Yankee Gift Swap

**frugalgram** · 11-19-2009, 01:06 PM

Has anyone done a Yankee Christmas gift swap? My daughter brought the idea up to me for our extended family get together. It sounds like fun to me. Each person bringing one gift and ending up with one gift after trading them around.
I just wonder if I could get everyone on board. Any ideas how to present it to make it sound like a good idea for all? None of us have a lot of money to spend this year and it gets harder to come up with gift ideas. My husband might not be big on this idea either but then he doesn't do much of the shopping. It's for a get together with his family. We already stopped buying gifts for my family except my young nephews.

**geckoace** · 11-19-2009, 10:09 PM

We used to do one at the office Christmas party; I think they are a lot fun.

**mauimagic** · 11-20-2009, 02:00 AM

We did this at several staff Christmas parties and we all enjoyed it!! I was sorry when they stopped it. How to introduce it to your family is going to depend a alot on the family members. It might be too late this year, but you might offer it up as......"Our group did something new this year for Christmas - and the go on to explain the procedure - ending with - How about trying this next year for our Christmas celebration?"

Please let us know what you decide to do.....and how it goes!!

**steelergal** · 11-20-2009, 09:57 PM

We did this with Dh's family- it was so much fun!!! They called theirs a "white Elephant" I heard other people call it "dirty santa". I would just suggest it to the family, just say you wrap up a present- just something you have laying around the house you don't need, have not used, it can be something useful, or a gag. You can always say it's part of a game you had in mind and that way no one would feel obligated to buy anything this year.

I don't know if the way we played it is the same others did, but it caused a lot of laughter! We had the oldest pick the first gift and open their present, then the next oldest would get to get their present and decide if they wanted to keep it or "steal/trade" the other persons present. As it goes on the youngest can basically choose from anyone if they want their present. Of course at the very end the oldest (who did not get to steal from anyone) can choose whoevers gift they like the best.

**Jenibelle** · 11-24-2009, 12:54 PM

We do this with my dad's side of the family every year for the adults. But we had to stop the "stealing/trading" because it was getting ugly! And we separated the girls & the guys. For the most part everyone ends up with something they like or that is useful.

**frugalgram** · 11-30-2009, 09:19 AM

Thanks for the helpful responses. Even though, no one had started shopping yet, I couldn't get anyone except my daughters on board for this plan. Maybe, next year, I'l bring the idea up earlier and see how it goes. It sounds like a fun way to exchange presents and share in some laughs.

**2ndGenGranola** · 11-30-2009, 02:33 PM

Oh I hate these gift swaps (by whatever name you call them). What is even worse is when you are "forced" into playing them by someone who will just not take "no," for an answer. (We have even tried "forgetting" gifts in hopes of getting out of it but someone always has a spare so we can participate in the "fun" ...groan) It would be an absolute nightmare if they started popping up at family functions. All the more reason to avoid the ILs.

**Trishagirl** · 11-30-2009, 02:36 PM

We're doing the White Elephant gift swap this year we usually just do an orniment exchange but that got old. I have to think of something I don't need anymore here it should be fun. We've also done it with our bible study people and it was tons of laughther. We went to the thrift store and got some funny stuff! LOL

**geckoace** · 11-30-2009, 03:06 PM

Originally Posted by 2ndGenGranola

Oh I hate these gift swaps (by whatever name you call them). What is even worse is when you are "forced" into playing them by someone who will just not take "no," for an answer. (We have even tried "forgetting" gifts in hopes of getting out of it but someone always has a spare so we can participate in the "fun" ...groan) It would be an absolute nightmare if they started popping up at family functions. All the more reason to avoid the ILs.

WOW what happened to make you hate 'em so bad?

**2ndGenGranola** · 11-30-2009, 07:31 PM

Originally Posted by geckoace

WOW what happened to make you hate 'em so bad?

Nothing happened. I just think it is dumb fighting drawing numbers and "fighting" over the generic junk. It is pure foolish if you are around people who are already drunk. If you must spend $5 or $10, buy some useful stuff and pack a shoe box for needs kids or something.

**geckoace** · 11-30-2009, 09:24 PM

the ones I've been to you were supposed to bring things from your house they were after Christmas and it was a chance to unload stuff kinda like freecycle except with stealing LOL
I must say I've never been involved in one with a real fight ... I guess it's only fun if everyone is just being silly not really wanting the stuff.

**HisDaisy** · 11-30-2009, 10:38 PM

They are not might favorite thing either. I was turned off by them the year I came home with a dead potted plant.
I think that I would like them better if they were not the 'white elephant" kind.

**geckoace** · 12-01-2009, 09:17 AM

Originally Posted by HisDaisy

They are not might favorite thing either. I was turned off by them the year I came home with a dead potted plant.
I think that I would like them better if they were not the 'white elephant" kind.

LMAo wow that sucks! i know one year my husband got a gift bag of mate-less socks ...come to think of it i dont know what we ever did with those