Does anyone else dislike "Secret Santa" exchanges?

someone doesnt have any Christmas spirit

its just a bit of fun

x

I agree and have had this philosophy for most of my adult life. I see no point in exchanging gifts by 'drawing names' in any way. The people at my work have a $20.00 suggested amount. Why not just exchange the $20.00 bills?

The gifts between kids in school are usually just small $1.00 gifts and when I protested (when my son was younger and in public school) that it was silly, the response was "It's only a $1.00!" Well, multiply that by all the gifts that need to be bought, it does add up. I don't mind giving to a worthy charity, but hate to just throw money away.

I agree, the entire charade is pointless and out of control.

They have a secret Santa gift exchange at work, and I do not participate. Everyones financial situation is different so if I ended up getting an expresso machine while I only gave a christmas mug filled with chocolate (hypothetically speaking) I would just end up feeling cheap, even though it was all I could afford. Although I work in a grocery store with about 100 employees, my dept is only 6, and those are the only ones who will get my gift basket of candy and goodies. They are who I care about.

Nothing wrong with opting out for secret Santa exchanges.

Why don't you just opt out of being in the Secret Santa exchange. I know I have many of times because I think it is just a waste of money because the person who receives the gift normally just throws it away or doesn't even appreciate it. I fell let other participate if they want but as for me I don't want any part of a Secret Santa exchange.

I think it can be fun but it can get out of control. Like you said, sometimes you wind up with a silly gift or no gift at all from the person who picked your name. Sometimes, they want everyone to spend a set amount even though you can get really good gifts that don't cost near that much or are on sale for a less amount.

Some people feel that the amount is too high but they don't want to feel left out so they feel obligated to spend that much.

I am Wiccan,so I don't celebrate christmas,and I agree with most of you here. It has gotten out of control. It started out years ago,and was a good thing, meant to give to someone " less fortunate" than yourself.

i don't like it because i can find SOMETHING to do with what I get, but the idea of someone feeling sorry for me because i am poor, bothers me.

If I get a dollar store candle, great! I LOVE candles. A mug full of chocolate? Cool! another mug I can use and don't have to buy.

Dollar store gloves? My kids go thru them, sometimes and when they have mismatched ones,I use them.

But I agree,it has gotten out of control.

Halloween is less than a week away and already people have christmas stuff out. I find that the holidays ,for stores, are all about the MONEY! They skipped THANKSGIVING!

So, anyway, we don't do church, and we don't participate in Secret Santa. I let it be known, we don't believe in it.

Hmm... when times are hard on many families, I think the whole gift giving to random people needs to stop.

However, I like doing Secret Santas with my friends. Why buy a gift for 6 girls when you can buy one? It's just easier.

I actually like it. If our work does do it, then we get a piece of paper and we write what we want. It gets you in the christmas spirit. So if your 'santa' gets you what you want, why not like the gift if you need it? But I agree, if you get things that you do not want it is pointless.

If not that then you get to know other people, and possible become friends.

Yes.

And considering I dont indulge in Xmas gift activities it doesn't bother me that much.

If you rearrange the letters in his name,

you find that secret santa and satan are on and the same.

I find gift giving an often pointless charade. You just get crap you don't want or need.