Christmas party guest is gifted 25 cans of green beans in White Elephant exchange: 'Everyone did great... until it was my turn'

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Remy Millisky • Writer and Editor
Dec 18, 2025 3:00 PM EST

When life hands you lemons, you make lemonade, but what should you do when handed 25 cans of green beans?

As the recipient of a White Elephant gag gift who is watching everyone else open proper presents, you may be entitled to compensation. It's just not fair! You put in the effort to get a good gift for the event — some people at this White Elephant exchange got things like candle warmers and mini blenders — while some folks just choose a goofy present. They'll pick something that's not really useful, or that's just lazy, and they'll toss it in a box for the gift exchange. 

This person got 25 cans of green beans, and all other issues aside, that definitely doesn't meet the gifting dollar minimum, I'm sure. If other people were giving out small electronics and stuff, they should've been giving at least 50 cans of beans to reach that amount! It's a shame they didn't vary the veggies a bit: if this person had gotten a nice mix of canned foods, they could make a stew or something. But having 25 cans worth of green beans to consume is enough to make anyone avoid that particular food. 

Luckily, this person turned their bad gift into a generous gift for those who are less fortunate by donating it. Let's hope some good karma comes to them during the next White Elephant exchange… should they ever choose to participate in one again. 

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  • 01

    'Got scr*wed over in a white elephant gift exchange'

    Holiday party of people, 3 women and one man, smiling in living room setting in front of Christmas tree
    via Michael T For Unsplash+

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

     

  • 02
    So last night I was at at Christmas party where everyone was asked to bring a wrapped $25 white elephant gift for exchange. White elephant gifts are often meant to be silly, but in this group we usually get cool/practical/random things that are actually useful. Everyone did great picking out cool items and the game was a lot of fun... until it was my turn to pick.
    via u/dental_oddity
  • 03
    I chose a big heavy box, excited to find out what was inside. I tear open the wrapping paper and open up this taped up box to find.... 25 cans of green beans! Are you freaking kidding me?! For context other gifts that people brought included a mini igloo cooler (with soda inside), a mini smoothie blender, bottles of alcohol, a candle warmer with a candle, party games, etc. But of course, I was
    via u/dental_oddity
  • 04
    the one who ended up with the gag gift of more green bean cans than I know what to do with. The part that feels sh*ttiest is that I went a little over budget on the gift I brought, and ended up with something I couldn't get anyone to take off my hands. Ugh!
    via u/dental_oddity
  • 05
    If you're involved in a white elephant gift exchange this season, try not to make someone as sad as I was opening my package last night.. :(
    via u/dental_oddity
  • 06
    3 women holding presents and Christmas lights descend staircase while man smiles at them
    via Michael T For Unsplash+

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • 07
    Edit: I donated the green beans to a local homeless shelter, they didn't go to waste! Edit # 2: I didn't think that I would receive such an overwhelming response to this post. Trying to get through all the comments and funny stories and apparently criticism over not wanting 25 cans of green beans ee
    via u/dental_oddity
  • 08
    - Also for people wondering — it was not an office white elephant exchange. This was a group of friends/family at a small holiday party.
    via u/dental_oddity
  • 09

    It could happen to anyone!

    LeaJadis Imao...... I'm guessing that you chose the biggest heaviest box. That's a chumps game. oldest trick in the book.
    via u/LeaJadis
  • 10
    Persequor you could donate them to a local shelter or food pantry - turn a gag gift that you're disappointed in, into something meaningful for someone else.
    via u/Persequor
  • 11
    centralnm Leave cans of green beans in random places throughout the office.
    via u/centralnm
  • 12
    Achsin I expect whatever money I spend on such exchanges to be a lost cause and the most likely outcome is that whatever I end up getting in return will be thrown away within a week. 25 cans of green beans actually sounds a lot nicer than most of the white elephant gifts I've ended up with in the past.
    via u/Achsin

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