Christmas · once a year

Gift Budget Elf

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Game guideGift Budget Elf: full rules, strategy tips and FAQ

▶ Christmas · Money

Gift Budget Elf

Twelve people are on the list and there's one example budget of $200 for all of them. Each person has two things they like and one to avoid; each gift has a price and tags. Pick one gift per person across three chapters (family, friends, neighbours and co-workers) and keep enough money for everyone still on the list.

12 gifts
Money

How to play

One budget. $200 for twelve people, in three chapters of four: about $16 each on average. All prices are examples.
Read each person. Two likes in green, one thing to avoid in red. An avoid beats a like.
Pick one gift each. Both likes = wow (150), one like = love (100), neither = fine (40), an avoid = miss (0). Price doesn't buy love.
Keep enough for everyone. You can't wrap a chapter that leaves too little for the people still to come. Every dollar left at the end is +1 point.

Quick tips

Pace it per person. Divide the budget by the number of people before you start: $200 for 12 is about $16 each.
Read the avoid list first. A gift that breaks someone's rule is a miss, even if it also matches a like.
Cheap can be a wow. Price doesn't buy love: some of the best matches cost under $15.
Save the splurges. Spend more only where the extra money turns a love into a wow.
Keep a reserve. Leave enough for the people still on the list before you treat anyone.