It’s probably happened to you at some point or another. That is, you drew the name of a colleague or family member that you didn’t know much about. The dreaded Secret Santa conundrum happens every year and it can be a nightmare, particularly if you’re on a tight budget. There’s a few things you can always get to give the Secret Santa recipient a smile without spending a small fortune though. So, this holiday season, don’t fear the name you draw. Instead, picture how amazing it will be to see your Secret Santa’s reaction to your amazing gift.
1. Sweets
When it’s cold outside, nothing gets rid of the blues quite like some sweet treats. This gift is easy to accomplish and will pretty much please just about anyone. Of course, you might want to figure out if the person you drew is allergic to anything or has dietary restrictions before you follow through with the idea. If everything is safe, then you might want to start planning out which sweets you want to give. Lots of stores will have sweets on sale during this time of the year, so you probably won’t have to spend a lot if you go this route. However, if you want to save even more money then you might consider making your own batch of treats. You can make everything from cookies, cakes, fudge and other candies. Once you’ve whipped up your special gift, decorate it to suit the holiday season and then use colored plastic wrap or holiday bags to create a special gift wrap that will make your homemade item look like it came from a professional shop. Making the treats at home is one of the best options if you do need to work on dietary restrictions. There’s lots of great recipes that can help you alter your recipes too.
2. Portable Beverage Holder
Everyone loves to have a drink handy when they’re working or simply hanging out. So, why not give your Secret Santa recipient the gift of a beverage holder. This truly gives you a lot to work with too, so you can find the best holder for the recipient. If you have someone in your life that likes to be as green as possible then a reusable water bottle might be right up their alley. These come in all shapes and sizes, so look around to see if you find one that suits the recipient’s personality. Health fanatics may swoon over a water infuser bottle. These bottles allow you to add a variety of fruit, which works its way into the water to create a delicious and healthy beverage. Apart from that, there’s always the hard worker that needs that extra jolt of coffee or tea to get through the day. For these recipients, you may consider a travel mug. All of these items can easily be personalized if you want to go the extra mile too.
3. Desk Organizer
The desk organizer is a pretty classic gift, especially if you’re shopping around for a colleague. Although it may seem like a pretty basic gift, you can actually find a wide variety of organizers on the market today. These amazing devices can be customized to suit particular people’s needs as well as the desks they work at. If you’re choosing for a colleague then this can be pretty easy, because you already know size restrictions and the items you need to have at work. Desk organizers can be great for students too, but you may want to find a set that offers a wide assortment of items, so the student can pick and choose the items they need while storing the rest of the items for later use. These days, you can even get character based organizers. Of course, if you really want to show off your DIY skills then you may want to look up tutorials and see if you can create your own special desk organizer for the recipient.
4. Fitness Tracker
When it comes to office work, it’s hard to keep up with how long you’ve been sitting or how many steps you’ve taken. Even if you rely on your phone to keep up with these things you still won’t get an accurate reading. Of course, health is a main concern for most people, so a fitness tracker might be a great way to help your Secret Santa recipient keep track of the things they need to stay healthy. Of course, this doesn’t mean you have to spend a small fortune to buy the top of the line fitness trackers. There’s actually a lot on the market that are incredibly affordable and will ensure the recipient will love their gift. You may want to have a few sneaky conversations to find out what type of fitness and monitoring skills the recipient is looking for, so you can shop more efficiently.
5. Phone Stand
In this day and age, a lot of people have their smartphone glued to their hip. So, a phone stand is a great gift for colleagues, friends or relatives. Luckily, there’s a whole lot of phone stands on the market these days, so you can customize the stand based on your budget as well as the recipient’s personality. Today’s market offers sleek designs for the professional in your life or cutesy designs like Panda Bears or kittens. Plus, there’s a lot of different attributes to choose from. For instance, you can find a stand that actually charges the phone or some that work as extra USB ports. The sky is the limit when it comes to this must-have gift.
6. Planner
With the year coming to an end, it may be time to help your Secret Santa recipient prepare for the upcoming year. A planner is a simple and classic gift that will allow the person on your list to better their year. Planners can be purchased in all shapes and sizes too, so you can shop specifically for the person on your list. For instance, if you have a colleague that has a bit of trouble making it to meetings or remembering deadlines, then a desktop planner might be wise. You can get one of these that actually rests on the desk itself, which is perfect for those who end up celebrating the month of March until October rolls around. If you don’t want to take up a lot of space the a simple stand up planner will come in handy. You can even find them with inspirational messages for those who need a little motivation each day. Another great idea for a planner is a simple planner book. You can find them with nice leather covers, or some with personalized themes, like favored movies, sports and so on. These generally have more space for appointments and notes, so they might be great for students or colleagues that are always on the go.
7. Desk Accessory
If you’re shopping for someone that works in an office, then a desk accessory can make life so much easier. There’s a lot to choose from too, which means you won’t have a hard time finding the perfect gift for your Secret Santa recipient. If you know the office gets a bit too stuffy or warm, then a small desk fan may lend a helping hand. These are usually battery powered and will move air enough to make the office bearable. A mister is another great idea for warm offices, especially when the cooling goes out in the summer. A paperweight may also come in handy for a colleague or student, especially if they have a hard time keeping important paperwork on the desk. If the person doesn’t have a name tag then you might want to get creative and have one specially made for them. It’s not as expensive as you think it is. Another easy idea is anything that provides extra USB ports, because, let’s face it, two is simply not enough to keep up with today’s device savvy lifestyle.
8. Earbuds
Music over sharers can be really annoying, whether you’re at work, school or even on the street. It’s hard to keep earbuds for long periods of time though as they often break due to everyday wear and storage. So, you may want to consider buying your colleague a new pair of earbuds, or two, as your Secret Santa gift. You can base the ear buds on your own budget as you can find them for next to nothing or you can pay an arm and a leg for them. Earbuds even come in all shapes, colors and themes, so you can truly personalize the gift to suit the recipient, if you so choose. The best thing about this gift is it will encourage work productivity for the recipient, while also preventing you from having to hear another song of theirs on repeat for hours on end.
9. DIY Craft
The holiday season is a great time to channel your crafty side, especially if you’re looking to save some money on your Secret Santa gifts. So, don’t be afraid to give one of your crafts as a gift. One of the more common things to do is make a candle that is filled with holiday cheer. You can choose scents that remind you of the season and decorate the outside to show your joy for the holiday. You may also want to consider wrapping up some of your homemade jam or pickles. These tasty treats will make anyone pleased to receive them and will show you put some heart into your gift. One of the more recent trends is passing on one of your recipes in a mason jar. These are particularly popular when it comes to cookies or soups. The best thing is, it’ll allow the recipient to enjoy a little home cooking without having to put in all of the work. If you want to spread the holiday spirit, then you can make the recipient their own personal holiday ornament or wreath. If the recipient is religious, then a hymnal angel might warm their heart.
10. Gift Cards
Sometimes, it is simply too hard to find the perfect gift for someone. Or, perhaps, you’re just strapped for time and don’t really want to spend hours waiting in a checkout line. This is where gift cards come in. You can find a gift card for just about anything these days. You may choose to buy one for a local department or clothing store, or you might know of a restaurant or café that the recipient happens to love. The best thing is, you can buy a gift card from anywhere. There’s even many websites online that will sell gift cards at a reduced rate, so you can get more for your money. If you actually want a tangible gift card then you may want to hurry or else the gift may not arrive in time. Of course, often enough you can simply print out the gift card.
Having a Secret Santa gift exchange can be a lot of fun if you’re not worried about blowing your holiday budget or buying the recipient something they’ll hate. These ten gift ideas should help you find something that will strike the recipients fancy without forcing you to spend too much. Now, you can actually enjoy the holiday party, because you’re sure to win at least a smile with your well thought out gift.
