WHITE ELEPHANT Gifts

This time of year many businesses decide to celebrate the holidays with not only the traditional potluck or end of year party, but they also add a "gift exchange". If you ask owners/management why, their answers usually entail some explanation of bringing together the employees for some type of bonding experience.

Having worked in several places that instilled this method of gift giving, as well as having attended several exchange parties of my spouse, I took my journalistic questions to the givers/receivers as to what they thought made a "good" or "groan-worthy" gift. Most parties seem to put a cap of $10 to spend. With a little bit of common sense and asking a few questions there are many really great presents that can be purchased or made, if you are so inclined. Most responded with very logical answers:

If you are going to a get-together with a group of people you really do not know-go for a gift certificate. Despite what "they" say, these little slips of paper are always the right color and they always fit. The choices are literally endless! Malls have generic ones that are able to be used in any of the stores that have taken up residence in the building. Restaurants are a great treat especially for groups of co-workers who may like to go out of the workspace to have lunch. Book retailers and specialty stores make excellent certificates for the readers in one's place of employment.

When gift cards are not appropriate or a "homemade" only rule has been applied, think goodies from the kitchen. It's not new or different, but you can get creative! Make flavored oils or vinegars, gourmet baskets or cookie/brownie jars are terrific for the office foody. Scented bath salts are a nice luxury for someone who has had quite the stressful time of the season. Have someone in the office who loves movies? Buy a local theater's gift bag that includes popcorn and soda along with the tickets.

Another wonderful way of using the "white elephant" gift exchange is get everyone to use the idea of "going green" Have everyone bring in a gift that they just have never used and have an auction of sorts having a limit of how much the bid can go up too. Then decide on one or two charities in which to donate the "pot".

Which brings up another way to "white elephant" the season: think of others first! Instead of exchanging gifts with co-workers, decide to use the amount of money that would be spent on each other and donate it to a homeless shelter. Make arrangements to spend time doing community work, whether that means helping to repair playground equipment for a childrens center, making sure a service family has a holiday dinner or just visiting a retirement center and visiting with the residents. White elephants do not have to mean someone goes home with something totally useless. No, there is no way to turn a sow's ear into a silk purse, but with a little luck, you might be able to turn it into a suede bag.