Christmas in college… The feeling of independence is heightened by decorating your living space and planning parties and trying to make that cookie recipe taste just like your mom’s. However, it’s also come with a boatload of new friends who have helped you get through this semester, and, if you’re anything like me, you feel the urge to thank them with a perfectly thought out gift. This poses a problem when my wallet starts to cry—so this Christmas, I tried something new.
My squad all confessed that they also had the same problem. Then the idea hit me: Secret Santa.
Sure, the office classic isn’t necessarily anything revolutionary, but it saved me over $80 on presents and allowed me to give something that I was sure my friends would like. I’ve listed the rules and a form in case you want to play.
Rule #1: Set a budget.
Probably one of the most important things to remember is to have a common number so that people don’t spend too much and no one feels like they were cheated out of a quality present. Our range was $15-$25. This allowed wiggle room while also encouraging creativity with the items you give.
Rule #2: Decide how many gifts to give.
We chose to do three gifts over the course of the week: two smaller gifts Monday and Wednesday that consisted mostly of snacks and socks and one large gift that we gave as our reveal on Friday. All the girls agreed that it gave us something to look forward to throughout the week without putting too much stress on finding ways to give things to our secret person.
Rule #3: Have everyone fill out a form and draw names.
I have a copy of the form that we used down below. After everyone drew names to get their partner, I compiled all the forms into a word document that I sent to everyone in an email. The more information you have on your form, the easier it is for your Santa to shop for you. Some gift ideas for the smaller days: socks, candy, drinks, markers, candles, make up, nail polish. Some gift ideas for the reveal: stuffed animal, canvases, gift cards, blankets, slippers, t-shirt, jewelry.
And that’s it! Our game worked out really well, and it relieved a lot of stress that we were having the week before finals. I recommend that you play in a group between 6-10 people. Now, go out and spread your Christmas cheer!
Name:
Favorites
Color:
TV Show:
Food:
Snack Food:
Drink:
Place to shop:
Restaurant:
Scents:
Candy:
Music:
Animal:
Movies:
Would you be open to receiving a homemade present, like a canvas?
Shoe size:
T-Shirt size:
What would you like your secret Santa to know about you?
Any allergies?
Gold or silver jewelry? Ears Pierced?
List a few of your favorite things: