Have you been invited to participate in a gift exchange at the office, at the company Christmas party, at church or a club gathering? Are your children participating in gift exchanges at school, scouts, or church? A grab bag gift exchange can be a lot of fun but sometimes it’s hard to know what type of gift to purchase. Much depends on the price range, the people involved, and the atmosphere in which the grab bag exchange will take place.
The first thing you’ll need to consider is the price range. You don’t want to under-spend and end up being embarrassed but at the same time, overspending can cause someone else to feel uncomfortable. Each grab bag gift should be within the specified price range. If there is no specified price range, feel free to contact the organizer of the event and suggest that a specified price range be made known.
Next, consider the atmosphere and the people participating. Are co-workers in your office fairly conservative or are they notorious pranksters? For the business-minded colleague, serious or executive gifts are appropriate, while pranksters will likely enjoy gag gifts, joke books, or light-hearted calendars.
These issues may also apply at the company Christmas party, but it can be a little trickier, since you may have a mix of fun-loving co-workers and rather serious people in management positions. This is where the atmosphere of the exchange will help you decide what type of grab bag gift to purchase. If the party is casual, you can give something fun. If the party is formal, it is better to give something very tasteful.
Apply these same guidelines to grab bag exchanges at club meetings and other activities. These ideas may also help you choose gifts for the church grab bag, although you may need to entertain further considerations. You don’t want to give something that may be seen as offensive to other people of faith, so it may be better to choose something religious or semi-religious in nature. A desktop calendar filled with inspirational or devotional verses may be a good choice.
When it comes to a grab bag item for your child’s gift exchanges, keep age appropriateness in mind. Be sure to check labels on toys for age guidelines. Also find out if the grab bag gift should be gender neutral or if should be specifically for a boy or a girl. Another issue is whether treats are allowed or prohibited. Candies or sugary snacks may not be recommended, and edible gifts may also cause concerns regarding food allergies.
