Holiday Gift Exchange Gifts

Holiday gift exchange gifts are for coworkers, friends and family members whose names you may or may not have pulled out of a hat. The right choice depends on the exchange: Secret Santa leaves room for something tailored to one person, while a white elephant or gift swap calls for something that can win over whoever unwraps it. A recognizable interest, a familiar habit or a sense of humor you share can make a small gift feel personal without requiring a lifelong friendship.

Keep the group’s spending limit and comfort level with humor in mind as you compare gifts. An office holiday exchange and a gathering of longtime friends can have very different definitions of “appropriate.” For a recipient you know well, look for a nod to their personality rather than choosing something funny just for the sake of it. When the recipient is a mystery, everyday usefulness and broad appeal give your gift a life beyond the unwrapping. The laugh is good. Getting used afterward is good, too.