For Boomers, or anyone, "concerned" with the economic turndown...

(1). Old stock certificate from long since disappeared company.
(2). Hot Wheels car since loans for real ones are hard to get.
(3). Piggy banks for that end of the week change.
(4). Campbell Soup cassarole recipe book.
(5). ChiaPet kitchen window herb garden. (Almost too gaggy).
(6). LeMax Christmas Village cottage with the mortgage satisfied.

Friends and I used to do this years ago - and it was fun since gag gifts don't have to be outrageous or demeaning.

"Redneck Back Scratcher"

Go to Home Depot or Lowe's & get the LONg paint sticks, like contractors use in pails. Paint it a vibrant color. On one side of the stick (upper third of the length)-glue 4-5 beer bottle caps-flat side down.Then, on the flip side..with white acrylic paint or a white paint pen..print the following words, down the paint stick.."Redneck Back Scratcher"

Check your local $ store. Check the children's/baby area/or household. Lots of cute ideas.

All babyboomers huh? How about toys from the '60s? Get something that an adult would like to fiddle with at their desk. Something that would bring on a wave of nostelgia. Chia Pet. Silly Putty. LiteBrite. Etch-A-Sketch. (They make mini ones too.) Barrel of Monkeys.

These are great!! Keep 'em coming.

Linda

Everybody loves a SLINKY...(Remember that commercial?)
I like to give gag gifts...
A few years ago, on my DH's birthday...I put pine straw in a zip-lock bag and used a black marker to write on the bag:
Straw Hat.....Some Assembly Required.
He got a few laughs from that.

One year we did a $10 gift exchange. We had to buy a gift that could be used by male or female. DH brought this huge, heavy gift (I couldn't lift it), but everyone wanted it. It was a case of winter windshield washer fluid. If you live in the northern climes, it was really useful, and really funny.

How about a CD of bubble gum songs of the 60's? Or some retro bauble (remember the huge over-sized ashtrays?). A madras headscarf. You could check a local antique mall.

My husband had to have a gag/white elephant gift a couple of years ago. We had no trouble coming up with something around the house. LOL.

An I-pod? I did this a few years ago for my son...

How about a lava lamp night light? I would kind of like one myself.

Here is a link that might be useful: Night light

The appropriateness of this gift depends on the crowd. Know your audience. In the underwear section of Wal-Mart or Target, you can usually find Christmas boxers or nighties. I bought some red boxers with faux white trim and added a note that said "Someone's getting Christmas tonight!" My dh received some boxers that said "North Pole". Some of the women's not for public veiwing outfits can be pretty absurd too.

Something less risque would be the gift of duct tape. It comes in different colors so it could be extra festive. In the link are some top ten lists for the use of duct tape. I'd print one of these or doctor up my own top ten and attach to the gift.

Here is a link that might be useful: Top Ten Lists

or...Make a Duct Tape Wallet