There are lots of different ways to run a successful secret Santa.
Some swear by the “bran tub” secret Santa. This method is where everyone buys a gift of a set value, and then everyone choose a present, lucky dip style. This one is a good one if everyone is the same gender, otherwise it can make it tricky to choose gender neutral presents.
I have personally taken part in what we called a not so secret Santa. This one basically involves one person either pairing people up or drawing names at random to form pairs then publicly showing who got who. The good thing about this one is you can ask the person what they want so there is no risk of disappointing them, but I do think this sort of takes the fun out of it.
I like the traditional method, where everyone pulls a name out and keeps it a secret. It can make buying a gift a little more tricky if it’s a works one and you don’t know your colleagues very well, but sometimes that can add to the fun – trying to find out a bit more about someone without giving the game away.
Whichever method you choose, these 3 simple tips will ensure your secret Santa is a roaring success:
1. Don’t Assume Everyone Will Want to Take Part
Whether you are running your secret Santa for friends, family or colleagues, don’t assume everyone will want to take part. Some people don’t celebrate Christmas, or their budget may not stretch to an extra gift. This is supposed to be fun for everyone, not put pressure on people. Circulate a list prior to when you want to start it requesting that everyone who wants to take part adds their name.
2. Set a Realistic Budget
Again, remember this is not meant to stress people out, and a sure fire way to stress them out is to make your budget high enough to make presents unaffordable for some people. It is important to aim for the middle ground – not so expensive as to put people off, but enough to buy something reasonable (unless you want to go for a £1 secret Santa, and let people have fun trying to come up with something imaginative!). I usually set the budget at £10 per person, but find a figure that works for you.
3. Choose a Sensible Date for Secret Santa Presents to Be Exchanged
You need to set a date for the exchange to take place. Tempting as it is to make it Christmas Eve, a lot of people have masses to do on this day. Keep it convenient. Also, setting the date this close to Christmas leaves no room for someone who has genuinely forgotten to bring the gift. No one wants to see someone without a gift. I think a week before Christmas Day is perfect as it allows enough time for any mistakes to be sorted out and everyone to have their presents in time for the big day.
Good luck!
Any tips to add? Let me know in the comments 🙂
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some useful tips! I am looking for a secret santa gift for someone! It should be fun!
Thank you 🙂 It is a lot of fun isn’t it. Hope you find the perfect gift!
This tips are great! I’ve done a few secret santa swaps in my time and I’ve always found it a bit difficult. Though, my in-laws used to only do secret santa for gifts and it was always fun to do that one! 🙂
I think they can be tricky if they are people you don’t know so well, but between family or good friends, they are a lot of fun 🙂
We do secret santa at work. Not everyone participates which is fine & limit is set. It’s just a token gift to spread some happiness.
We do too, and its only fun if everyone taking part actually wants to – it spoils it if people feel pressured into joining in!
Debbie, I remember doing this when I was younger, loved it. And my daughter and her friends do it, they have for years, I love seeing the kids grow up, sophomore’s now and they have been at this for 5 years. There’s a bunch of about 15 kids. I love that! Great tips, it should make it much more enjoyable for those participating!
It’s great that they’ve built up their own Christmas tradition and are still going strong 5 years later 🙂 I love Secret Santa, it’s so exciting! Thank you x
I like secret santa and usually do one with work and a blogging one. Great tips. Thanks for linking up to the #BinkyLinky
I do one at work. I was going to join in a blogging one this year but by the time I heard of them I was too late. Definitely next year though! Thanks for hosting 🙂
Brilliant tips thanks for linking to the Binkylinky
Thank you and thanks for hosting 🙂
I always found secret Santa at work very stressful as I always managed to pick someone I didnt know or the boss. People always use to try and guess who bought what so by the end of the evening it was not so secret.
One of the few cheistmas traditions I dont mind not doing now. #Anythinggoes
I did read this before but I want to add, this is my first year to do a secret santa exchange and i’m really looking forward to it! Once again! Useful tips!
Angela
Thanks Angela 🙂 I’m sure you will enjoy it, they are a lot of fun!
I too prefer the traditional running of a Secret Santa. If it’s not a secret, then you can’t call it SECRET Santa! 🙂 I also think that a $10 limit is a good number. It’s not too much, yet enough that you can get something nice without breaking the bank. Great tips, Deb!
Thank you so much for hosting #AnythingGoes!
We used to have one at work where everyone knew who got who and we called it the “not so secret secret Santa” lol. Yeah I like a limit so no one is under pressure to over spend. Thank you 🙂
The secret Santa that I took part in was at my old job and what we did was the traditional one only instead of just a name, everyone filled out a little questionaire, five questions, put their name on it, put it in the hat, then we all picked out of the hat. I love Secret Santas though. It’s such a fun way to give gifts. #anythinggoes
I love that idea, gives the person buying a little more of an idea what sort of things the person likes/dislikes 🙂 I always enjoy taking part in them too!
I like the traditions method too! Great tips 🙂 #anythinggoes x
Thank you, and thanks for linking up 🙂 x
These are great! – I love a secret santa as much as anyone but I always end up in about 10 which makes it expensive – it would be nice to be asked if I want to take part 🙂 (or set the budgets lower!)
Thanks for sharing and hosting another fab #AnythingGoes
Wow, taking part in so many would make it really expensive! I think it is kind of rude to just assume everyone will want to take part! Thanks for linking up 🙂
These are great tips. I love secret santa but definitely prefer when everyone keeps it a secret. We did it in uni but everyone told and people ended up wanting to swap who they were buying for, it was a shambles. I think it’s more fun when it’s a secret xx #anythinggoes
I don’t mind knowing, but if everyone starts swapping it would be a nightmare for the organiser to keep track! x
I like the idea of the Secret Santa and of course it should remain a secret!! I have done different ones before where you should be actually stalking the person and you have to keep leaving notes and sweets and then around Xmas you give the big present and revealed yourself. For me this is the best one but now that I don’t have much time just sending a present with a nice note will do!! I’m actually doing 2 Secret Santas this Xmas within the blogging community which is super exciting!! 🙂 xx
#AnythingGoes
I never done that type but I love the idea of it! The big reveal sounds really exciting 🙂 I didn’t know they existed within the blogging community, and by the time I found out about them, it was too late to join in, but I think I will be joining in next year x
Some great tips there. My other tip would be to buy something you’d be happy to unwrap yourself and, if it wasn’t a secret, would have your name on. (Please don’t ask!)
Thank you 🙂 Yes, unless someone has specifically requested a certain thing, I always try to buy something I know I would love to receive. I think I know what you mean about having your name on 🙂
Great advice Debbie. I think a week before Christmas is a good idea too. The closer it gets to Christmas day, the more there is to do & it’s also more of a family time then too. I take part in a secret santa every year with my sister in laws. This year we each bought a 20euro voucher to somewhere. Then we put them in a bag & everyone selected one. It’s always fun to get a voucher so it worked out really great. #anythinggoes x
Thank you 🙂 The voucher idea is good, then everyone gets to choose something they will really like, and you can even keep them for the post Christmas sales and get some bargains! x
Great tips! I have not joined in any secret Santa since I arrived here in UK, although back home I got that every Christmas time and it was really fun, really enjoyed those times. Thanks for sharing! #AnythingGoes
Thank you 🙂 I love them, maybe you could start your own!
Good tips! I have never heard of the not so secret santa idea. There was a major diplomatic incident at a place I worked years ago when someone tried to suggest that instead of all buying £5 secret santa gifts we all donated £5 to a charity organising Christmas for homeless children. Many of us thought this was a great idea. Some people were apparently very attached to receiving £5 gifts that they didn’t even want. Even the fact that they were still free to do secret santa did not mollify them, as apparently the reduced selection of £5 gifts no one wanted would ruin it all and those of us who thought doing charity was more worthwhile were being very selfish! Cue major sulks. Ridiculous but quite hilarious looking back. #anythinggoes
Wow, people never fail to amaze me. How could anyone be so heartless as to not want to help homeless children especially when it doesn’t even cost them extra. I can imagine the aftermath was pretty hilarious watching everyone getting their knickers in a knot though lol 🙂
I love secret santa. We are doing two this year. One with my work colleagues where you draw out a name and one with my friends where we are assigned a name. There’s a theme too. Something shiny or sparkly.
Sally @ Life Loving
#AnythingGoes
Oh I love the idea of a theme and definitely love the idea of shiny or sparkly 🙂
Great tips. We used to do secret santa every year with my siblings because there is so many of us and all have kids now too. It’s a fun way to celebrate without breaking the bank. Thank you ever so much for linking up to Share With Me #sharewithme
Yeah, it’s great for big families or friend groups, everyone gets a nice gift without all the financial pressure! Thanks for hosting 🙂
Great tips, Debbie! I enjoy Secret Santa. For our Secret Santa, we also make the person guess who’s their Secret Santa after unwrapping it and It’s hilarious! Thanks for hosting #anythinggoes
Oh that sounds fun! It would be good trying to see who you thought bought your gift 🙂
We have a Secret Santa in work it works really well when there are a lot of people. We also do a joke one with my friends as part of Christmas girly lunch, that’s always a giggle as it’s become a bit competitive with who can get the funniest gift. The buying starts really early for that one! Hope you get something nice in your stocking. Thank you for hosting #AnythingGoes Nicky x
I like the idea of the jokey one, I can imagine it getting competitive but in a fun way 🙂 If you spot something early in the year you have to snap it up! Thanks, I hope you do too x
Great tips. I used to be involved in one when I worked and remember the trouble the lady had running it with people not wanting to join in #binkylinky xx
Thank you 🙂 That’s why I think it’s better to have some sort of sign up list then you are not chasing people who don’t want to be involved x