Secret Santa: With Families, Friends or Colleagues

The most wonderful time of the year is nearly here! 

People are beginning to reflect on the year gone by and looking forward to the one ahead.

The threes are up and with a whiff of gingerbread men and mulled wine, you can feel that the festive atmosphere in the air. 

The fact that Christmas is around the corner means the gift-shopping season is about to kick-off!

If you wish to add a bit of a twist to gift exchange instead of just handing over a present – the Secret Santa game is what you are looking for. A hint: this could actually be a budget-friendly way to do Christmas gift-giving with your family, friends or colleagues! You only get to buy one present for one person!

For many companies, Secret Santa is an office party tradition. But instead of being fun, it may turn into yet another holiday stress. 

Just imagine being your boss’s Secret Santa.

Let’s see how you can shake things up this year while staying stress-free!

The Basics

Secret Santa is a fun and popular holiday game. It’s quite simple, too as there are a few ground rules to bear in mind. All you need is a hat or a box and some paper. You put all the participant’s names in the hat/box and mix them up. Every person draws out a name and has to buy a gift for that particular individual.

The secrecy of the game adds suspense and makes it extra fun. The gifts should be labeled with the recipients’ names, with no information about who got it. All the gifts are to be opened at the same time. Each person finds their name and tries guessing who their Secret Santa is.

Set Up a Budget

Make sure to set the price limit so you don’t find yourself getting a pair of socks while you splurged out and bought someone an iPhone. 

Overspending or being cheap can make things awkward and kill the festive buzz. To avoid unequal gift giving, get the group to agree on a budget.

 $10 to $15 per present usually does the trick. 

No matter what, stick to the agreed price limit. 

Searching for the Perfect Gift

It might not always be easy to stay on track with the price limit and give a meaningful present. Not to mention that many people usually wonder whether the person even likes the gift. 

We’ve all been there. 

Feeling stressed out is not uncommon. Perhaps you drew the name of the colleague or a family member you are not close with. Instead of taking a shot in the dark, there is something better you can do whether the gift recipient is a friend, a family member or a co-worker. 

Take some time to find out what they really like. 

Ask around a bit, check their social media (thank God for them!), and try to recall the conversations you’ve had to get some idea about the person’s preferences. If you hear that Janice from sales is really into jewelry, why not get her something timeless, like elegant earrings from Moon Magic site? 

Personalizing gifts makes all the difference.

Secret Santa in a Digital Age

Since we live in the age of technology, you can opt for an online generator. 

This tool can make things much easier. 

All you need to do is to enter the names of all the participants, set a budget, assign the gift-giving date, and you are good to go. 

Everyone in the group gets the word and what’s even better everybody can create a wish list for their Secret Santa to see. 

It can really be a great weight off everyone’s mind.

What Not to Do

Remember – if you don’t show up at the party, someone won’t get a gift. 

Showing up without a gift after you’ve agreed upon participating in the game is a big no-no as well. 

Also, when receiving a present, show gratitude whatever the circumstances are. It might not be something you like, need or expected, but that is not the reason to be unpleasant. 

You may feel disappointed when you see that your colleague got a cool present, but stick to the Christmas spirit, smile, say thank you, and move on. 

Everyone likes a nice surprise, so keep your recipient and your gift a secret.

In the end, Secret Santa is a game created to have fun. You should have a good time while searching for a nice present, and not fret about something that’s meant to spread festive cheer.