Secret Santa Gifts. You love them, you hate them and you can’t for the life of you figure out what to get for your Secret Santa partner. Well, have no fear, clueless gift-givers. I’ve compiled a list of four of the very best (and most affordable) Secret Santa gifts!
- Personalized Starbucks Cup
This is my idea. I really like my own plastic reusable Starbucks cup that I got for only two dollars. I use it nearly every day, and I’ve put all my favorite stickers on it. It’s a perfect gift for your Secret Santa! It’s a great way to reduce plastic waste and it’s also nice to have a personalized cup with all my fun stickers on it! Plus, Starbucks will give you a 10-cent discount for a regular reusable cup, and 50 cents off a holiday beverage if you use one of their holiday cups. It’s easy to personalize the cup for your Secret Santa partner. Redbubble has hundreds of stickers you can order online, so you can choose a theme like their favorite TV show or just get some stickers based on things they like. You can also purchase some letter stickers for a low price and personalize the cup with their name.
- Finger-knit Scarf
No, I’m not talking about your Grandma’s handknit scarf. This is a much easier project than you can complete with just some yarn and your fingers. Finger-knitting instructions are easy to find online. My little brother once made one of these for one of his friends, and I thought it was sweet. He completed it in only a day, too! This is a great way to save money while still providing that handmade and personalized feel to your gift. Colorado Mesa University freshman, Elsie Lemon, said that she received a finger-knit scarf from one of her friends as a Secret Santa gift when she was younger and that it really meant a lot to her.
“It meant that my friend thought of this gift for a while. We were in fourth grade and she could have just [gone] to the dollar store and got something but she took time and made this scarf she knew I would love,” Lemon said.
- A Succulent
This is the perfect gift for anyone who loves plants. Succulents are the perfect plant for the winter months because they’re easy to maintain and take care of. They don’t die easily at all, because they don’t require a lot of water. According to freshman Cera Rowe, succulents are a great go-to decoration.
“I think they’re great gifts for people who love plants because they can be both indoor and outdoor and they’re very resilient. They don’t require too much and they make great decorations,” Rowe said.
They provide a fresh touch to any apartment, house, or dorm, and they’re nice to look at. Succulents are also very cheap (you can get them at Home Depot for less than $10) As for a pot, you can plant a succulent in pretty much any vessel that can hold dirt. Upcycle a soda can or an old cup, or you can buy a new pot for a low price in the home décor section of any store.
- An Adult Coloring Book
Adult coloring books are cheap, useful and amazing. Coloring books can be used for months or even years, and they’re usually available for under $10. Though it might not seem like the obvious choice, coloring books are perfect for everyone because not only are they fun to fill out, but they’re relaxing and therapeutic as well. In addition to that, there are so many different varieties and types of adult coloring books which makes them an ideal way to satisfy anyone’s interests. You can pair this gift with a package of colored pencils or gel pens if you feel like being extra fancy.
Despite all the great Secret Santa gift options out there, always remember that the most important aspect of any gift is not the gift itself, but the thought behind it. Freshman Mikayla Hererra said that the most important part of Secret Santa isn’t the gifts, it’s the act of thinking of others that really matters.
“The best part of receiving a Secret Santa gift is the thought put into the gift and the overall surprise,” Hererra said.
Gift-giving season isn’t a time for stress, it’s a time for love, joy and being considerate of others.
