Nothing more splendid than spending the holidays with family and friends! What better way to show how much you care and appreciate them than inviting them over to your humble abode for a cozy evening by the fireplace, playing dominoes, and eating a deliciously home-cooked meal together? How about organizing a fun little gift exchange?
Get excited with our list of gifts for organized people under $50 for your next Yankee swap, secret Santa, or white elephant gift exchange—don’t worry, we’ll explain the rules of each of these events too.
Switch it up with ‘Yankee Swap’
According to SecretSanta.com, the way to play is simple—each person arrives with their Yankee swap gifts, no tag, and places them under the tree or in any special spot. All the guests are given numbers written on a piece of paper either randomly or as they arrive.
Finally, when the time is right, the guests will go in order to retrieve their special present that someone else brought. After the first person takes their pick of the bounty the rest of the guests can decide whether they want to keep the present they opened or switch with someone else.
Once everyone has picked their present of choice, the first guest gets to decide whether they want the gift they originally chose or they can swap with any of the other guests (making #1 the optimal position to be in).
When planning this game it’s best to keep a hard rule and require only gifts under $50. That way, all the gifts will be equal and no one will feel like they got the short end of the stick. It’s important to think broadly and choose gifts for women that anyone could get good use of—such as a wallet, crossbody, or handbag.
For #1 Mom
If there are any moms in the group, the Essex Tote ($34.99) is a great selection for her.
This graceful vegan leather tote bag is available in Monarchy/Cream and Vienna/Hazelnut. She’ll dominate any volunteer school field trip, friend play date, or after-school adventure with all the space and pockets featured in his bag.
She can cram crayons, toys, pacifiers, hand sanitizer, and more in the exterior back zipper pocket, 2 front zipper pockets, and 2 front slip pockets. Inside she can fit an iPad, coloring book, magazines, or any diaper bag essentials she might need in the 1 back wall zipper pocket, 2 front wall slip pockets, or large main body compartment.
For the Hard Worker
She’s working hard toward that next promotion and that new shiny plaque on her desk that’ll read ‘CEO.’ Give her the gift that’ll help her achieve her dreams—and in style. Introducing the Large Easton Crossbody Bag ($49.00). Available in Black and Biscotti, this non-leather bag will spruce up her corporate style and be able to carry all her daily work essentials.
She can take advantage of the large interior main compartment with her laptop 
and other tech devices; inside she can also fit her wallet and more in its back wall zip pocket and 2 front slot pockets. Easily accessible on the outside, she can store pens, highlighters, eyeglass cleaner, and more in the exterior 2 zipper pockets, 1 front slot pocket, and 1 back zip pocket.
Take your guess with Secret Santa
If you want a more personalized approach to your gift-giving, then Secret Santa might be the game for you. According to White Elephant Rules, “Participants buy a gift for a specific person, rather than for a random recipient. Also, for better or worse, there are none of the stealing typical of holiday gift exchanges.” This way you can be more specific with your gift and tailor the experience to your recipient.
This gift exchange calls for everyone to write their name on a piece of paper and each participant randomly selects a name. The name you’ve selected becomes your recipient and you become their ‘Secret Santa.’ The key here is to keep that a secret… you can give clues as to who you might be as the days count down to the gift exchange (which adds a little fun).
It’s not until the event night when everyone opens their presents when the present recipient can guess who they believe their secret Santa gift-giver might be! Once everyone has opened their presents and made their guesses, then you can reveal your identity to your recipient.
For the Night Owl
If the one you’re thinking of lives for the weekend then the Mini Dynamic Crossbody Bag ($24.00) is for her. Available in Denim, Black, and Wildflower/Hazelnut—this stylish and trendy non-leather washable little crossbody will steal the night. Featuring 2 zipper pockets and an interior back-wall zip pocket—this crossbody provides enough organization for the dancing queen who likes to travel light and hands-free.
For the Student
The Morgan Mini Crossbody Bag ($14.99) in Banana is an excellent choice for young and carefree college students. Lightweight, made of supple non-leather, and featuring adjustable straps—this bag is perfect for outings with friends and sporting events.
Featuring an exterior front slip pocket with flap, 1 exterior zip pocket, and interior back wall zip pocket—she can store her student ID, apartment keys, wallet, and more in this bag’s ample space.
Steal gifts in the White Elephant Exchange
That’s right—while eerily close to the nature of Yankee Swap—the White Elephant Exchange has a heavier emphasis on stealing gifts rather than swapping them. Perfect for the group of friends that love to laugh, this event can help break the ice and make for some good times.
When it comes down to the rules it’s the same as Yankee Swap except for these key concepts; “a gift can only be “stolen” once during a turn. If a gift is taken from someone during one round, she cannot take it back during that same round. She can, however, take it back in a later round if she is in a position to select a gift,” according to SecretSanta.com. When someone steals your gift, you get to steal another (or open a different present).
In addition, “a gift cannot be immediately stolen back from the player who just stole it.” Once all the gifts are spoken for, the game is over and your present is safe. It’s best to stick to choosing similar Yankee Swap gifts for this event as well, sticking to gifts under $50 so there’s no hard feelings when stealing presents—it’s all in good fun!
For the World Traveler
She’s sleek and sophisticated, with ample space and pockets—one of the best gifts for organizers—introducing the Logan Crossbody ($24.99). Available in black, this non-leather crossbody features 2 exterior front zipper pockets and 1
exterior back slip pocket. Make all your travel essentials like hand sanitizer, hair ties, chapstick, and more… easily accessible. Inside you can store your wallet, passport, receipts, maps, etc., either in the main compartment, 1 interior back wall zipper pocket, or 2 interior front-wall slip pockets.
Happy Holidays!
While opening presents is a joy, don’t forget the most important part of the evening—making memories with your friends and family. Hopefully every time they look at their new purse they’ll think of you and that wonderful holiday celebration you spent together!
Still don't know what to get that special someone in your life? Get them a MultiSac Gift Card so they can choose a bag that's right for them!
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