How to up your Secret Santa game

Are you in a Secret Santa this year? Maybe with friends, family, or even your office. It’s a pretty popular way to celebrate the holidays, and can be especially popular as a cheaper alternative to the traditional “buy a gift for everyone, even those third time removed cousins you haven’t seen since you were nine” scenario.

But if you’re going to do it, you’ve got to do it right. We’ve got seven tips below to help you be the very best Secret Santa you can be:

1. Don’t tell your giftee that you got them. I know this seems obvious, but this one’s a pretty common mistake that some (not so) Secret Santas make. Let your giftee experience the holiday joy and keep your lips shut tight.
2. Try to match their interests. No one wants to receive a re-gifted half melted candle. Think about what you know about your giftee – do they like gardening or cooking? Or maybe you know that their favourite TV show is The Block? If you don’t know much about them at all, you might want to ask someone else, but be careful about telling too many people – like we mentioned, it’s called Secret Santa for a reason!
3. Be careful with joke gifts. If you know the person well, a joke gift can be funny. But remember that Christmas is all about spreading joy, and sometimes a joke gift can be offensive.
4. Respect the chosen budget. Would you want to be the one receiving a $2 pack of gum when everyone else has a great gift?
5. If you’re planning to order online, do it ASAP. Online shopping is fun and gives you a better chance to get something quirky and personalised, but it also means you need weeks up your sleeve to make sure the parcel arrives on time.
6. Don’t discount the importance of presentation. No one wants to receive a gift wrapped in newspaper or a supermarket bag. If you’re not good at wrapping, you can opt for a gift bag or a box. Some retailers even offer wrapping services as well.
7. Suggest that everyone writes a wish list. If you want to make things easy for everyone, you might want to suggest that everyone writes down a few things they’d love to receive within the budget.

Looking for great gift ideas on a budget? We can help with that too. Check out our blog Inexpensive Christmas presents that will impress.

Please note this information is general in nature and does not take into account your personal circumstances or objectives. You should consider this before acting on any of the information contained.