White Elephant Gift Ideas

Hive,

I need to get a $25 white elephant gift for a Christmas co-worker party (all engineers BTW).

I get the concept of white elephant gifts but I dislike the idea of wasting resources on something that has no practical use.

Any help identifying something that's both in the spirit of a white elephant gift but isn't frivolous would be much appreciated.

I thought about dropping by Good Will to create random opportunities but I don't want people to think I just grabbed something I had lying around. 

Can't be of service here, as I never participate in them. I get the whole "it's fun to have a gift exchange" or whatever. But everyone is buying $25 to give something to someone else, like you said, that will likely never be used or be thrown away. 

Harbor freight sledgehammer. 

When put in a box, they make a excellent wedding gift as well. 

I've got nuthin' for you.  When faced with similar situations I always go for the most ridiculous gift I can find within budget.

One time we had a similar thing about 2-3 months after I had started at a new job.  We drew names for the gift exchange and I didn't really know anything about the name I drew.  So for $10 on clearance I got a 10" high statue of Austin Powers that said OH BEHAVE and a few other choice phrases when you pushed a button.

Turns out the guy whose name I drew was a real self-important a-hole and he was completely taken aback when he unwrapped it.  Just couldn't get his head around it.

Out of an office of 30 people about 15 of them found me privately afterwards and congratulated me for freaking the guy out.

Wander through Home Depot/Lowe's.  Look at all the crap they have in between the main aisles this time of year.

Last year I got this: https://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200844981_200844981

Then three turns later some jerk stole it and gave me this: https://www.amazon.com/Stress-Buster-Desktop-Punching-Bag/dp/B09Q32F8CX/

I never brought a tape measure in for work after that.  I'm not bitter about it or anything

Make sure you get this size and wrap it in paper. Someone will think it’s a bottle of whiskey.

Toilet Wax Ring is my go to White Elephant gift.

(Sometimes  I  even  include something else of value)

Friend once loaded a BestBuy gift card with $.83. Madness ensued as everyone vied for it, unaware of the size of treasure. 
 

Another guy brought in his deceased father's dentures. I know of a guy who makes underarm hair art and puts it in snow globes. 

Last time I did one of those, I went to the liquor store and asked them what bottle I'd give to someone I hated. I was given a bottle of Yukon jack. 

What sort of engineers are they?

The last time I was in one I ended up with a international coffee assortment. I actually enjoyed that one. 

mtn said:

Make sure you get this size and wrap it in paper. Someone will think it’s a bottle of whiskey.

That's actually a pretty good fish sauce.

In reply to Duke :

I generally ruin things, we were out with a friend years ago that needed a white elephant gift. We walked through Home Goods and found this gigantic jar of olives like you'd see in a restaurant. She wrapped it up, brought it to work, and her office hasn't had a gift exchange since. 

Oh my gosh, this is like the beginning of a joke.

10 practical engineers decide to have a white elephant party.

Everyone got slide rules

How about an IKEA coffee table.  It has to be assembled, during which your engineer friend can measure tolerances and marvel at the good and bad parts.  "How do they expect this pot metal cam lock to support the side loads on the legs while being in torsion?"  or  "wow, they really used a sharp bit to machine this rabbet."

When it's done, they have a coffee table.

I think one of those laser meat thermometers would be cool and you could get a cheap one for under $25. But maybe I just want one myself. 

Tom Suddard said:

What sort of engineers are they?

Production engineers at a medical device company.

Maybe...

In reply to RX Reven' :

This is easy then. Get them some scam medical devices! Pick your favorite flavor of copper infused radioactive 5G blocking vitality lifting wonder brace/necklace/etc. 

Damnit - I just helped my parents dispose/donate/return some antiquated Abbott medical devices/boxes a few months ago. You could have given an Italian at-home pregnancy test circa 1990! Or a Gemstar infusion pump that was set up to water a Christmas tree. That one might have been Hospira though. 

Tom Suddard said:

In reply to RX Reven' :

This is easy then. Get them some scam medical devices! Pick your favorite flavor of copper infused radioactive 5G blocking vitality lifting wonder brace/necklace/etc. 

Elizabeth Holmes won't return my calls.

My go to is a harbor freight Sawzall.

Always splits the room.  

Ah, we've been idiots. There are two obvious answers: 

1. If you want to go over budget
2. If you want to stay in budget

Be "that guy" who brings political discussion to the otherwise politic-free Christmas party with this.

In reply to John Welsh :

Even for a joke I wouldn't want to give that whackjob a penny of my money.

Dollar store picture frame.  Remove the display photo (or flip it over) and tape scratch off lottery tickets to it, then return it in the frame, to display.  Wrap in some weirdo or odd wrapping paper, too.

People think it's a cheap frame, but may actually have an opportunity to win some $$.