Secret Santa gift ideas on a small budget

A good Secret Santa gift does not have to cost much. What people remember is whether it suits them. Here are ideas that stay around €20, sorted by how well you know the person you drew.

When you hardly know them

Pick something most people use and enjoy:

• A nice mug or travel cup
• Warm wool socks or slippers
• A small board game or card game
• Better-than-usual coffee, tea or chocolate
• A scented candle or hand cream

Check their wishlist first. Even one hint, like "tea" or "hiking", makes the choice much easier.

For a colleague

At work, neutral and practical is the safe choice:

• A notebook and a good pen
• A plant that copes with office light
• Snacks for their desk
• A lidded cup for coffee on the way in
• A puzzle book for lunch breaks

For family

Here you can be more personal:

• A book you think they will love, with a note inside
• Something for a hobby, like seeds for the garden or fishing gear
• A framed photo from a trip you took together
• A voucher for an outing, like the cinema or bowling

Cheap gifts that mean a lot

• Homemade jam, biscuits or granola
• A playlist, or a little book of recipes you love
• A coupon for a favour, like cooking dinner or babysitting for an evening

Wrapping tips

Wrap the gift nicely but simply. Write the receiver's name clearly, but not your own. That keeps the secret until the exchange.

Wishlists make it easier

The simplest trick is to have everyone write a short wishlist before names are drawn. On JingleBell, each participant writes their own wishlist, and whoever drew them sees it together with their name.