Secret Santa with family?

[rolypol]

I'm so pleased to see this Christmas thread is booooming! :D I thought it would be empty. What a fool I am.

Anyway, I've just been thinking, as a mum of 4, who is already in arrears with my gas and electric - how can I politely ask family not to buy for us and we don't buy for them?
Has anybody ever done this?
I was going to suggest a family meal or day out instead. I think that would be a better way to spend money. My children get a lot at Christmas and with 4 of them, it's total mayhem and the house is a mess for weeks after whilst we find a home for everything. It's too much!!

I really don't think my kids would even notice. It's such an expense too - 4 kids! I bet they all dread buying for them anyway.

So I was thinking secret santa instead with a budget of say under £30??? We can swap gifts during the meal?

What do people think?

I think it would take so much stress out of the day for everyone. I spend so much time buying gifts and wrapping and distributing. It becomes quite stressful! I think the lead up to Christmas and the day itself would be much nicer if it was more about the people you're with than the gifts you are given.

My family (just siblings and our spouses) do Secret Santa. It's so much better. We've been doing it for years!

My family has done this for the adults and kept kids' budget to £10. All fun, everyone happy.

My side of the family do secret Santa between all the adults, and have for 3 or 4 years now. It's honestly been fantastic! Everyone dreaded trying to think of ideas and of course spending £££s on gifts!

Our rules are that everyone who wants to join in lets me know, then I put all the names into a website called DrawNames, which lets you say if anyone shouldn't get anyone else (e.g., spouses if you like). It then emails everyone and you can send reminders to those who haven't said they have bought their gift if you wish. You can also add gift suggestions for whomever gets your name.

Our limit is £30, so you can ask for a little treat without going too pricey I can't remember exactly how we decided to do it but I remember it being quite unanimous.

I would definitely recommend it, especially if the cost of living this winter is anything like they're forecasting.

We've done a family secret santa with my side of the family for the past few years and it works really well. £50 budget and we have a group chat set up where we can post suggestions and we get together on Christmas eve. Works well for us as everyone get something they really want and cuts down on the buying just for the sake of it.