One of my favorite Christmas traditions is my family’s annual White Elephant Gift Exchange.
We strategize for months. We search for the perfect gift. We eagerly anticipate the right to brag as this year’s big winner.
To make sure there is a fair playing field, a fresh copy of the game rules is printed out AND read aloud at the start of the exchange, lest anyone claim they didn’t know or understand the rules.
If you’re not familiar with this tradition, click here for a quick run down… White Elephant Gift Exchange
Today I’m sharing with you some of my favorite strategies for walking away from your annual exchange as the big winner!
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Know the rules! There are many different versions of the game. Make sure you know which one you’ll be playing.
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Buy a gift that fits the game parameters and price range… and (here’s the trick) be sure it’s one that you wouldn’t mind taking home yourself!
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When the numbers are handed out, the higher the number the longer you stay in the game.
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Don’t be fooled by the wrapping. Sometimes the more elaborately wrapped packages or larger boxes are a cover up for gag gifts!
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Talk a little trash. This keeps the game fun and lively. Talk trash, but be respectful.
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Be strategic. The goal is to stay in the game as long as possible so that you can see as many of the gifts unwrapped as possible and choose the best gift to steal in the end. This means that you should keep yourself in play by choosing the best package or stealing an item that seems to be very popular and highly likely to be stolen, thus keeping you in the game.
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Batter and negotiate to gain leverage. Chat it up with players who might be sympathetic or are just interested in seeing a good game. They’ll be likely to help you by making moves that give you staying power.
In the end, the goal is to have some good clean fun with your neighbors, friends, family, co-workers or whatever group you happen to be doing the exchange with. If you keep this goal in mind, you’ll DEFINITELY walk away a winner!