Secret Santa has one simple rule: everyone gives a gift to a person drawn at random, within a spending limit agreed in advance. The trouble starts at the shop, especially when the name you drew belongs to a colleague you have spoken to twice at the coffee machine.
This wheel keeps the two situations apart. The “Coworkers” variant gathers safe, neutral gifts that are useful to almost anyone and never awkward. The “Friends and family” variant suggests more personal ideas, often homemade, that count for the thought rather than the price tag.
Each idea comes with a tip for making it personal while staying within a small budget.
How to use it
- Pick the variant that matches the person you drew: coworker or someone close.
- Spin the wheel and read the tip: it explains how to tailor the idea to that person.
- If the idea is clearly wrong for them (an allergy, a known dislike), spin again.
- Add a handwritten tag explaining your choice: it is often the part people remember.
All the options
- Tea sampler
- Put together three or four different teas or herbal infusions. Label each with the best time to drink it: morning, after lunch, evening.
- Desk plant
- A succulent or small cactus survives the holidays and needs little watering. Tuck in a note saying how often to water it.
- Notebook and pen
- A dot-grid notebook works as a to-do list or a sketchbook. Pair it with one nice pen rather than a pack of ordinary ones.
- Travel card game
- A small card or logic game fits in a drawer and livens up breaks. Choose one whose rules take a minute to explain.
- Artisan treats
- Chocolates, fudge or biscuits from a local maker please almost everyone. Quietly check for allergies and dietary choices before you buy.
- Wooden puzzle
- A take-apart wooden brain teaser keeps hands busy during calls. It often ends up doing the rounds of the whole team.
- Paperback novel
- A short novel or a story collection that can be read over a few commutes. Add a bookmark with one line on why you chose it.
- Winter socks
- A pair of thick socks with a wintry pattern: one size fits most, so there is no shoe size to guess, and a funny design does the rest.
- Herb seed kit
- A small pot with basil, parsley or chive seeds to grow on a windowsill. Add a label with the best time of year to sow them.
- Clip-on reading light
- A small light that clips onto a book or screen is handy at home or at work. Go for a rechargeable one to avoid batteries.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good Secret Santa gift for a coworker?
Something useful at a desk or a neutral treat: a succulent, a notebook, a tea sampler, a wooden puzzle. Avoid perfume, sized clothing and anything with a double meaning that could embarrass someone in front of the team.
How do you set a Secret Santa budget?
The organiser announces one spending limit before the draw, low enough that nobody feels uncomfortable. A modest limit actually nudges people towards more personal gifts. Say upfront whether homemade gifts count: most groups are happy to allow them.
What should I buy if I do not know the person I drew?
Quietly ask a colleague who knows them about their tastes (tea or coffee, plants, reading), or look at what is on their desk. Failing that, pick a gift from the “Coworkers” variant: they are chosen to work without knowing the person.
How do you run a remote Secret Santa?
Do the draw online, collect a delivery address from each person and agree on a shared posting date. Open the gifts together on a video call, with everyone guessing their Secret Santa before reading the tag.