Buying presents for extended friends and family can hurt your bank account. One of the best ways to cut costs is buying organising a Secret Santa. This works best when all the people involved would be buying for the same group of people you are i.e all your siblings and their children from one side of the family, friend groups, and colleagues. It is also good for gatherings, such as Christmas Eve parties.
What is Secret Santa?
Secret Santa is an anonymous gift giving game. Each participant only has to buy one gift for one other participant, so this is a great way to save costs during the festive period.
How to Play?
At the beginning of December, all participants names are put into a hat. Each person draws a name, and they have to buy a gift for that person. You do not tell each other who you are Secret Santa for (hence the secret part). To keep it fair, all participants should agree to a price limit. We like to be stingy and give just a £5 price limit. This makes for some innovative, funny gifts, and helps out cost wise.
You don’t have to all be gathered together for the opening, but it does make for a fun evening. However, if families partake, it might be nice to open the presents on Christmas morning, especially if you have children involved.
Shake it Up
If you don’t give gifts, or want to do something a little different, why not make your Secret Santa game all about giving to charity?
- One idea is to put local charity names in a hat and have each participant draw one. Each participant should make a donation to that charity.
- Another idea is to gather products for your local food bank. Pieces of paper with different food groups or items could be placed in a hat, each participant draws one and has to buy 5 pounds worth of that item and donate them to the local food bank.
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If you need a little inspiration, I have a post all about fun Secret Santa gifts.
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Sensibly Frugal Living 