So it appears that one family gathering at least is going to require $20 Secret Santa gifts of all adult attendees. These have to be generic, no thoughtful targeting to one person based on tastes, needs, etc, because there's no good way to predict who will get it. We've done this thing for years at this gathering, and every single year two such "gifts" go straight to the thrift store box once my husband and I get home. I imagine some relatives deposit the things in the trash instead - hell, I've been tempted just to get them out of my house/ keep them from entering the house in the first place.
So, do you guys have any ideas for gifts in the $20 range that any adult might like and that won't just get thrown out, don't involve tons of packaging (to get thrown out), won't produce tons of waste in themselves (and probably that aren't candy as we have many dieters)?
While we're on the subject, are there any good ideas for non-wasteful wrapping out there? I don't have time for sewing before all the events start, unfortunately.
Once we lose a couple of elders who get great joy from this, I'm going to sit it out and social consequences be damned, but for now, there's the issue of elderly relatives without much else to look forward to, and I'm unwilling to go that far. So far.