In my family, we’ve never had a Secret Santa set up. I’ve purchased gifts for every family member attending our Christmas gathering. It can definitely add up financially, but it can also be a great reward to see each person’s reaction when they open my gift.
Now that I’m married and part of a new family, I’ve learned that not every family approaches present giving this way. In my husband’s family, they do the secret Santa thing.
The hubs and I have questioned the other family’s way. I’m used to buying for all, he’s used to buying for a certain few. So which way is better?
I can see the PROS and CONS of each.
With Secret Santa, you can spend more money on the individual person whose name you’ve selected. But on the flipside, what if you see something perfect for your sister-in-law but can’t buy it because she’s not the one on your list?
Secret Santa can be a huge cost saver. But if you exchange with each person, then you get to see more people have a reaction to a gift that you buy (I love that part!).
In the end, it’s about family history and personal preference. If you do marry into a family like mine that buys for everyone and you disagree with how costly that can be, a great solution is giving a personalized and inexpensive gift to each person such as a framed photograph. Or suggesting that all gifts purchased be under a certain dollar amount.
What does your family do?
