Christmas at work (Secret Santa)?

Question

Hi, Who does this whole secret santa thing at work? I have been put incharge of this, and am undecided of how to run it. Do you have idea's?? What do you all do at work for christmas?

This is what we were all originally going to do, but everyone is undecided. There are 10 of us in the team ans we were all to choose 3 things that we would want for Christmas and put it in a hat to draw, and who ever you pick out of the hat, you have to buy one of those 3 things for them. We did say that the maximum to spend is £15, but now some of the people are saying its too much, and some are saying what if they buy someone something for £15, and they get something worth £5. Its unfair.

So some idea's/suggestions would be much appreciated.
Thanx!

£15 Pounds people not dollars.
£££££££££££££££££££££££££

Answer 1

If some in the group are balking at the 15 limit, try compromising at 10....

Secret Santas are supposed to be fun, not expensive.... We do it different here... We each buy a gift up to a certain limit and then wrap and place our gifts on a table. Then everyone who is participating draws a number out of a hat... So if 10 people in the group each gets a number 1 through 10. Then number 1 gets to pick any gift off the table and open it. Then number 2 gets the choice of stealing number 1's gift or grabbing a new one from the table. If 2 steals number 1's gift, then number 1 takes a new gift from the table and opens it. This goes on until number 10 has a choice of 9 opened gifts or the one last unopened gift still on the table...

It's great fun as people who have stolen something they really like will try to look as inconspicuous as possible so the next person won't steal their gift....

Answer 2

It's not any fun if you already know what you're getting. Just let everyone draw a name and give whatever they want to give.
As far as the price limit, $15 seems a little high to me but that is up to you. I know there are a lot of nice gifts out there for under $10 that look like they cost a lot more. Anyone who complains that they may not get an expensive gift doesn't have the right spirit of gift giving. If the agreed price is $15 then everyone should try to get as close to that amount as possible.
If you don't think things will be fair drawing names then you could have what we call a "Chinese Christmas" It's where everyone brings a gift worth $15 dollars. Wrap the gift but don't put a name on it. At the time of the party, all the gifts go into a pile in the middle of the room. Everyone draws a number out of a hat (1-10)
The first person (#1)chooses the gift they want and then opens it. The next person (#2) picks a gift and opens it. If they like the 1st persons gift better they can trade with that person. The 1st person has to trade. #3 is next, does the same thing, can keep or trade with #1 or #2. This goes on through #10 then you start over, but you start over starting with #10, #9 #8 #7 and so on.
It really is a lot of fun and there are a lot of people who may want to keep what they get but will lose it if someone after them wants it. Propose the idea to the group and see what they think. It's a lot more fun than drawing names.
Good luck and have fun at the party. God be with you all.

Answer 3

Secret Santa At Work

Answer 4

Why not just do an ornament exchange??? Set an amount on the ornament (which is usually lower than a secret santa gift) and then all involved will bring their ornaments to work wrapped. Put numbers in a "hat" have everyone draw a number. The first person picks a package and opens it.
The next person in line to draw has to choose a package -open it and decide whether to take the gift from the first person or keep theirs (if they take the previous one, they must give that person the one they have).
This goes on... 3rd person chooses and can keep the gift or take a gift from someone else and give them theirs. Anyone can take from anyone else when they draw, so the ornaments usually go through many hands before all is done. If there are only 10- 15 people, go around exchanging or keeping a 2nd time and the fun is even better.
It sounds almost cruel... but every time I have participated in this game people just laugh and laugh. You do end up with a last person who can "exchange" but all in all it gets very humorous.

Answer 5

Another way to do it, would be to have everyone buy a gift for say $10. Then when you have a party or when you are going to open the gifts, put them all on the table, and have someone number them 1-10. Also number pieces of paper 1-10 and put them in a hat. Then have everyone draw a number, and everyone gets the present that matches the number they drew. That way, no one can play favorites, and everyone will get a gift of equal value. If anyone should get their own gift, they can keep it if they want to, or exchange it with another person before the gifts are opened.

We tried drawing names one year, and if someone got the name of a person they really liked, they spent more money. Not fair to the rest. Or if they got a name of a person they weren't fond of, they spent less. That wasn't fair either.

It should be a fun thing, not for anyone to out-do anyone else. have fun!

Answer 6

If 15 dollars is too much take it down to 10. And you could also do it weekly. Like just have those people put their names in a hat and u draw out some elses name. Then each week you get them a small gift. This could be like candy or a little stuffed animal..nothing big. And then the week right before christmas you can do your 10 dollar gift. So thats a way to kind of end it. Good luck!!

Answer 7

There are usually three to four weeks involved with Secret Santa. The first two or three weeks should be small presents (£5). And then the last week should be something grander (£15). I think you should set a range that must be honored (£13-£18) or something.

As for asking for things, I don't agree with that rule. The fun of Secret Santa is to find out what your person wants without them guessing it is you who is giving the gift.

Answer 8

I think $15 is a fine limit for the secret santa, i just think you need to put everyones mind at ease, and since the people are picking there 3 things, its there fault if they only put $5.00 gifts on there list!!

Answer 9

Is their a price limit? Usually those things have a price cap. You could get her a gift card for Barns and Noble so she can get some beach reading, and put it in a net beach type bag with some other little things like a really cute pair of flipflops, some SPF chapstick...lots of little things, sort of as a beach kit for the beach. Separately the items would be little everyday things, but think along the lines of the gift baskets of bath products you see, only make it for the beach. Everytime she uses it in Barbados, she will think of you. Warn her about Barbados. I wanted to book a vacation for right after christmas, but the Island is doing a beach rebuild. A hurricane wiped out all the beaches and the are importing sand as we speak...I decided to go to another island because of it.

Answer 10

Its beter to jsu tleave it up to the own idniviuals ability adn interest to be do this adn sometime sit isnt possible for one eperosn to contribute a smuch as the other adn the whoole idea of not being fair is not good becuse it takes asy from the meaning of givin gin first palce as giving should be more fun that receiving when giving from a proper heart attitude