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Holiday secret Santa gift giving is easy for me. I go to Walmart, Marshalls, and Target.
At Walmart, I get the Limited Edition Holiday Scents air fresheners or candles and wrap them up in colored cellophane with pretty ribbon brought from Michael's for a dollar. That gift is $3.00 each.
From Marshall's, I get the big bar of French Milled soap in nice craft wrapping. I spend $4.00 for those wrapped in netting.
Target is the cheapest, $1.00 fashion gloves with $1.00 lip balm - $2 for a gift. I spend about $60 bucks on co-workers, distant family members, church members, and those last minute host gifts and I'm covered.
By holli from Detroit, MI
Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.
I am looking for ideas to use at work when people sign up to be a secret Santa. I have seen poems with ideas for each day of the exchange.
BeccaL from Polk, Nebraska
At work we gave chocolate Santas, Christmas dish towels, Christmas ornaments, holiday cd's, homemade goodies, earrings, hot cocoa mix, and hard csndy.
I am wanting to get a large gift bag with 25 small gifts in each-one for each day of December. The envelope or small package will have the date on the outside of each so they know what day to open them.
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I am looking for ideas to use at work when people sign up to be a secret Santa. I have seen poems with ideas for each day of the exchange.
BeccaL from Polk, NE
I found this link that gives a poem for each sense so you can gift a gift of smell (candles), gift of taste (candy), gift of touch (I gave earrings), etc. Here is the link
http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/christmas/msg1216492728700.html?5
It is in the center of the post. I also pasted it here in case you have problems.
A whiffin', sniffin' gift,
Especially for you.
It's from "Secret Santa"
Bet you can't guess who!
Winkin', blinkin, just don't nod.
This gift is for your eyes.
It's from Secret Santa too,
By now, that's no surprise.
Jingle, jangle, what do I hear?
It's not a reindeer sleigh--
It must be Secret Santa,
Hurrying on his way.
Yummy, yummy, tummy tingling.
A tasty, tempting treat.
Won't you be surprised
When we finally meet!
This final gift--for the sense of touch--
Might be a bit surprising.
I'm sure you know just who I am,
Without realizing.
~author unknown~
(11/22/2006)
Here are a few ideas used in the distant past:
By Christopher
One year I sent my recipient on a scavenger hunt each day to find her secret Santa gift. I made up each clue based on well known areas and left the gifts there. Also one year one of my colleagues made a picture of herself and cut it up like puzzle pieces. Each day she gave her person a small gift and one piece of the puzzle. By the end of the time she was able to find out who the person was based on the puzzle pieces. (12/10/2006)
By jb
Small bathroom luxuries work well, like a bath bomb or a nice smelling soap if you don't have much money. (11/06/2007)
To the poster who wanted to know what to call their basket for their neighbors, I've heard of this being called "you've been elfed". (11/19/2007)
By Erica
This website has something called The Grinch game which is like secret Santa.
http://www.goblinville.com/pages/xmas-grinched.htm
I have seen a variation in my neighborhood the past few years with a picture of Santa and it is called "You've been Kringled!" (11/22/2007)
By Lyndsay
Usually a trip to CVS or Walgreen's will do the trick. They have a lot of cute little candies and cheap Christmas stuff. Also a local dollar store will have random things that can be fun. Other things include candy, a Santa hat, or raw cookie dough. Those are all fun. Also you can go to AC Moore or a Michael's or whatever craft store is by you and get all kinds of things like, make your own deer antlers and crafty Christmas stuff.
By Elle
Last year we made snowman poop, marshmallows and sprinkles in a cute little bag. Google, snowman poop to find the poem that goes with it. You can also find the reindeer droppings and maxipad slippers. They were a blast and cheap! (12/11/2008)
By Desi
Last year I used a can opener that cuts below the rim, I opened it from the bottom and you can't tell is been open. I then put my gift inside and she had to use a can opener to get gift. I also gave her an empty box and put a note that said I got her the gift that she always she tells her husband she wants. Nothing. (12/12/2008)
By Sandy
Go to WalMart chocolates are a good one and any Christmas little do dad will work! (12/12/2008)
By unknown
For the people that needed clues for revealing themselves as the secret Santa: At the end, you can just take the last gift to the "victims" (as I like to call them) and present it to them and saying that you're their secret Santa, etc. That's how we do it. (12/20/2008)
I need help with my mom's secret Santa present. I have to make it, and spend at the most $10. Any ideas?
David from Lenoir, NC
Here are a couple ideas:
1. You could get crafty by buying candles from the dollar store and decorating them with dried flowers and other items. All you need is glue gun and some good imagination.
2. You could go to a used book store and pick up some cool picture books and take the pages out and put them in frames.
3. You could check thrift stores and goodwill for nice glass vases and just some flowers and put it in the vase.
4. Ebay is a great place to find gift under normal cost. So is Craigslist! Plus this is a good green way to celebrate Christmas. (12/06/2008)
By AJ
For the gentleman who has to make a Secret Santa present for under $10. Last year I bought Christmas themed printer paper from the dollar store. I also bought some clear report covers. Then I copied lyrics from Christmas carols and various Christmas stories, recipes and legends (such as "Twas the Night Before Christmas") and printed them up on the printer paper. I then compiled all the carols, recipes, stories, etc. in the folders with a decorative cover sheet. I gave a few of these last year and the people who received them really enjoyed them. (12/07/2008)
By Michelle
You should give your mom love in a box it is really cool. What you do is take a box and put in what you think is love. It could be little slips of paper saying what you love about your mom or something that sounds nice when you shake it. Then you write a poem saying not to open it because it is love, and put it on top. All of my relatives really loved it. (12/07/2008)
By Kat
I have the best idea. you know when you have a lot of plastic bags from the grocery store and you don't want to just throw them away, they come in handy for a lot of good stuff; but where to put them? Make a doll out of an old pillow case or fabric stuffing the "head" or top with some of the bags, then tie it off with some string where the neck should be and the rest of the fabric you dangle for the skirt of her dress.
Pull a Cinch through the bottom hem to tighten the dress up so there is just a small hole big enough to stuff a bag into and just stuff your plastic bags in her dress and hang her on a door. you can just pull one bag out at a time to use! (12/09/2008)
By breazy
I've decided to make a small wooden candle holder with a plaque above it. Of course, the candle can't burn. You can find non burning candles at Lowes. (12/10/2008)
By David
Oh my god! I never thought of that idea about the bath basket. Honestly if someone gave that to me as a gift I would enjoy it. I love baths. Plus in two days I have to come up with a $10 gift for a girl at my work (12/18/2008)
By Shannen
How about a voucher booklet? You could have things like household jobs such as sweeping a certain area, or gardening, even things like a pamper session such as giving her a manicure. Busy mums love this stuff! (12/30/2008)
By Cathy from Townsville, QLD
For a more personal secret santa idea, the thrift store could be a great place to check out. You'll find that the thrift store could have nifty and funky gifts for a low low price. Also you'll find that the gift will be original and one of a kind. (01/17/2009)
By Maverick
I just wanted to let you know there are simple things you can do that will mean a lot. I am a sucker for baskets, they are cheap but thoughtful. Does she like coffee? Or cooking? You can make one of these. 1. Just pick a recipe, print it out then give her the ingredients she needs for it like.
Seven Layer Cookies
Melt butter in bottom of 9x13 inch cake pan. Press graham cracker crumbs into pan. Pour can of Eagle Brand milk over graham cracker crumbs. Sprinkle chocolate chips and butterscotch chips and nuts over mixture. Sprinkle coconut on top. Bake at 350 degrees until coconut browns, (approximately 15 minutes).
2. You can do the same thing with coffee.
Canadian Coffee:
Divide maple syrup and whiskey among 4 warmed heatproof glass mugs or goblets. Pour in coffee to 1 inch of top; spoon topping over coffee.
I know I would love gifts like this. They are thoughtful and cheap! (11/30/2009)
I have to get a Secret Santa gift for a girl at work for under $10. (Secret Santa) Here is my prob.: She is 33 years old and hates getting commercial gifts. People that know her suggested I make her something, she would much rather I give her something from the heart, than something I can buy in a store.
