If you’re gifting in a group this holiday season, a Secret Santa gift exchange might be the best way to approach gift-giving. The game of Secret Santa is not only fun, but it ensures that everyone across a variety of financial situations can feel included in (and less stressed about) a holiday gift exchange.
Designed for groups of people (be it friends, co-workers, or even large families), Secret Santa is an excellent gift exchange game for exchanging gifts anonymously — though, you can always reveal yourself after gifts are received. “It’s a fun way to give gifts amongst a group of people without a lot of pressure,” says Laura Knack, gifting expert and founder of Knack, which specializes in curated gift boxes. When playing Secret Santa, there are two important things to consider: First, a budget or dollar value that you must stick to when gifting, and second, anonymity. “Every participant randomly draws the name of a person for whom they will be purchasing a gift — no one knows who will be giving them a gift, thus the name Secret Santa,” Knack explains.
Meet the Experts
Laura Knack is a gifting expert and founder of Knack.
The whole point of Secret Santa is to take the pressure off and make for a fun and inclusive gift exchange. With that in mind, Knack says to keep it fun and casual. “If you’re the person organizing the Secret Santa event, asking each participant to fill out a wish list of ideas within the set budget will help make the event more successful,” she explains. Instead of specific items, participants can also share interests (such as yoga, painting, and games) that could help inform the Secret Santa’s quest for a gift idea.
Secret Santa Tips
In addition to keeping this fun and light and asking participants to share insights, you’ll want to set a budget for everyone to follow. According to Knack, a Secret Santa budget depends on the group. “If this is a workplace gifting event, a $25 to $40 amount is reasonable,” she explains. However, if you’re using the Secret Santa format to tackle gifting in a large family or in lieu of everyone buying a gift for each other, she says the dollar amount can be higher, depending on what everyone agrees with. “It’s important to be realistic about the budget you set,” she explains. “What often happens is that one well-intentioned player will agree to a modest budget but then buy a gift that far exceeds it, which can make the other participants uncomfortable,” she adds.
As for gifting, Knack says to try and gift something that is useful to the person. “Sticking to items that would be useful to their lifestyle is a great way to ensure that your gift will be appreciated,” she notes. With that said, one of her biggest Secret Santa gifting tips is to avoid gift cards “because they are seen as impersonal and very often go unused.” She also says to keep quality over quantity in mind. “It’s better to purchase one high-quality item that makes a strong impression than multiple lesser-quality items that may end up unused and unappreciated,” she explains.
The Best Secret Santa Gifts
Whether you’re participating in an office Secret Santa and buying for a co-worker or shopping for gift ideas for family and friends, there are tons of great Secret Santa gift ideas to choose from. To make it a little easier, we narrowed down our top picks — ranging from exercise, wellness, skincare, fashion, and more — and share what we’re gifting our Secret Santas, ahead.
Bala Bangles
Perfect for the fitness fanatic in your group (or the person who is always walking on their lunch break), the Bala Bangles are a chic exercise accessory that just so happens to be hand weights. Designed for wrists or ankles, these Bangles come in a variety of chic colors — including a gorgeous dusty blue and a wintery gray — and the choice between 1 and 2 lbs. They’re perfect for at-home workouts, as well as on the go. Plus, unlike other ankle weights, they aren’t made from sand, making them easier to carry on as many airlines have a sand limit (we’ve totally been stopped for this before!).
Jiggy Terra Viva Puzzle by Gabriella Laruccia
If you’re shopping for someone who loves games or puzzles, a stylish puzzle that doubles as a work of art is an excellent Secret Santa gift idea. When completed, the Terra Viva Puzzle by Gabriella Laruccia from Jiggy features a gorgeous illustrated plant scene that your giftee can frame and hang on the wall, using the included puzzle glue. This jigsaw puzzle comes in a reusable glass jar and ultra-chic packaging making it even easier to gift.
Sunday Riley Double Your Glow AHA + Vitamin C Serum Duo
For the skincare-obsessed, the Sunday Riley Double Your Glow AHA + Vitamin C Serum Duo is the perfect way to gift high-end skincare while staying within budget. This $30 dollar set includes two of Sunday Riley’s top-selling serums — the C.E.O. 15% Vitamin C Brightening Serum and Good Genes All-in-One Lactic Acid Treatment — designed to brighten and plump the skin’s appearance through exfoliating, smoothing, and rejuvenating the complexion.
Snow Fox Skin Care Three-In-One Hair, Face & Body Treatment Bar
A multi-purpose bar for the minimalist in your life. This nourishing offering from Snow Fox Skin Care triples as a shampoo, conditioner, and face wash — thanks to its well-rounded concentrate of 8 botanical oils, multiple Australia native botanical extracts and naturally clarifying minerals.
Ember Temperature Control Smart Mug
Whether you’re shopping for a mom who is always on the go (and faced with cold coffee) or a friend who often has to reheat their tea due to back-to-back meetings, the Ember Temperature Control Smart Mug makes for a great gift. Albeit on the pricier side, this mug makes for a great and thoughtful gift for the person who rarely enjoys their drinks hot. For a more budget-friendly option, the VOBAGA Coffee Mug Warmer is also a good choice, plus it’s under $30, making it an appropriate Secret Santa gift for a co-worker.
Baggu Fanny Pack
We are of the belief that Baggu is always a good gift idea. One of our favorite items in our closet is the Baggu Fanny Pack, which is incredibly versatile and works as a day-to-day crossbody bag, a traditional fanny pack for adventures, or a travel bag that keeps items safe. This bag is ultra-durable and pairs well with most casual looks.
David’s Tea Matcha On-the-Go Set
For the matcha lover in your life, David’s Tea offers a collection of amazing matcha gifts, including the Matcha On-the-Go Set, which comes with three of the tea company’s popular matcha blends (Matcha Matsu, Peach Matcha, and Vanilla Matcha), a serving spoon, and a to-go cup that is designed for mixing matcha on-the-go with a couple of strong shakes. If you’re shopping for a co-worker and this $49 set doesn’t fit within the allotted budget, David’s Tea also has a Matcha Love Tea Sampler for $25. This set features eight of the tea company’s popular matcha blends and is perfect for the person who is always on the quest for the next best matcha latte.
WTHN Acupressure Mat Set
Acupressure mats are one of the hottest wellness items of 2022, as they promote deep relaxation, improved sleep, and help you destress after a long day. If you’re shopping for someone who put “wellness” on their list of interests, you can’t go wrong with the WTHN Acupressure Mat Set. This set comes with a mat and pillow designed with the principles of acupressure to activate specific areas of the body that benefit most from a little R&R. The set also comes with a detailed how-to guide so that the recipient can quickly learn the ins and outs of using it and incorporate it into their wellness routine with ease.
Bandolier Emma Pebble Leather Crossbody
For the family member who can never find their phone (that’s us, actually), the Bandolier Emma Pebble Leather Crossbody is the perfect Secret Santa gift. It’s functional, stylish, and allows recipients to keep track of their phone while remaining hands-free. Loved by celebrities such as Kaley Cuoco, this stylish phone case comes in nine colors and metal options and features a card holder on the back, allowing it to double as a crossbody bag.
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