Creative Grab Bag Presents for Grown-Ups
Grab bag exchanges pop up in many adult settings, from workplace holiday functions to family get-togethers and casual gatherings with friends. Often you don't see them coming, so you're left making a hurried choice at the last minute. Having a few solid ideas ready can spare you that stress and might even earn you a reputation as the go-to gift picker.
By Emerson Carter
grab bag gifts
Grab bag gift exchanges tend to appear in all sorts of adult situations—workplace holiday functions, family get-togethers, and casual parties with friends. Since these events often come up without much warning, you may find yourself making a rushed decision at the last minute. Keeping a handful of adult grab bag gift concepts in mind can leave you ready for such occasions, and you might even gain a reputation as the person who always brings the best grab bag gift, which is no small feat.
Books
funny book
Amusing or whimsical books make a reliable adult grab bag choice because they suit both men and women. Since grab bags can be anonymous, opt for titles with broad appeal. Stick to light, entertaining subjects and keep things politically correct if you're among people you don't know well. A title like "101 Things to Do with Ramen Noodles" fits the bill—it's engaging and has wide appeal. It's part of a series available on Amazon.com.
Gadgets
refrigerator timer
For budget-friendly adult grab bag options, small gadgets are crowd-pleasers. The DaysAgo Refrigerator timer, for instance, helps track how long food and leftovers have been in the fridge. It's available from ThinkGeek.com for $9.99 and could spare the recipient a nasty case of food poisoning. Another ThinkGeek.com item is the Solar Plant, an electronic "plant" whose plastic leaves respond to sunlight. It's a good fit for an office party or a friend without a "green thumb." It also costs under $10.
Themed Baskets
sweet tooth gift basket
Depending on the spending limit for your exchange, a well-assembled themed basket can be an excellent adult grab bag gift. For a movie-themed basket, include a video rental certificate, a few packs of popcorn, and assorted boxes of candy. A coffee-themed basket could hold various coffees, flavored powdered creamers, sweeteners, stir sticks, and a mug. You might also put together a wine-and-cheese basket. Most grocery stores sell miniature wine bottles in four-packs, or you could include one or two full-size bottles, depending on your budget. Add assorted crackers and cheeses, and perhaps a corkscrew, bottle stopper, or a few wine glass charms.
Lottery Tickets
lottery ticket
Assorted lottery tickets are another fast and simple adult grab bag gift idea. Purchase enough tickets to reach the minimum gift amount, then box and wrap them or put them in a gift bag. You could also print a fake newspaper front page with a headline like "Local resident wins lottery with grab bag gift tickets" or something similar.
