Tips for the holiday office gift swap

Gift swaps can be a fun holiday office experience, but it's not unusual for people to receive gifts that leave them scratching their heads. It often depends on the kind of swap that has been decided on, but if you are participating in a gift swap of any kind, you'll want to think about what you buy.

Here are a few tips:

• Be thoughtful. Unless you are specifically asked to bring a gag gift, it's safer to buy something you think someone will enjoy. Embarrassing a co-worker might not be the best option.
  
  
• Follow the spending guidelines. You could make others uncomfortable if you go over the spending limit.
  
  
• If you are buying for a specific person in a name-drawing swap, find out something about that person and try to buy something he or she will appreciate. If you know the person is a big movie buff, a gift card to a theatre might be a good idea. If you're participating in an anonymous gift exchange, you'll be safer buying a gift card to a type of store that is universally enjoyed, rather than a specialty store.

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