Christmas Gift Exchange Ideas

So you’re part of a Secret Santa gift exchange, or maybe you want to propose a gift exchange among your friends or coworkers. It sounds like a good idea in theory, but where do you even begin?

Don’t sweat it; we’re here to help you narrow down your options with some of our favorite Christmas gift exchange ideas.

You can’t go wrong with candles, especially during the holiday season. Not only do they smell wonderful, but they also add warmth, ambiance and extra cozy vibes to the home and dinner table.

With a price tag under $10, a wine bottle stopper would pair well with their favorite bottle.

Adult coloring books are having their moment. After all, everyone could use some stress-relief. Choose a coloring book that includes pages with fun designs and inspirational words. Plus, the perforated 8 x 10” pages let you detach your art creation and frame it. 

The perfect gift for a longtime friend, a memory jar is both heartfelt and very affordable; in fact, it will really only cost you some time. Jot down a long list of your favorite memories with your friend. (If it’s someone you’ve known for many years, this list has the potential to be long!). Write or type each memory on small pieces of paper, fold them up, and place them in a large mason jar.

If you’re looking for a gift for an avid traveler, consider a travel journal for documenting adventures.

Know a teacher or someone who loves grammar? A small porcelain dish can serve as a decorative piece or tray for small odds and ends or jewelry.

The rules for this one are pretty simple: anything that has to do with beer, wine or cocktails. This could be anything ranging from their favorite bottle of wine to a gift card for a brewery. You could even pair the gift with something like a wine glass and corkscrew set, drink stirrers or a martini shaker.

Exchanging ornaments is a fun, inexpensive way to give a gift with some character. There’s pretty much an ornament out there for every hobby and interest, and there are plenty of retailers and small business owners who offer personalized ornaments.

There are tons of ways to find a gift for a home décor theme, from frames to art prints and so much more. Even seasonal home décor like tassel garland or holiday countdown blocks work well for this one.

These three letters can be scary if you don’t consider yourself much of a homemaker, but the possibilities are endless. Bake some homemade cookies (bonus points if they’re Christmas cookies!). Make a photo collage with your favorite memories of you and the recipient.

In a rush? No time to visit stores in search of the perfect gift? Pair a digital gift card with a personalized Christmas ecard, for fast delivery to the recipient. Simply select the retailer you’d like to purchase a gift card from then you’ll enter the name and email of the recipient and send. If you’re an AG member you only pay the amount of the egift card. We also have a checkout as guest option for a $1.99 fee. Browse our selection of retailers to choose from including Sephora, Nike, Starbucks, Fandango, Target, and more!