Irene Monokandilos

White elephant gift exchanges are supposed to make holiday shopping easier, but in reality, finding great white elephant gift ideas can be equally tricky. For the game also known as Yankee Swap, everyone brings one wrapped present and draws straws to see who gets to choose the first gift. After the first player unwraps their gift, each following player can choose to steal one of the previous presents or open a new one. The best white elephant gift ideas are fun, silly and something that everyone invited wants to steal—not so easy to come up with, after all. That’s where this list of cheap Christmas gifts under $30 comes in. Go the gag gift route with funny Christmas gifts like pop culture Chia Pets or opt for small stocking stuffer ideas like trendy enamel pins. These white elephant gift ideas are so good, you might just have to steal your own gift—hey, we're not judging.  RECOMMENDED: See the full holiday gift guide

We’ve already filled you in on the best stores for Black Friday sales this holiday weekend. For those of us who aren’t feeling crowds and lines, all hope is not lost. Ditch the chaos with our list of things to do in NYC Black Friday instead of shopping and then cash in on these Cyber Monday deals. From Best Buy steals to travel on the cheap, here are ten Cyber Monday deals for your home-shopping arsenal.

New York living doesn't have to break the bank. But with an unending list of things to do and an even lengthier roster of unbeatable NYC restaurants, finding the right deal can make you feel a little bit like Indiana Jones fighting through the Well of Souls to discover the Lost Ark. Or, you know, like hitting your head against a brick wall. Whether you're visiting the city for a quick weekend or a local looking to get the most bang for your buck, we've got your back. From satisfying your sweet tooth to getting your creative juices flowing, here’s your primer to the best deals in NYC this week. RECOMMENDED: Trending NYC deals  

If your Boggart takes the shape of gift buying this holiday season, we feel you. And while there’s sadly no way to get ahold of a Firebolt or phoenix feather wand, you’ll delight the wizards and witches in your life with these Harry Potter gifts - no Mirror of Erised needed. You might not be able to open presents in the Gryffindor dormitory or the Weasley's Burrow, but you can take part in the gift exchange at these places in NYC that make you feel like you’re Harry Potter. Whether you’re looking for cheap Christmas gifts that are actually awesome or birthday gifts for movie lovers, these Harry Potter gift ideas will do the trick. Accio wallet! RECOMMENDED: See the full holiday gift guide 2018