44 Best Gift Exchange Games & Clever Ideas for the Holidays

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How can I make my gift exchange more fun?

Are you tired of just drawing names for the yearly holiday gift exchange? You want to breathe some new, creative life into the annual gift swap for your family gathering or office Christmas party.

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How can I make my gift exchange more fun?

How can you do this, and perhaps make it more meaningful, memorable, and just plain fun in the process?

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How can I make my gift exchange more fun?

It doesn’t matter if you’re just starting out (your family is finally too big to give everyone individual presents) or have been doing Secret Santa for, you know, forever. 

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How can I make my gift exchange more fun?

Whatever your need or situation, we have plenty of creative and classic gift exchange games and meaningful alternatives to spice up your gathering and gift-giving. Let’s dive in!

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1. Yankee Swap

This is the classic gift-exchange party game. It allows you to avoid having to get a lot of little, inexpensive gifts for everyone and instead choose one nice quality gift.  Better gifts are given, and usually at a lower cost.

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1. Yankee Swap

Here’s how it works. Everyone buys a gift for a set dollar amount – $15 or $25 or $50. Whatever your group decides.  Each participant brings it to your get-together wrapped. Then everyone chooses a number from a hat. The first person (who gets #1) chooses a gift to open.

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1. Yankee Swap

The second person can “steal” the gift from the first, or open a new one. The third person can choose any of the open gifts, or open a new one. Each gift can only be stolen a set number of times; most often, each item is limited to 2 or 3 steals. If a person has a gift stolen from them, they get open a new present.

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1. Yankee Swap

After all the gifts are open, the first person (who didn’t have the option to steal at the beginning) can choose any gift to steal that isn’t already at the maximum number of steals.

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2. White Elephant Gift Exchange

Same as the Yankee Swap, but with used items you find around the house that you no longer want (or fun stuff from a thrift store). The key is to get everyone on the same page. In my experience it works best when everyone is clear on the idea that “one person’s junk is another person’s treasure.”

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2. White Elephant Gift Exchange

Meaning, of course, that you should bring an item that is unique or odd or interesting, perhaps usable, that someone else might conceivably want. If it’s total garbage, then no one will care.

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2. White Elephant Gift Exchange

And if some people bring nice, new, store-bought gifts while others bring weird eclectic stuff, then those who brought the garage-sale-worthy items will inevitably feel bad that they didn’t bring something nicer.  So just make sure everyone understands the concept.

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3. Secret Santa

Another classic Christmas gift exchange method. Draw names from a hat at the beginning of December.  (Or use an online tool like this one.) Use the first few weeks of December to figure out the perfect gift or a few small, creative gifts.

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3. Secret Santa

Then, one by one at your family gathering, reveal your secret Christmas buddy and give your gifts. This is a fun idea because you have to be creative in trying to figure out what “your” person wants, without giving away that you are their Secret Santa. 

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3. Secret Santa

You can make it a little easier using one of these cute Secret Santa questionnaires.

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4. Never Have I Ever

Place all the gifts in a pile in the middle of the room. Everyone stands in a circle around the pile and grabs a random gift and places it on the ground at their feet. The first person grabs a “Never Have I Ever” paper slip from the bag/bowl/hat and reads it out loud..

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4. Never Have I Ever

For example, “Never have I ever… cheated in a board game.” Then, anyone who has done what the card says then has to switch places with someone else who isn’t the immediate person to the left or right of them, while leaving the gift on the ground.

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4. Never Have I Ever

If multiple people are moving, whoever gets to the empty spot behind the gift first gets it;  if it’s just one person moving they have to pick someone to switch spots with them.

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4. Never Have I Ever

The person who read the statement then opens whatever gift is on the floor at their feet then places it back down on the ground.  The person to the left then grabs a new paper slip, reads it out loud, and the whole thing starts over again.

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4. Never Have I Ever

When all the gifts are opened, whatever is at your feet is your gift! This one is especially fun because the slow reveal of all the gifts builds anticipation for the good ones (and disappointment for the boring ones).

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5. Pakkeleg

This is a family gift exchange game from Denmark, which apparently everyone there plays during the holiday season. Warning: It can bring out the worst! All the gifts are placed in a pile. Go around the room, with each person taking turns rolling dice. When someone rolls a 6, they pick a gift.

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5. Pakkeleg

Repeat until all gifts are taken. (And yes, some people might get more than one, leaving others out.) Next, the process is repeated, but this time people who roll a 6 can steal a gift. Agree on a set amount of time beforehand (longer time for more participants).

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5. Pakkeleg

Once the time is up, the game is over and everyone can open their presents. This works best with silly and/or inexpensive gifts (think, dollar store).

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6. Julklapp

One of our favorite new gift exchange games, this doorbell-ditching scavenger-hunt requires you to drive to the home of your friend or family member, then run away fast! A popular holiday game in Sweden, the name “Julklapp” means “Christmas knock” (Jul = think Yultide; Klapp = clap/knock).

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6. Julklapp

Here’s how it works. You package a fake “gift” (not the real one) in multiple layers of wrapping or several boxes, with a small token or note inside that features a clue or riddle.  While doing your best to hide your identity, set the package* on the porch, knock on their door, then scramble away.

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6. Julklapp

The receiver then has to figure out who left the gift by using the clues left in the package. If they spot you, it will be easy to figure out. But if they don’t see you, then the clue can lead them on a scavenger hunt, or just be a riddle about you or your home. Once they figure out who you are then they can come and get their gift!

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7. Left or Right

Everyone sits in a circle, holding the gift that they brought to the exchange. (Specify beforehand a dollar amount and if there should be a particular theme or type.) The moderator will begin reading a story, and every time the word “left” occurs in the story, everyone passes their gift to the left.

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7. Left or Right

Every time the word “right” comes up… you get the picture. If you’re looking for a story, we have FIVE free ones, including personalized ones (where you put in your family’s or coworker’s names), holiday themed ones for family, friends, or office parties, and even a non-holiday one for birthday parties or whatever.

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7. Left or Right

Check them out here.Of course you can also come up with your own story, which is half the fun anyways.  Just make sure to count the number of lefts and rights so that people don’t end up with the same gift they brought!

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7. Left or Right

This is one of the more entertaining family gift exchange ideas. You’ll be glad you did it!

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8. Riddle Me This

Simple, but fun. (Or not-so-simple, depending on the riddles you select!) Come up with a list of riddles, at least one for each person in the gift exchange. Read off a riddle, then whoever first guesses it right gets to grab a gift from the center and open it. You can always add stealing rules, like in Yankee Swap.

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9. Fun Facts Icebreaker Christmas Gift Exchange Game

How well do you know everyone at the party?  Whether you’ve known everyone for, like, ever, or are meeting tons of new people, this will be a fun way to find out something new about your fellow party-goers.

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9. Fun Facts Icebreaker Christmas Gift Exchange Game

Assign each gift a number as it comes through the door and tag it before placing it into the pile.  Give the person who brought the gift a piece of paper to write down that number along with a little-known fun fact about themselves.

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9. Fun Facts Icebreaker Christmas Gift Exchange Game

Place all the papers into a hat and the host will read off the fact.  Whoever can guess and match the fact to the person gets the gift associated with the number. If there is no host, everyone can simply take turns drawing a piece of paper and reading off the fun fact.

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10. Cobweb Party

This one is fun to set up and fun to play. Works well with name-drawing.  Have each giver tie their gift to a ball of colorful yarn (make sure each one is at least 100 yards), then hide the gift and trail the yarn throughout the house.

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10. Cobweb Party

When everyone is done, the house should look like a giant mess of cobwebs. Then the giver hands off the end of the yarn to the recipient, and the race is on! Works best (i.e., craziest) when everyone is chasing their yarn trail at the same time.

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11. Día de Reyes, aka Three King’s Day

Here is a more relaxing, fun gift exchange tradition from Mexico.  In this version, we still have the traditional Rosca de Reyes (Three Kings Cake) with the figurine of a baby representing baby Jesus baked inside.

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11. Día de Reyes, aka Three King’s Day

Everyone cuts their own slice of cake and enjoys it with a cup of coffee and cocoa to end the night’s festivities in a relaxing way.  As a gift exchange, if you get the baby in your slice of cake then you get to go first! Then go around the room clockwise, or take turns from oldest to youngest (or vice versa) to complete your gift exchange party.

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12. Make a List

This gift exchange idea gets the prize for simplest, lowest-stress version.  Have each person make a list of 10 things under X amount of dollars that they actually would like to receive as a gift.

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12. Make a List

Making a list and setting a dollar amount takes away the stress of guessing whether or not they already have or would like a particular item.  Plus it keeps a bit of mystery since they will only receive one or maybe two items off the list.

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13. Holiday Trivia Gift Exchange

If your family is big on trivia, turn your gift exchange into a trivia competition.  Set up two or three teams, or compete individually. There are many ways to pass out the gifts:

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13. Holiday Trivia Gift Exchange

– As each person gets a correct answer, they get to choose a wrapped present, and if they get more than one question right they can pass off their gift pick to another person of their choice (or steal/swap a gift).

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13. Holiday Trivia Gift Exchange

– Competing individually for points, the leading point-getter chooses the gift first, 2nd place second, etc. – Teams compete together and write down their answers. Questions can have the same or different point values based on how difficult they are.

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13. Holiday Trivia Gift Exchange

– The leading team at the end of the first quarter can choose their wrapped gifts, and the leading team at halftime can choose and/or steal from the first.  Everyone opens at the end of the third quarter, and the victorious team at the very end can steal opened gifts from other teams.

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13. Holiday Trivia Gift Exchange

– Bonus: Have a special, additional prize for the winner! (Like, maybe doing the dishes so Mom doesn’t have to…)

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14. Treasure Hunt

You can have each person do this individually, or have all the gifts in one place for the whole family to find. Create a series of instructions, clues, or riddles that lead to the next place, ending with the ultimate treasure trove.

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15. Saran Wrap Ball Christmas Gift Exchange Game

Choose a nice gift for the main prize.  Wrap it tightly in cling film, along with several additional small token gifts (candy, cash, lottery tickets, chapstick, etc). Depending on how hard you want to make it, use more or less.

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15. Saran Wrap Ball Christmas Gift Exchange Game

Everyone sits in a circle. Person A has the ball and Person B (to their right) has two dice.  While Person A tries to unravel and get what they can from the ball, Person B is trying to roll doubles. As soon as they roll doubles everything gets passed to the right.

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15. Saran Wrap Ball Christmas Gift Exchange Game

So now Person B has to try and unroll the ball while Person C (who is right of person B) tries to roll doubles. Repeat until someone gets to the prize in the center.

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16. Ugly Christmas Sweater Gift Exchange

The ugly Christmas sweater thing is getting a little out of hand, IMHO.  You can’t find them for $5 at a thrift store anymore; instead, there are only new ones available at the store for a premium. 

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16. Ugly Christmas Sweater Gift Exchange

Oh well. But if you’re into the ugly Christmas sweater thing, do it as an exchange. Since by now everyone has one or two in their closets, you can just swap and reuse them.  Or go for the weirdest, funniest, craziest ones you can find online.

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16. Ugly Christmas Sweater Gift Exchange

Each year they always come up with new stuff to put on these ugly sweaters, so you might as well just lean into it!

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17. Virtual Gift Exchange

Here’s the online/virtual version of Secret Santa! Using Elfster (or any other name-drawing generator website), set up a Secret Santa game. When you find who you’re sending a gift to, pick it out and mail it to them.

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17. Virtual Gift Exchange

Make sure it arrives before your set date for the gift exchange, and instruct everyone to leave the gift wrapped until then. On the date of your virtual party, host an online video chat and everyone can take turns opening up their gift from their Secret Santa!

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18. Give to Others, Together

Instead of giving gifts to each other, invest in a child or family in need by giving through a charitable organization such as Compassion International.

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18. Give to Others, Together

We recommend this organization because they are highly rated by independent charity evaluators, which provides confidence knowing that the majority of what you give is actually going to the child or family in need.

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18. Give to Others, Together

Also, they have an excellent online gift catalog where you can make one-time donations towards specific needs such as a baby’s medical care, dental kits for kids, chickens to help feed a family, emergency food and water, HIV/AIDS care, and more.

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18. Give to Others, Together

You probably have charities and causes that you and your family are passionate about.  Band together to make a donation to something important, then enjoy a bountiful meal and holiday celebration together.

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19. Musical Gifts

In this version, the gifts get passed around while everyone remains in their seats. Packages are passed around in a circle, from person to person, while a holiday song or Christmas carol is played.

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19. Musical Gifts

When the music stops, whatever gift each person is holding is the gift they get! You can do it all in one go, with all the gifts moving around.  If you prefer to make it last longer, do one, three, or any other number of gifts at a time, then those who got a gift sit out the next round.

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20. Draw a Card

Print out the cards, which have instructions like “swap your gift with someone who owns a iPhone” or “switch your gift with someone wearing glasses.”  Pass them out to each participant, and then the game begins.

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20. Draw a Card

1. The Orderly Way. Have each person pick up the gift they brought. Go around the room and have each player, one at a time, follow the instructions on the card. Gifts can, of course, be swapped multiple times.  Once all the instructions have been carried out, everyone gets to open their gift!

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20. Draw a Card

2. The Crazy Way. Have everyone choose a gift – not the one they brought. Set a timer for 3 minutes, and let everybody shout over each other trying to fulfill their card’s instructions.  Anyone who has not swapped their gift in accordance with their card is eligible to have their gift stolen by those who had their gift swapped the most.

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21. Musical Chairs Gift Exchange Game

This idea works equally well for kids and adults. We’d advise doing a separate one for each.  Unless your family loves stories like, Remember that time Timmy went to the ER on Christmas for a broken rib cage?

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21. Musical Chairs Gift Exchange Game

With the kids, you can give them their gift as soon as someone gets “out,” which should eliminate any ruffled feathers or hurt feelings. After all, what kid was ever disappointed at getting a gift before someone else?  Whoever is the last one in wins the game and maybe a bonus prize.

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21. Musical Chairs Gift Exchange Game

For the adults, you can do the same thing. They’ll just enjoy the competition of jousting for a chair.  Or you could let the musical chairs decide the order of picking a gift. You’ll come up with tons of creative ideas for gift exchanging with this one.

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22. Heads or Tails

This is like the traditional Yankee Swap, but with an element of chance thrown in. Everyone chooses a number from a hat.  The person with #1 has to grab a gift from the pile to unwrap (as with Yankee Swap, they will get a bonus chance at the end).

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22. Heads or Tails

The second person flips a coin. If it’s heads, they pick a gift from the table to unwrap. If it’s tails, they have to steal a gift.  Keep going until it goes around back to the first person, who ends the game with their chance to flip a coin.

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23. DIY Gift Exchange

In this variation on any one of these gift exchange games, everyone brings DIY gifts that they made instead of buying one. It’s a chance to be creative! The gifts can be homemade ornaments, baked goods, crafted items like suncatchers or painted items like mugs, homemade t-shirts or artwork, garden starters, pottery, or anything else you can think of.

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23. DIY Gift Exchange

Choose a specific theme or let it be a creative free-for-all. Distribute the gifts using one of the other ideas on this list, from classic Yankee Swap to something fresh and unique, like Pakkeleg or a Cobweb Party.

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24. Rock Paper Scissors Gift Exchange

Everyone grabs a number from a bowl and a random gift from the pile.  Go in order; when it’s your turn you can choose to unwrap your gift or challenge someone for their gift – opened or unopened, with the standard rule that a gift can be stolen/challenged no more than three times.

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24. Rock Paper Scissors Gift Exchange

If you choose to challenge someone, play rock paper scissors against them.  If you, as the challenger, win, you get to steal the gift and open it; however, if you (the challenger) lose then you keep your original gift and the other person can start a challenge to steal someone else’s gift.

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24. Rock Paper Scissors Gift Exchange

Once the challenger wins, they open the gift and then the group moves on to number two, then three, and so on.  Good luck remembering who’s turn it is!

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25. Sock Exchange

Use whatever gift exchange method or game you want from this list, so long as it involves stealing.  Instruct party attendees to buy a new pair of socks, and fill them with small treats, gifts, or gift cards.

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25. Sock Exchange

Here’s the rule that makes this one extra fun: the socks stay with the original person, and only the inside contents can be stolen.

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25. Sock Exchange

This means that when someone who has socks needs to replace their stolen gift, the new socks they choose go to the thief. The possibilities for fun are endless here, because it shouldn’t be too hard to “punish” the thief with some terrible socks. Then have everyone wear their socks for the rest of the party!

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26. Christmas Carnival

You know those Halloween carnivals, the ones often put on by churches for kids and called a “Harvest Festival” to avoid the stigma of Halloween? They’re actually pretty fun, full of little county-fair-type games like ring toss, ball toss, shooting hoops, “fishing” with a clothespin fishing pole, and more.

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26. Christmas Carnival

Try setting up your holiday gift exchange with a bunch of booths where the kids (and adults!) can win prizes by winning a bunch of carnival games.

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26. Christmas Carnival

Maybe give out candy or small token prizes for each game, then as each person completes all games (use a punch card, or just have them go around the room) they get to choose a gift.  Use your imagination for tons of kid-centered Yuletide fun!

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27. Spin the Bottle Gift Exchange

A family-friendly take on the classic game.  Everyone sits around in a circle and takes turns spinning the bottle. When it lands on you, you get to go pick out your gift – or steal it!

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28. Gift Auction

There are many ways to incorporate an auction into a gift exchange. For adults, you can have a Vegas-style game night and then individuals can use their “winnings” to bid on gifts – opened or unopened.  Or do a cash auction and have the proceeds go to a charity or to pay for a gift for the whole family.

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28. Gift Auction

Set up a basic guideline beforehand – are we bidding loose change for little $5-15 gifts, or is it going to be big money for premium gifts?  Do you earn and use fake money from carnival/party/card games, or is everyone supposed to buy in with $5 or whatever?

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28. Gift Auction

For an all-ages version, have some carnival games or competitions where 1st through 5th place gets tickets, poker chips, or change to use in the auction.  Trivia and simple party games also work well for this: hot potato, musical chairs, a dance-off, talent show, ring toss, etc.

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29. Santa’s Grab Bag

This one is super simple. Get a nice big bag – this classic Santa’s bag is perfect, or just use a big black plastic bag – put all the gifts inside, and have people draw them out, one by one.

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30. Gift Guessing Game

Make sure all the presents get wrapped. One at a time, each person holds their gift for everyone to see and people guess what it is.  Slowly give out clues, starting with obscure riddle-type clues and getting easier, until someone wins the gift and gets to open it.

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31. 21 Questions

Exactly like the Gift Guessing Game, but using Yes and No questions.  Whoever guesses the gift correctly gets it; if no one guesses it, the gift giver gets a prize.

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31. 21 Questions

With both of these, you’ll obviously want to come up with a a way to make sure everyone gets a gift.  Plus you want people to stay interested and involved, so don’t do it where anyone who has a gift sits out. 

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31. 21 Questions

Rather, anyone who correctly guesses a second gift can choose to give away their gift in favor of the second one, or perhaps steal another gift.

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32. Christmas Carol Singalong

This one is like a mashup of Christmas caroling and trivia. As with musical chairs, arrange everyone in a circle, play a Christmas song, then have the gift passed around.

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32. Christmas Carol Singalong

Whoever is holding the gift when you stop the song has to finish the lyric.  If they can, they get to open the gift. If not, the gift is passed clockwise until someone can correctly recite the song’s lyrics..

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33. Roll the Dice

Everyone sits in a circle holding a randomly selected gift from the pile.  Moving around the circle in order, each person takes turns rolling a pair of dice. Depending on the result, follow the instructions for each number.

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33. Roll the Dice

These rules might include: – Only people wearing red get to exchange gifts – Unwrap your gift – Unwrap someone else’s gift – Make two people swap gifts – Pass gifts to the left Keep going until all the gifts are unwrapped!

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34. Gift Exchange Chaos

Have everyone grab a random gift from the gift pile, and then sit down. As they hold the gift, if the following statements apply to them they have to stand up and exchange their gift with someone else standing.

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34. Gift Exchange Chaos

– bought your gift on Black Friday – listened to Christmas music before Thanksgiving – own an ugly Christmas sweater – have an inflatable Christmas decoration in your yard

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34. Gift Exchange Chaos

– mailed Christmas gifts via snail mail – have an angel/star on top of your tree – have ever re-gifted something

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34. Gift Exchange Chaos

We have a festive, holiday-themed list available here, or you can come up with your own variations.  Once all statements are read, make sure no one ended up with the item they brought, then have everyone open their gift.

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35. Choose a Gift Category

Putting a limit on gifts actually forces you to be more thoughtful and creative, and leads to interesting results. Imagine: Food gifts only. Craft brew, whiskey, and/or wine gifts only (uh, for adults, obviously).

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35. Choose a Gift Category

Last year you were only allowed to give experiences, like gift certificate to a golf course or tickets to the theater; this year, you can only give a subscription box. Everyone gives three used books, each from a different genre.  Gifts that make people laugh; and the gift-giver that gets the biggest laugh gets a prize. You get the idea.

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35. Choose a Gift Category

My family did “used” aka thrift store gifts only one year, and it was one of the most unique and memorable Christmases we ever had together.  It was exhausting, with lots of yard sale, thrift store, and antique mall visits, but we all had a blast.

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35. Choose a Gift Category

You could have everyone write down their favorite movies, and all the gifts have to relate to that person’s favorite films.

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35. Choose a Gift Category

For instance, a Han Shot First t-shirt for a Star Wars buff, a Sharknado triple feature for someone who loves Jaws, a sled for the Orson Welles/Citizen Kane fan, something that says “You Go Glen Coco” for the person who constantly quotes Mean Girls.

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35. Choose a Gift Category

Or do the same idea but with music – band merch, song quotes engraved onto a plaque or beer mug, vinyl copies of favorite albums, etc. a non-exhaustive list of category ideas to get you started:

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35. Choose a Gift Category

– Antiques – Board games – Books – Color – gifts must be red, or blue, etc. – Craft beer (and related accessories) – DIY gifts – handmade by YOU – Event tickets – Gift cards/certificates

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35. Choose a Gift Category

– Handmade items – bought locally or online – Local products only – Movies and/or movie-themed gifts – Personalized items – Puzzles – Specialty food – T-Shirts – Ugly Christmas sweaters – Wine and wine-themed gifts

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36. Hot Potato

Just like the popular party game, but use a gift instead. Everyone sits in a circle, and passes around a gift. Whenever the music stops, the person holding the gift gets it. Or, to encourage passing it quickly, the person who last held the gift gets it.

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37. Exchange the Exchange for a Gift for Everyone

Instead of the usual gift exchange, pitch in together on an experience: a special event or getaway you all can enjoy as a family. Go big and rent a beach house or ski cabin for a weekend, or keep it budget-friendly by going to a movie at the theaters, ice skating, or to a local holiday event.

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37. Exchange the Exchange for a Gift for Everyone

Other ideas include concerts, theme parks, laser tag, a sports event, a fun class like ballroom dancing, or rent out a family fun center for an afternoon.

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38. Ornament Exchange

This could fall under the later section of “gift category” ideas #22-38, but we thought the idea merited its own heading. Christmas ornaments are fun. They help create a big part of that warm fuzzy feeling we all love about the holidays.

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38. Ornament Exchange

An ornament gift exchange is a wonderful way to add to everyone’s collection, it’s easy to do, and it doesn’t break the bank.

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39. Christmas Cookie Swap

Have everyone bake up their specialty, and bring a tray to the party plus a couple dozen extra to exchange. Kids love this. You only have to bake one large double batch in order to get a wide variety of holiday treats to take home.

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39. Christmas Cookie Swap

Plus it only costs a few dollars to make a couple batches of delicious Christmas cookies.  So this is a very affordable option when budgets are tight. Here’s how you do it:

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39. Christmas Cookie Swap

– Find a great Christmas cookie recipe – Bake enough for each family unit to have a plate of 6 or 12 – Put them on a paper holiday plate with plastic wrap

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39. Christmas Cookie Swap

– If, say, 5 groups bring cookies, bring five plates of your cookies, then leave with five different plates – Enjoy at your leisure

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39. Christmas Cookie Swap

If you want to share your recipe, try these holiday themed recipe cards so others can try to make your delicious treat!

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40. Send a Rotating Gift Box

This is an ingenious Christmas gift exchange idea for family members that live in different parts of the country.  Make up a special box – maybe a wooden crate, a cute holiday gift box, or something you decorate yourself – and send it to a family member or friend in a different state. They then put a gift in and send it back.

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40. Send a Rotating Gift Box

For multiple people, here’s how it would work. Say you have three friends or family members in different parts of the country.  You would put 3 gifts inside (one for each person), and send it to the first recipient. 

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40. Send a Rotating Gift Box

They would take out the gift addressed to them, put one of their 3 gifts inside, and send it to the next person.  Around and around it goes!

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41. Gift Train

This is a great way to do a long-distance gift exchange with a group of friends or family members.  Similar to #40, but instead of rotating gifts in and out of the package, everyone involved sends a package with the same number of gifts as there are people in the exchange.

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41. Gift Train

When the package arrives, simply pull out a gift, then send the package on to the next address.

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42. Regift the Good Stuff

Have everyone go in on a collection of great, top-notch gifts that are durable or reusable. (If you can’t afford it all at once, slowly build up to it.)  This allows each recipient or family to use the item for a full year.

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42. Regift the Good Stuff

Next Christmas, swap it up! You won’t have to buy new gifts every year, and everyone gets something really nice each and every holiday.

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43. Regift the Worst Stuff

Have everyone bring the very worst gift they ever received, and pass it on to a new owner.  Then do it every year! Introduce new items as the old ones get lost or broken. Take a vote on the “best” worst gift each year, and the “winner” gets to wear a terrible Christmas hat.

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43. Regift the Worst Stuff

No doubt you will start all sorts of fun traditions. There will be that one excruciating gift that that everyone loves to hate; there will be stories of old gifts from days of yore that have long since disappeared;  and no one will be disappointed because nobody will expect anything even remotely decent. A real winner!

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44. Rotate Gift Exchange Ideas

Lastly, consider rotating through several of these Christmas gift exchange ideas each year. Your whole family will love having something different to look forward to each year, and if you limit it to 2-4 different exchange types then you will still maintain something of a “tradition.”

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