I personally absolutely love Secret Santa. One of the main things I miss about having a 'proper' job now I have the business is the secret santa (closely followed by not having a work Christmas party). Luckily for me I have been able to take part in two this year. One has been arranged through a bridal page I am part of on Facebook, the other is amongst the group of mums (who have become close friends) I met during my antenatal relaxation classes last Autumn.
I thought a little blog on top tips for buying a secret Santa gift would be a nice idea to get into the Christmas spirit (not that I necessarily need this as I have already bought ALL of my Christmas presents!)
*Firstly, if a questionnaire has been used for the secret Santa and you have some information on the person you are buying from always refer to it! Don't think it will be a nice idea to get them a total surprise or something they wouldn't normally go for as there is a strong chance they would hate it and that wouldn't be a good idea. Questionnaires are usually used for larger secret Santas or those where you wouldn't necessarily know the recipient (such as my brides one).
*If it is a friend you are buying for, take some time to think about what your friend likes, dislikes, what their hobbies are, what is going on in their lives at the moment etc. It may seem obvious, but often a quick recap will allow you to come up with a present they would really love rather than just going for something generic from the Boots Christmas aisle.
*If your secret Santa happens to be a novelty one, still think outside the box. When it comes to opening the gifts there are bound to be many of the same thing, try to think of something a little different!
*Sometimes having a smaller budget just makes the whole thing more exciting. I am a total bargain hunter so I love finding gifts for less than £10. If your budget is less than £5 then this does make things a little more difficult but again, by thinking outside of the box you can come up with something brilliant. Visit little gift shops that you wouldn't normally visit, go to small gifts in places like Next, Debenhams and Supermarkets such as Sainsbury's and Asda as they often have gifts for this price range that are actually quite good.
*Don't rule out shopping online for gifts. As long as you leave enough time for delivery, there are some great bargains to be had from shopping online. My favourite go to place at the moment is Amazon and you can find almost anything you want on there. Have a browse for ideas first and see if you can get items you find in the shops cheaper online.
*I am a sucker for the finishing touches. If you can afford it, don't include things like packaging and postage in the amount set and add in a Christmas card, some chocolate coins or a candy cane as an extra little something for your recipient. Christmas is a time for giving and making someone smile is a great way to spread the Christmas cheer.
*Finally, an obvious one but something many overlook. To keep the suspense going, make sure you don't write your name on the gift tag! Try and write using your opposite hand, don't use the same gift paper as all your other gifts and try not to tell anyone who you are buying for.
If you are still stuck on what to buy I have gathered together some great gift ideas for £5, £10 and novelty!
£5 and Under:
Diary £5 Next
Love Heart Tea Lights £5 Debenhams
Baking Book £5 Sainsbury's
Shoe Fund Piggy Bank £4 Asda
Heart Slogan Pegs £3 Asda
Two Ceramic Tea light Holders £5 Asda
£10 and Under:
Set of 2 Knitted Hand warmers £6 Next
Festive Spice Oil Burner £8 Next
Yankee Candle Fireside Treats Small Jar £8.39 Clinton's
Baileys Hot Chocolate Mug £9.50 Debenhams
Set of 3 Ceramic Heart Bowls £9.99 Sainsbury's
Novelty:
Beer Money Tin £5 Next (perfect if buying for a man!)
Penis Pasta £4 Ann Summers
Fortune Cookies £5 Ann Summers
Thirst Mug £8 Next
Dairy Milk Money Box £8 Next
Mood Duck £8 Debenhams
Man Flu Mug £9.50 Debenhams (great gift for a male colleague!)
I'm Stressed Phone £3 Asda
Happy Shopping!!
