Secret Santa - what would you suggest?

[Bananamama1213]

Last year we all did 2 gifts with a budget of £10 for both of them. We did it so some people got female gifts and some got male. There are only 3 males, but 6 females.

This worked really well and it was fun. We did it on the Christmas Day evening once the children were settled with hot chocolates and playing with new toys. Each couple got 4 presents. We threw in 2 for my mums dog as she doesn't have a partner.

This year, a couple of people suggested doing it differently.. so we will be finding UNISEX presents with a £10 budget for each one. So basically, myself and DH will be buying 2 gifts with a budget of £20. Meaning £10 per gift.

But it's the unisex part that is leaving me stumped. My mum suggested a candle or something would be fine as the men probably wouldn't care anyway. Which is right actually, as a family we're not bothered by gifts - Christmas is for the children.

This is just a way of us saving money but having some fun with it.. last year included a couple of those £5 games from The Works. Some bathy stuff. Just things like that.

But for the life of me.. I can't think of any thing unisex with a budget of £10!

Does anyone have any suggestions?

[TractorTedTed]

Only a suggestion, but would it not be better to make it a 'proper' Secret Santa?
So you'd put everyone's name in a hat (or computer /app if you're more high tech!) and everyone gets given one person to buy for - all in secret, of course! So you'd spend the same amount of money, but at least you could choose something you think the recipient will love. And have fun trying to work out who your secret want a was later, if you want.

Not trying to put a dampener on your plans, but personally I'd hate a generic gift, and much rather have something a bit more personal.

[TractorTedTed]

Argh, typos!
Not 'want a was' but 'santa was'

[christmasunicorn]

Puzzles, games, food. Toiletries as we all have to wash.
Inanimate objects don’t tend to have genders. HTH

[daisydalrymple]

Sudoku desk calendar (only suggested as my cousin loves sudoku and always buys gifts for my dcs, and I saw a times sudoku desk calendar, which she'll hopefully love!)

A cookery book (but something like Jamie Oliver five ingredients, so it might appeal to both m/f, Mary berry baking might not)

Nice wine / chocs / foody gifts

Board game or a mini card game version of cluedo / monopoly (I got these for dc1&2 in their stockings last year and they're great fun for a quick game and portable too)

Cinema voucher

Christmas cd or a general compilation - latest now or a rock classic or 70s etc (I know it's all digital but a cd is still a nice gift)

Ditto a DVD - box set like home alone / meet the fockers / die hard / Christmas classics etc

[ThaliaLuxurySpa]

This

Perfect for any age: the gym/ sports/ beach...

Solved a whole load of difficult-to-buy-for dilemmas last year!

[canihaveacoffeeplease]

It was for work, but last year we did a set of gangsta temporary tattoos, went down sooooo well and after a few drinks everyone had a brilliant time messing about with them. Could be fun for cams evening.

Also suggest a good board game, books, toiletries, nice chocs, voucher

[Bananamama1213]

@TractorTedTed

Don't worry, no dampener here!
A proper secret Santa was suggested last year but I can't remember the reason why it wouldn't really work.

My mum has already started to buy hers so I don't think doing a real secret Santa would work this year either! I think I'll suggest it for next year!



Last year, me and DH received Champneys bath salts, a jigsaw, egg and spoon race game and a sign that says "welcome to the nut house".
The egg and spoon race was something we let the children play with more - which was funny to watch! We have the sign up in our kitchen. And the bath salts were bloody lovely!

I think bathy stuff would be the way to go really. I know DH likes a soak in the bath on occasion, so I expect the other men do.

I can't even remember what I picked last time.. I think I chose a Yankee candle with holder, bath bomb, funny Christmas socks and I'm not sure what else.

[Bananamama1213]

I love the idea of a travel board game though.. I would love to get one of those! I'll look into that!

It's awkward because we're not huge drinkers. And those who do drink - it's all different stuff! One drinks beer, one drinks cider, one drinks red wine, one drinks white.

CDs are no good really. My mum and nanny have an Alexa, my sister downloads all her music and we use Spotify. My Auntie uses her vinyls. Unfortunately musically we are all covered.

[BikeRunSki]

Mug with the receiver’s initial on. Plus hot choc, Marsh mallows etc.