene Baghdasaryan to include white elephant gifts 52-61.
*Updated on October 26, 2021 by Courtney Lemkin to include white elephant gifts 59-68.
*Updated on November 15, 2022 by April Pupp to include white elephant gifts 1-10
