You walk into a souvenir shop with $10 and one rule: you cannot spend a dollar more.

What are you choosing?

That is the fun behind the $10 Washington DC Souvenir Challenge. Instead of grabbing the first thing you see, you have to compare prices, make a few difficult choices and build the best little souvenir bundle your budget allows.

Choose Your Person

First, decide who you are shopping for.

Maybe it is the coworker who asked you to bring something back, a child experiencing Washington for the first time or the family member who could not join the trip. You can also keep the entire bundle for yourself we will not judge.

Once you have someone in mind, the choices become much easier. A golf lover may want a Washington DC golf ball, while a student might be more excited about a pencil, sticker or miniature monument.

Build Your $10 Bundle

Start with the item you would be most disappointed to leave behind. It could be a colorful magnet, a souvenir spoon, a pin or a miniature Washington Monument.

Then look at what remains in your budget.

Can you add a postcard? What about a pencil or sticker? You may need to put one item back, change your combination or find something unexpected that works even better.

That is what makes it a challenge.

Make It Part of Your DC Trip

If you are visiting with children, give everyone the same $10 budget and see who creates the most interesting bundle. One person may choose everything connected to the White House, while someone else may try to fit in as many different souvenirs as possible.

Try the Challenge at Abe’s Gifts DC

At Abe’s Gifts DC, you can browse affordable postcards, magnets, pencils, stickers, pins, souvenir spoons, golf balls, miniature monuments and other small keepsakes to create your combination.

Prices and availability may vary, so check the marked prices and keep your total under $10 before tax.

Need ideas before you start? Explore our complete guide to Washington DC Gifts Under $10.