How to Shop for Secret Santa Gifts

Having problems shopping for someone you barely know? How do you pick a limit to spend on this person? What should you get this person? How much time should be between picking a name and recieving a gift? Why is it a good idea to exchange gifts with just one person?

Once you pick a name out of the hat/bag, you should do the following:

Time.
Don't decide to do secret santa gifts at the last minute. Give everyone at least a week-two weeks before the deadline. That way, people will have more time to figure out what they want to get someone. If people are rushed, they are more likely to get a cheaper gift, without even giving it any thoughts.

Money: pick a spending limit.
Before you start shopping, have the group agree on a specific amount of money. The amounts can range from $5-15. The minimum amount of money must be spent on that person. You can go above the range, if you'd like, but it's up to you.

Find Out What The Person Likes.
There are many ways to find out what someone likes, but it's a good idea to do it indirectly, so the person doesn't find out who their secret santa is.
If a person has facebook, myspace, or xanga, there is an option for people to list their hobbies, likes & dislikes. People tend to write a lot about themselves, so this is where you find out random information that will definitely be helpful. If someone doesn't have one of those sites, ask mutual friends, or find out from somebody who knows something about them. A mutual friend can always ask questions for you, as well. Another good idea is to fill out a sheet of paper with everyone's names, and then they can list two or three things that they like, or their hobbies.