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Best white elephant gift exchange ideas under $25

Massage gun, Catan board game and JBL portable speaker.
The perfect white elephant gifts because who doesn't need a bit of relaxation, fun and tunes? (Photo: Amazon)

Is there a holiday gift exchange in your future? Ho-ho-uh-oh! These things can be stressful, because you need a gift that will have relatively broad appeal while staying under that magic $25(ish) price cap. (Oh, for the days when you could just buy Vince Guaraldi's "A Charlie Brown Christmas" on CD and be done with it.) Have no fear, I've got your back: I've attended a lot of "white elephants" and I rock at finding gifts under $25. Check out my picks below (and keep in mind that although these prices were accurate at the time of this writing, they can and do fluctuate).

How good is this mega-popular boardgame? Try a 4.8-star average rating from over 32,000 Amazon customers. Few products can claim that kind of universal love. So grab one for your gift exchange, and maybe grab another for yourself as well, as the modern tabletop classic hasn't been priced this low since 2021.
$31 at Amazon
Turns out there is such a thing as perfect microwave popcorn, with or without oil. Just dump some kernels into this silicone popper (which also servers as a bowl), wait a few minutes, and presto! Because it's only $14, you can pair it with a bag of corn and maybe some popcorn seasonings for a great little "kit" gift. I own one of these; can't recommend it highly enough.
$14 at Amazon
Tile trackers are great for finding not only misplaced keys, but also misplaced phones. That's because, unlike Apple AirTags, they track in two directions, not just one. These things are fantastic gifts; everyone can use one. Although the regular $25 price tag works for your white-elephant budget, grab it while it's on sale for $7 less.
$25 at Amazon
You might just "win" the gift exchange by putting this into the pile. Discounted to just a few cents over $25 when you clip the on-page $10-off coupon and then apply promo code 40NJ3N1W at checkout, this massager comes with 10 speeds, 6 massage heads and a carrying case.
$25 at Amazon
For those who like to sing in the bathtub or samba in the shower (bad idea), it's hard to beat a waterproof Bluetooth speaker. This one has a suction cup for sticking to tile, plus it lights up and even has a microphone if you need to take a call mid-rinse. There are a few other varieties available, including versions with carabiners instead of suction cups, all priced about the same. Be sure to click the on-page coupon.
$22 at Amazon
Though not expressly designed to accompany someone in the bath or shower, JBL's speaker is indeed waterproof — and it's notable for being on sale at this price, the lowest on record. JBL makes some fabulous audio gear, and while this speaker is on the small side, it's just the thing to toss into a bag for when you want anywhere, anytime tunes.
$29 at Amazon
I've yet to meet a bad pair of EarFun earbuds, by which I mean they all sound way better than you'd expect, given the price. This particular set is waterproof and equipped with AptX technology for superior audio "resolution," plus it lasts up to seven hours on a charge. EarFun's companion app lets you tweak settings and equalizer presets. Be sure to clip the on-page 20%-off coupon and then apply promo code BFFREE2S1 at checkout to get the lowest-ever price (which, yes, is $2 over the limit — but worth it).
$27 at Amazon

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More Holiday Gift Ideas

We’ve got your holiday shopping list covered with fantastic gift ideas for everyone on your list. You’ll find expert picks on the best tech gifts on Engadget, the best gift ideas for car lovers at Autoblog, gifts for the young (and young at heart) at In the Know, and picks for just about everyone else on your list (moms, dads, teens, nurses, you name it!) in Yahoo’s holiday gift ideas section. On AOL, you'll find for gift ideas for seniors shopping for moms, dads, teens and toddlers.