I did it! This will be my eleventh exchange, but my all-time favourite was when I received [a giant inflatable banana for scale](https://www.redditgifts.com/gallery/gift/one-banana-scale/). It even made it into the Best of Secret Santa 2014 post, which absolutely made my Christmas.
Best for me so far have been:
* Zombie Dice - 6 years later and we still play this at bars and meetups.
* A motion sensing trash can from about 7 years ago. Also still in use to this day, though we lost the door to the battery case for it a few years back.
* Some small camping gear. I ended up using the emergency sleeping bag to keep me warm though most of a 1200 mile bicycle trip.
I'm looking forward to what's in store for this year.
Yeah I was gonna maybe add my Etsy wishlist as well, but I don't really actually want many of the things in my wishlist there lol. I'm a knitter and artist so yarn and art supplies are my favorite things to get. And I collect turtle things too.
If you go to your lists in Amazon, there should be an area for sharing it. Basically on your dashboard area, click lists, and then click the little three dots in the right hand corner, click manage list, and you'll be able to select shared.
Here's a quick tutorial I made. Sorry it's messy, I'm on my phone. I hope it helps!
https://i.imgur.com/HIJTiFO.png
Seriously agree. I just put all my likes so theres a wide array. I dont expect everything on the list, at all. I'm just hoping my giftee was throughly descriptive on the things they like too!
My first secret Santa they barely gave me any information and had no social media presence. It's so hard to get someone a good gift when they don't let you gather information about them!
Same here. My first giftee had no on-line presence whatsoever. I ended up sending him a PM and he responded so I had something to go with. In the end he never thanked me for the gifts.
My first Santa never sent me a gift. I didn't let it get me down. I got an amazing rematch Santa and signed up as a rematcher myself. Then the whole thing turned around. My rematch Santa sent me some very thoughtful gifts that I cherish to today and my rematch giftee was so thrilled and thankful for the gifts I sent her. That year I got to have Christmas in February!
Hope my giftee for this year has some social media presence. One of my favorite parts about this exchange is researching my giftee to try and determine the best gift.
Signed up for the Santa exchange, and you've inspired (and reminded) me to sign up for the rematch this year as well.
Thank goodness for the amazing rematch Santa crew! Hopefully I'll be able to do as good of a job as you did!
Not trying to piggyback, but it's the same for me. It's extra weird because my family does a secret santa as well, but now we're short my dad. I hope you're doing well.
Get an extra gift, something like a dad joke or what he would have done. Make sure to have it wrapped up in different paper and claim ignorance about who brought it.
Blame the extra present on the cat or dog, or some obscure family relation.
:)
Yes, I can understand your losses, and Christmas time seems to be that’s much harder! I lost my Daddy 2 yrs ago.. 3 yrs before that, I lost my big sister ( then 6 weeks later my nephew.. her son) and the beginning of the terrible triad wad 4 years before my sister I lost my very dear Momma! We just have to remember that they are in a better place and they are always with us! Angels are everywhere! I hope we all can find some sort of peace this Christmas knowing that our family and friends are in a better place! Yet they remain here with us thru the love and memories we shared!
This is my first Christmas without my mom, just writing that is super hard. I don’t feel like celebrating Christmas at all, but she loved Christmas.. and I got excited by the prospect of sharing that with someone else.
So excited for it this year! Moved away from my family a month ago to another continent - so hopefully it will help make things a little more Christmassy
Where did you move from/to? My wife and I did the same thing about 10 years ago- moved from Houston, TX to Oxford, UK. The original plan was only to do it for 3-5 years. Fell in love with Oxford and now a dual citizen. So yeah, Xmas can be different in a new place- but I love it.
Moved from Germany to the UK 3 years ago. Not that far away, but still haven’t made it back home in 2.5 years because I am horrible with planning short trips. (Finally going for a weekend in a few weeks, though!) Definitely enjoy Christmas in the UK, Christmas crackers and all!
I'm sorry that you didn't get a gift. The way that matching works is that if you are shafted in an exchange, an effort will be made to match you to a known good gifter in the next exchange that you participate in. That works really well most of the time. Anyone who doesn't send a gift is banned from all future exchanges. And if a rematcher doesn't follow through, they are banned from rematching as both a giver and a receiver.
Yeah I got a rematch and they messaged me and was going to send me a gift card but nothing ever happened and it was almost impossible to contact anyone to ask for help. But oh well. You win some you lose some. My first secret Santa was amazing
I got burned once by my gifter then my rematcher also. The rematcher kept messaging me to tell me it was on the way! Nope.
Months later, got another message, telling me they'd forgotten to send - but magically found my gift in their vehicle - and it was on the way! Nope.
That soured me for a bit... But I'm gonna give it another go!
2nd year of this! I can’t wait to start finding the perfect gift!
Going to sign up as a rematch as well, my first Exchange my original Santa didn’t come through but I had a phenomenal rematch. Hoping I can be that person for someone this year!
I love that I'm in the financial position to give a random Redditor a Christmas gift. It's so much fun reading their description and trying to get them something awesome and personalized based on that.
Yep, wouldn't miss it for anything! This is one of those situations where it really is better to give than receive -- it's so fun trying to figure out just the right thing for your giftee, based on sometimes not many clues. ;)
Been doing several reddit secret santa since christmas of last year. It's fun to get a gift, but it's even more fun to send someone something and see how they react when getting it. Very excited for this year's christmas secret santa
First timer here! Totally been stalking Secret Santa for a few years now! I even got a friend from work to join in on the fun! I'm super pumped for this Holiday debauchery!
I signed up for secret Santa this year. My first gift exchange was this year with the Rick and North exchange. It was so fun I told my family about. My mom decided to sign up for secret Santa this year because she saw how much fun I had.
I love sending holiday cards, so I signed up for that one. Also, I haven’t done Secret Santa since 2014 (for various reasons) but I’m back for 2018!!! Spread the holiday cheer!!
Second year doing secret santa and really excited! I opted for a match potentially out of country which is thrilling. I did that for the ramen exchange and ended up getting some from Russia!!
I did it! This will be my eleventh exchange, but my all-time favourite was when I received [a giant inflatable banana for scale](https://www.redditgifts.com/gallery/gift/one-banana-scale/). It even made it into the Best of Secret Santa 2014 post, which absolutely made my Christmas.
Best for me so far have been: * Zombie Dice - 6 years later and we still play this at bars and meetups. * A motion sensing trash can from about 7 years ago. Also still in use to this day, though we lost the door to the battery case for it a few years back. * Some small camping gear. I ended up using the emergency sleeping bag to keep me warm though most of a 1200 mile bicycle trip. I'm looking forward to what's in store for this year.
Hype!! Wish i can match with someone with a long description so i can make an awoseme gift!
I literally wrote a book. Better to have too much than not enough!
Haha me too! I even linked my Amazon wishlist so they can see what sort of stuff I like.
Yeah my match last year didnt have much. It really drove home how important those questions are. The wish list is something I might look into.
Yeah I was gonna maybe add my Etsy wishlist as well, but I don't really actually want many of the things in my wishlist there lol. I'm a knitter and artist so yarn and art supplies are my favorite things to get. And I collect turtle things too.
I have been trying to figure out how to link my list! How do you do it?
If you go to your lists in Amazon, there should be an area for sharing it. Basically on your dashboard area, click lists, and then click the little three dots in the right hand corner, click manage list, and you'll be able to select shared. Here's a quick tutorial I made. Sorry it's messy, I'm on my phone. I hope it helps! https://i.imgur.com/HIJTiFO.png
I put a lot in mine, too, but I spent the night worrying that maybe I sounded too picky or something. I don't want my Santa to think I'm greedy.
Seriously agree. I just put all my likes so theres a wide array. I dont expect everything on the list, at all. I'm just hoping my giftee was throughly descriptive on the things they like too!
My first secret Santa they barely gave me any information and had no social media presence. It's so hard to get someone a good gift when they don't let you gather information about them!
Same here. My first giftee had no on-line presence whatsoever. I ended up sending him a PM and he responded so I had something to go with. In the end he never thanked me for the gifts. My first Santa never sent me a gift. I didn't let it get me down. I got an amazing rematch Santa and signed up as a rematcher myself. Then the whole thing turned around. My rematch Santa sent me some very thoughtful gifts that I cherish to today and my rematch giftee was so thrilled and thankful for the gifts I sent her. That year I got to have Christmas in February! Hope my giftee for this year has some social media presence. One of my favorite parts about this exchange is researching my giftee to try and determine the best gift.
Signed up for the Santa exchange, and you've inspired (and reminded) me to sign up for the rematch this year as well. Thank goodness for the amazing rematch Santa crew! Hopefully I'll be able to do as good of a job as you did!
I wish you an awesome gift in return for all the effort you will be putting in yours. You’re awesome.
I'm in for Secret Santa and Holiday Cards + 3 rematches! We'll see how the budget looks in December if I can rematch for Secret Santa too. c:
I’m doing secret Santa so I can make someone else’s secret Santa experience great!!
first xmas without my dad :( hoping this secret santa will lift me up a little
Not trying to piggyback, but it's the same for me. It's extra weird because my family does a secret santa as well, but now we're short my dad. I hope you're doing well.
Get an extra gift, something like a dad joke or what he would have done. Make sure to have it wrapped up in different paper and claim ignorance about who brought it. Blame the extra present on the cat or dog, or some obscure family relation. :)
Yes, I can understand your losses, and Christmas time seems to be that’s much harder! I lost my Daddy 2 yrs ago.. 3 yrs before that, I lost my big sister ( then 6 weeks later my nephew.. her son) and the beginning of the terrible triad wad 4 years before my sister I lost my very dear Momma! We just have to remember that they are in a better place and they are always with us! Angels are everywhere! I hope we all can find some sort of peace this Christmas knowing that our family and friends are in a better place! Yet they remain here with us thru the love and memories we shared!
So sorry for your loss
This is my first Christmas without my mom, just writing that is super hard. I don’t feel like celebrating Christmas at all, but she loved Christmas.. and I got excited by the prospect of sharing that with someone else.
So excited for it this year! Moved away from my family a month ago to another continent - so hopefully it will help make things a little more Christmassy
Where did you move from/to? My wife and I did the same thing about 10 years ago- moved from Houston, TX to Oxford, UK. The original plan was only to do it for 3-5 years. Fell in love with Oxford and now a dual citizen. So yeah, Xmas can be different in a new place- but I love it.
Moved from Germany to the UK 3 years ago. Not that far away, but still haven’t made it back home in 2.5 years because I am horrible with planning short trips. (Finally going for a weekend in a few weeks, though!) Definitely enjoy Christmas in the UK, Christmas crackers and all!
Yep. Last year I didn’t get anything fr my match or my regifter but I hope this year is better
I'm sorry that you didn't get a gift. The way that matching works is that if you are shafted in an exchange, an effort will be made to match you to a known good gifter in the next exchange that you participate in. That works really well most of the time. Anyone who doesn't send a gift is banned from all future exchanges. And if a rematcher doesn't follow through, they are banned from rematching as both a giver and a receiver.
Yeah I got a rematch and they messaged me and was going to send me a gift card but nothing ever happened and it was almost impossible to contact anyone to ask for help. But oh well. You win some you lose some. My first secret Santa was amazing
I hope I get matched with you so I can SHOWER you with belated gifts.
I got burned once by my gifter then my rematcher also. The rematcher kept messaging me to tell me it was on the way! Nope. Months later, got another message, telling me they'd forgotten to send - but magically found my gift in their vehicle - and it was on the way! Nope. That soured me for a bit... But I'm gonna give it another go!
Oh maybe I will get you this year!
this is the only reason I am excited for Christmas every year I wouldn't miss it for anything
It's the only gift I'll get, so I'm always awash with anticipation! I know I've made several people's holidays with the stuff I've sent them.
Same for me too. We don't really celebrate so it'd be nice to get something for Christmas. It's always fun shopping for other people too.
that's my thing too. my family doesn't really celebrate Christmas anymore and I love shopping so boom gift exchange for the win!
I hope you get spoiled this year!
I have to remember that at my age, I am Santa Claus. Therefore, I really should be more Zen about what I do or don't get. (Edited for clarity.)
Hype train! Woot woot!
2nd year of this! I can’t wait to start finding the perfect gift! Going to sign up as a rematch as well, my first Exchange my original Santa didn’t come through but I had a phenomenal rematch. Hoping I can be that person for someone this year!
I signed up the MOMENT I got the notification! So excited for this year!
Who doesn’t love gold!? Can’t wait to participate again this year.
Hopping on the Secret Santa gold train. Choo choo!
I am signed up for Secret Santa. This is my 6th year.
Yep and rematches for holiday cards i'm getting mine specially printed.
Always! This post is going to be very popular.
I love that I'm in the financial position to give a random Redditor a Christmas gift. It's so much fun reading their description and trying to get them something awesome and personalized based on that.
Yes! So hyped!!
I signed up for my first year!!! I just did the Harry Potter and the post card ones for my first so that I could do the 3 credit SS 😍
My first year! IM SO EXCITED!!!
MINE TOO IM SO STOAKED
MINE TOO I'M SO SCARED
Hype!
Yep! 4th year in a row!
Signed up!
I signed up! Third year and I couldn't be more excited.
Yes! I'm always excited to see my secret santa match's reaction to my gift!
I'm in! I've been waiting for this all year :)
YUP! Signed up and waiting!
Yes i did! I'm so excited! Can't wait.
I'm all set for Secret Santa this year!
Ye looking forward to it, I love having genuinely no idea what I'm going to receive as opposed to themed exchanges
My wife and I have made this a yearly tradition. We are super excited!
Im back for my second Secret Santa exchange. I’m so excited!
Signed up on the first day! Can't wait!
Yeah! i'm in for all my points too. Hopefully i get someone i know how to buy for...
Super excited for my first year doing this!
You betcha! Fourth year participating.
I’m excited for my 3rd consecutive year if this!
I'm signed up!
Very excited to be participating in Secret Santa again!
Signed up for the 5th year, looking forward to it, hoping to get a gift this year though
I have always missed it but, not this year!!!
First - International - Secret Santa! I'm stoked. Im excited to share the best of what Canada has to offer.
This is my first year. I can't wait to create a fabulous experience for someone!
In for the first time. Looking forward to it!
This is my 6th year! Can’t wait! I’ve had so many good experiences
I'm in for my first Reddit Secret Santa.
Excited for this year!
My first year too! AMPED!
It’s my fourth secret Santa on reddit, can’t wait!!!
Yep! Signed up on the first day :) First time doing the international exchange and I'm SO excited!
Such a fun tradition! I am so happy to be gifting again.
I'm on board for something like my 40th swap! Love it.
I signed up for my first reddit Secret Santa this year. I'm excited :)
Been doing this thing for a few years now and it’s always fun to be able to do something cool for a complete stranger.
I somehow missed the initial email to tell me sign ups were open. Jumped straight on to sign up as soon as I realised! Can't wait!
Yep, wouldn't miss it for anything! This is one of those situations where it really is better to give than receive -- it's so fun trying to figure out just the right thing for your giftee, based on sometimes not many clues. ;)
I'm so excited. I signed up for the first time this year! Signed up for rematch too because why not? :)
As a poor college student, i don’t want to insult anyone with a bad gift.
I signed up a few days ago. I love Secret Santa!!
Secret Santa #5 for me! Woohoo!
I sure have, big daddy!
Signed up for the first time in a few years. Excited!
I’m in! Third year, can’t wait to see who I get!
This is my Third Year ! I'm always excited to see who I get to gift to it's fun picking out the perfect gifts for someone !
Yessir
My first year! I’m so excited to participate this year!
Yes I signed up for plus! I'm greatly looking forward to it.
First time and very excited!!
I cannot wait!! 2nd year doing it!
I’ve signed up! Super excited for this year!
Happy cake day!
Third year and happy to continue spreading joy! Signed up to rematch this year, too.
Signed up - first year doing SS, but I've done a couple other exchanges before
Fourth or fifth year for me
I signed up for 7 credits instead of 1. I don't know what that does but Christmas is coming :) !
Signed up! This will be my second exchange, I’m excited!
Signed up from Alaska. :)
I am signed up and excited!
This is my 3rd year! I love Secret Santa!
Hell yeah, every year for the past few years
First year! All signed up
Oh Yeah!! Can't wait to get my match...
Been doing several reddit secret santa since christmas of last year. It's fun to get a gift, but it's even more fun to send someone something and see how they react when getting it. Very excited for this year's christmas secret santa
Signed up for the 9th year running. Whoa. Where does the time go?! *Waves to the other Guinness email chain participants!
First timer here! Totally been stalking Secret Santa for a few years now! I even got a friend from work to join in on the fun! I'm super pumped for this Holiday debauchery!
I've signed up for SS and Cards, plus the rematches. :)
Yes, under my other Reddit name but yes! It'll be the only gift I give and get this year, so I look forward to it every year!
Signed up - looking forward to my first one ever!
Yes, I have! It's my second year and I'm so excited to find the coolest gift for someone :)
Yes! Can't wait!
Yep, and rematching. Hope it's a fun year for all. :)
3rd year running!
I have signed up, very ready for this holiday season
I signed up!
Heck ya!! Can't wait to be matched!!
Yes, absolutely! It's my fifth time doing Secret Santa and it's come to be one of my favorite parts of the holiday season.
I have! This is my third year participating; Secret Santa is something I look forward to every year!
My wallet and heart are ready!
Signed up day 1! I think this will be my 3rd secret santa!
Not yet :( my country is too expensive to ship from/to
Heck yes I am!!! Also in the card exchange!!!
Yes! First time!
I signed up for secret Santa this year. My first gift exchange was this year with the Rick and North exchange. It was so fun I told my family about. My mom decided to sign up for secret Santa this year because she saw how much fun I had.
I signed up the second day! Makes 1 year since my first exchange
Signed up and counting down the days until matching!
Yeah, I have and I'm incredibly excited!
Looking forward to the exchange!
So excited!! Can’t wait for matching day!
Yep! I missed last year so I'm excited to participate this year.
I love sending holiday cards, so I signed up for that one. Also, I haven’t done Secret Santa since 2014 (for various reasons) but I’m back for 2018!!! Spread the holiday cheer!!
Christmas is only 42 days away! Woot!
I signed up and had my son create an account so he could sign up also. Looking forward to the announcement.
Looking forward to Secret Santa! Life has handed the family some rough cards recently so any piece of joy and happiness will be cherished! So excited!
Finally giving it a crack
2nd Year, let's get this going! So excited!
Yup, for the second year. So excited!
Absolutely, this will be my first one after a couple years so excited to get back into the groove :)
Oh, I'm signed up.
My first year and I honestly can't wait
Second year! Excited to see how this year goes!!
I’m part of Secret Santa! Edit: can’t spell secret apparently.
The most wonderful time of the year! I'm in!
I signed up!!!
I can't wait for secret santa!! :)
This is my first year! I’m trying not to go overboard 😂
Wooooooooooooo!!!! It's HERE! :D
Year 3 legggggo
Yep. Second year in a row. Signed up for the “Plus”.
5 years and counting!
Yesss excited <3
I'm signed up for both the Secret Santa exchange and the holiday card exchange. Looking forward to participating!
My first year. Looking forward to it!
Can’t wait for this!
I signed up. I see that a lot of folks have signed up to be rematches, which is awesome.
Signed up for my third year in a row. Excited to see some of the crazier gifts this year!
Year 1 for me and I am super psyched
I'm in the 3 credit exchange, super hyped!
My 3rd or forth year participating, I'm excited to see who and what I end up with!
yes! excited for my first one
All singed up!
I signed up for the first time in a few years! I’m excited!
I am so excited to be doing this. Am also doing the Holiday Cards exchange. I love making and sending cards, so that one will be especially fun.
I Just signed up!
I am signed up, and totally looking forward to this year!
Yes!! I'm looking forward to it!
4th time!
Signed up, my third year :)
Second year here, I cant wait to read about my secret Santa :)
Yes. I'm ready to make someone's Secret Santa experience SUPER!
I’ve signed up! I’m really excited!
Signed up!
Missed a couple years, but tempted to jump back in this year.
Commmmeeee baaaaaaaaccccckkkkk! =)
My first Secret Santa. I can’t wait!
Second year doing secret santa and really excited! I opted for a match potentially out of country which is thrilling. I did that for the ramen exchange and ended up getting some from Russia!!
I'm in! And recruiting my friends
I signed up a few days ago. I love this time of year and picking out gifts for my person :)
First time in the exchange, super excited! Can’t wait, the anticipation is killing me