We haven’t been able to bump into our besties and congregate round the water cooler with our colleagues for some classic Christmas wish list small talk
Finding the perfect Secret Santa gift is never an easy task but during Covid times, it’s even trickier to master the art of anonymous gift exchanges since we haven’t been able to bump into our besties and congregate around the water cooler with our colleagues for some classic Christmas wish list small talk. Zoom has worn many hats this year but it’s not a subtle enough arena to plant the sweet Secret Santa seed.
Whether you’re hunting for an affordable gift for your co-worker or your gal pal, we’ve collated a few tips and tricks to take the hassle out of sourcing your Secret Santa this year.
Draw the names
During these strange Covid times, we need remote solutions! Well, look no further than Drawnames.co.uk for all your Secret Santa organisation needs. Simply enter all the email addresses of the participants and the automated program will assign everyone a Secret Santa name. It’s quick, easy and no-one ends up picking themselves. Sweet!
Plan ahead
Don’t leave it till December to organise, hop to it!
Getting your Secret Santa gift exchange sorted early on takes the stress out of it and gives those chronic-procrastinators of the group (every office / family has ’em) plenty of time to pull it out the bag, literally.
Stick to the budget
Bottom line: Decide on a budget and stick to it. While splashing out on a £50 perfume might seem like a great way to win at Secret Santa, part of the fun is hunting for a present that’s within the allocated budget, however hard it is to stick to it. The same goes for under-spending. Respect the limit, people. It’s there for a reason.
Make it personal
Try to get a Secret Santa gift that’s tailored to the person
No one wants to open a gift that could have been for anyone. Try to get a Secret Santa gift that’s tailored to the person, whether it’s a reference, an in-joke, something in their favourite colour, a brand they’re obsessed with or something they mentioned way back in January 2020 (aka 84 years ago).
Make it family/office-appropriate
Read the room and know your audience, especially if you’re buying for a co-worker. What might be a belly laugh for you might not be all that funny to someone else, so, if you know the person really well, feel free to make it funny and familiar but respect the Secret Santa boundaries. Go too risky or risqué with the present and it could all backfire with a letter from HR or a dressing down from your auntie Julie.
Prepare, prepare, prepare
The aim is to make yourself cry a little bit at how kind and thoughtful you are.
The key to nailing your Secret Santa is preparation. If you leave it to the last minute, you’re more than likely to fluff it up. After all, there’s only so much you can find in your local Sainsbury’s. Put some effort into it and your present will show it. The aim is to make yourself cry a little bit at how kind and thoughtful you are.
Consider shopping small & independent this year
Where possible, look to buy from small independent businesses and start-ups. Now, more than ever, they need all the support they can get. From hand-poured, small-batch candles to a bottle of wine from a local vineyard, artisan chocolate or prints from a local artist, shopping small and independent will ensure your gift is original and considered.
If in doubt, play it safe
What happens if you draw a name with a colleague you merely share the same communal fridge milk with? If you don’t know the person very well, go down the generic / useful route. This awkward turtle scenario right here is what gift cards and planners were made for.
Use their social media for intel
Friends on social? Watch their stories & gather your evidence from afar. You might see them post about a hobby or share a post featuring something they love, alongside a very cryptic gif saying: NEED. Instagram = research.
Have fun
The whole point of this festive tradition is to have a bit of good old fashioned holiday fun and nothing brings people together like Secret Santa – even if is on Zoom this year!
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