Free and Budget-Friendly Secret Santa Ideas

Do not sacrifice your Secret Santa gift exchange just because money is tight. Here are some free and budget friendly Secret Santa ideas.

#1 Strange and Free Secret Santa Idea

Weirdest Found Item Secret Santa Game

Rules: Everyone tries to find the strangest present to give as their secret Santa gift. No one is allowed to spend any money. It is similar to a white elephant gift exchange except the secret Santa looks for something extremely bizarre.

The hunt for strange items is as fun as seeing what the other secret Santas found. This secret Santa game forces people not to spend money and everyone in the group will feel included. Weirdest Found Item Secret Santa game can be played amongst friends or as an office secret Santa.

Secret Santa gift ideas for the Weirdest Found Item Secret Santa exchange include antlers, a 70s leisure suit, and anything that was sold as seen on TV.

#2 Fun and Budget Friendly Secret Santa Idea

Under $5 Secret Santa Game

Rules: Everyone is restricted to $5 for their secret Santa gift. Encourage people to go to thrift stores and hunt for unique secret Santa presents. In any secret Santa exchange you will have the people who just buy ordinary gifts. You can motivate people to make it a treasure hunt by awarding a prize to the secret Santa that gets the most votes for the most peculiar secret Santa gift. This secret Santa gift exchange idea is also great for friends and the at the workplace.

Secret Santa gift ideas for the Under $5 Secret Santa Game include unique glassware from a thrift shop, unusual and hard to find food item, and a collection of strange items from the dollar store.

#3 Odd and Disturbing Secret Santa Idea

Free and Freaky Secret Santa Game

Rules: This game is probably best played amongst friends and not in the office. The point of the game is to make the weirdest, most disturbing secret Santa gift out of free items. There are no restrictions as to where any of the items come from as long as they were free. If inclined, you can look through your neighbors' trash to find parts for your homemade secret Santa present. If you intend to do this I recommend waiting until dark and wearing black. This game really forces the secret Santas to get creative.

Variations on the Odd and Disturbing Secret Santa Game include: Most Artistic Secret Santa Game, Only Trash Secret Santa Game, and the From Famous People Secret Santa Game.

Sources:
Personal Experience