The soon-to-be here Christmas holiday often has people wondering how to do a gift exchange. Here's a fun way that's good for parties, group gatherings, teens and adults: Have everyone bring a gift ($10 or less) and sit in a big circle holding their gift. Then, read this story out loud and every time they hear "left" they pass the gift they are holding left. Every time they hear "right" they pass the gift they are holding right. At the end of the story whatever gift they have in their hands is theirs to keep. Here's the story:
Christmas was almost here, and Mother (RIGHT) was finishing the Christmas baking.
Father (RIGHT), Sue (RIGHT), and Billy (RIGHT) returned from their last-minute Christmas errands.
"There's not much (LEFT) to be done," said Father (RIGHT) as he came into the kitchen.
"Did you leave the basket of food at church?" asked Mother (RIGHT).
"I (LEFT) it (RIGHT) where you told me to," said Father (RIGHT).
"I'm glad my shopping is done," said Billy (RIGHT). "I don't have any money (LEFT)."
The hall telephone rang, and Susan (RIGHT) (LEFT) to answer it.
She rushed back and told the family "Aunt Tillie (RIGHT) (LEFT) a package for us (RIGHT) on Grandma (RIGHT)'s porch.
I'll go over there (RIGHT) now and get it." she said as she (LEFT) in a rush.
Father (RIGHT) (LEFT) the kitchen and brought in the Christmas tree.
By the time Susan (RIGHT) returned, Mother (RIGHT), Father (RIGHT), and Billy (RIGHT) had begun trimming the tree.
The entire (RIGHT) family sang carols as they finished the decorating.
Then they (LEFT) all the presents arranged under the tree and went to bed, hoping they had selected the (RIGHT) gifts for their family.
Now I hope you have the (RIGHT) present for yourself, because that's all that's (LEFT) of our story.
Except to wish you a Merry Christmas. Isn't that (RIGHT)?
By Diane from Rochester, NY
ThriftyFun is one of the longest running frugal living communities on the Internet. These are archives of older discussions.
Talk with people that you exchange gifts with this year to see if they would like to change the theme for next year's gift giving, like shopping at thrift stores, flea markets, yard sales, only, for gifts.
