Secret Santa and White Elephant Gift Ideas: Under $50

Are you at a loss for white elephant gift ideas for this year's Christmas party? Get ideas for great gifts that won't break the bank.

Gift Cards:
Massage gift certificate- Men and women can both enjoy massage services. The secret to making this the most envied white elephant gift of the whole party lies not in the amount put on the card, but in the salon or spa from which the massage certificate was purchased. Aveda salons offer a variety of services, but their services are targeted more at women. Instead of going for the "beautifying" services, find a spa or massage practice that offers a variety of services targeting men and women. Deep tissue and sports massages will appeal to men while gentle Swedish massage or a physically active Thai massage, which incorporates yoga, might appeal more to women. And, for those who don't enjoy massages, or who already have a regular masseuse, a spa or salon that offers a variety of other services and products will allow them to use a gift certificate toward a different purchase.

VISA gift card- VISA pre-paid gift cards are accepted almost everywhere a VISA card is accepted and act just like a credit card. Recipients can use the cards at restaurants, retail stores, even for groceries. The cards are available on giftcards.com or at participating banks, such as Wells Fargo. Purchasers choose the price they want, so the card fits any budget.

Tickets:
Lottery or raffle tickets- For a general audience made up of people whose individual likes and dislikes you could have no way of knowing, lottery scratch-offs and tickets for prize drawings are a great way to go.

Buy a blank or generic Christmas or holiday celebration card, and include the tickets along with any additional information they would need to know. For example, if the raffle ticket prize is a weekend getaway, the recipient will need to know details: Where is getaway city? Are there specific dates for which the prize is valid or invalid to be redeemed? What business or nonprofit organization is selling the raffle tickets? How will the recipient be informed if they are the winner? To give lottery scratch-off cards, no additional information is necessary, but including a penny for scratching is a funny and thoughtful addition to the gift.
Pens:
A pen is a unisex-appropriate gift, and it can even be a good gift for children and teens. Pick from a few of these reasonably priced pen options for a gift that can be enjoyed by virtually anyone:

Fisher Space Pen- For a very reasonable $20, the Fisher "Original Bullet Pen" is a pocket sized pens that comes in classic chrome and a variety of other colors. It is popular because it can continue to write at any angle, even upside down. It's called the "Space Pen" because it can even be used by astronauts in outer space.

Lamy- A German producer of fine pens, Lamy makes good pens available to all. The Safari Collection pens start at just $17 for a ballpoint and a little more for the fountain pens. They come in several colors, including the very cool clear. The special edition blue and red color starts at just $20.

Drinks:
Champagne- Champagne is thought of as an indulgent luxury drink, something used for special occasions and celebrations. New Years Eve is one of those "special occasions" on which virtually every adult toasts to new beginnings with a bottle of bubbly, and since New Year's Eve is a mere week from Christmas, skip the tired bottle of wine and pick up some champagne. Bottles can be purchased at prices to fit any and all budgets. Bottles of Korbel and Andre's can be found in grocery stores everywhere for under $10, perfect for a low budget gift. More expensive champagnes can be purchased at some grocery and liquor stores and wine cellars.