boxofdelights

I have a vague recollection of participating in one such exchange and finding it a tiresome bore because I got a cheap lousy plastic thing and thus was excluded from any of the stealing or other participation while the nice things went flying about.

I like the idea of a mathom exchange. Where everyone brings something of value that they have no use for. Possible rule, "bring the most valuable thing you have no use for"? Then after all the presents are opened have an open outcry exchange. Though, come to think of it, that may work better if everyone brings three items. Then people can end up with one thing they really want or a whole bunch of things they slightly want.

If it is a crafty group a made things exchange could work. If there are some non-crafty people have them buy something at an agreed upon value thinking of how much your craft work is worth.

Or there could be a service exchange. Two and a half hours of babysitting, two hours of help with yardwork, etc.

Or a hybrid version where you bring one mathom, one thing you bought for under $10 or made in about three hours (the assumption being that your take home after expenses is about $3/hour), and one voucher for a service.