Secret Santa Gift Ideas for Friends

Secret Santa gifts are usually small tokens of holiday cheer.

Secret Santa arrangements are a fun and creative way for a group of people to give each other gifts throughout the holiday season without knowing who the giver is until Christmas Day. These gifts tends to be inexpensive and whimsical, as more than one is expected to be given. Gifts are usually bestowed by a messenger who keeps the identity of the Secret Santa secret, which is only half the fun. Coming up with unique Secret Santa gift ideas is the rest.

Candy

Find out what your recipient's favorite candy is and buy several of that type to sneak into her purse or car during the Christmas season. While these should not be the only gifts you bestow as a Secret Santa, these yummy treats will surely bring a smile to her face. Consider affixing Christmas-themed notes to the candy with elusive hints about your identity, signing them only as "Your Secret Santa."

Ornaments

Secret Santa gift-giving usually occurs during the week leading up to Christmas, so season-themed decorations are a useful and smart choice. Scope out your local discount store for inexpensive ornaments and Christmas flair that your recipient can enjoy throughout the season. If you find a box of themed ornaments that can stand alone as gifts, consider giving one at a time over the course of several weeks, eventually culminating in the recipient having the entire set by Christmas Day.

The Gift of Time

Well, sort of. Timekeeping gifts such as calendars, daily planners and clocks are an easy choice that can often be whimsical, too. Calendar stores pop up during Christmastime, so you're bound to find the perfect theme for a monthly or tear-away calendar. Stationary-type calendars will be appreciated for organized types, especially as the new year approaches and old planners become outdated. For daily timekeeping gifts, fancy alarm clocks or colorful wristwatches can be a nice lasting gift that your recipient can use every day.

Useful Gifts

Since you want your Secret Santa recipient to appreciate you before they know who you are, consider giving gifts that are primarily functional in nature, such as pens, sticky notes, car deodorizers or a travel toothbrush. In fact, the "travel" section of most stores will offer a variety of Secret Santa-appropriate gifts at low prices, such as mini hair brushes, compact mirrors and vitamin cases. The key here is utility, and you can always spice up the gift wrapping with green and red flair for a Christmas touch.