The commencement of the often means the lengthening of to-do lists.

There are lights to hang, , and, of course, . Gift exchanges, whether theyB次元官网网址檙e among friends, family or co-workers, can be a fun way to get in the holiday spirit. But can also be another stressor during a busy time of year.

Secret Santa exchanges B次元官网网址� where participants are assigned a gift recipient and tasked with finding them a perfect present within a price limit B次元官网网址� sometimes mean that those in friend groups are paired with B次元官网网址渇renemies,B次元官网网址� someone inevitably draws themselves, or colleagues who are virtually strangers are matched up.

Those possible pitfalls inspired Peter Imburg to create , a free online Secret Santa organizer, after he saw the time and effort it took to coordinate the logistics of a gift exchange with his family over 20 years ago.

More top-down organization, he says, helps things run more smoothly.

Say goodbye to picking names from a hat

Elfster, for instance, creates pairings, asks for wish lists, offers gift suggestions at different price points and sends reminders, among other features meant to make the organizational hurdles of a gift exchange less daunting.

B次元官网网址淭he organizer is like the hero. They make it all happen,B次元官网网址� Imburg said, adding that his site aims B次元官网网址渢o make it a lot easier for the organizer to do that with a minimal amount of effort.B次元官网网址�

Reliable gift ideas

Cameron Rogers, a New Jersey-based social media content creator and on wellness and motherhood, understands the stress that gift exchanges can bring up.

B次元官网网址淗aving to give generic gifts to people IB次元官网网址檓 not necessarily close with is extremely difficult,B次元官网网址� Rogers said. B次元官网网址淚 can pick a good gift for my husband or my kids or my mom, but for people who I donB次元官网网址檛 know the ins and outs of their lives, I think itB次元官网网址檚 hard to pick something that you know theyB次元官网网址檙e actually going to enjoy.B次元官网网址�

She recently shared a on her social media channels, emphasizing how challenging it can be to find something within a set price range that will be well-received.

B次元官网网址� kitchen gadgets, home items or winter gear B次元官网网址� and gifts that have a personalized aspect like a monogram are good go-to options for anyone feeling lost after receiving their Secret Santa assignment, she said.

Imburg said the B次元官网网址済ift gurusB次元官网网址� at Elfster also have suggestions, especially for recipients who arenB次元官网网址檛 offering any clues as to what theyB次元官网网址檇 like. In a similar vein as Rogers, the Elfster team offered ideas for some practical gifts, like water bottles, blankets and massage guns. Other no-nonsense home and kitchen items, like food storage containers, charging stations and more are featured on the siteB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址淭op Trending Gift Ideas for 2024B次元官网网址� list.

Gift cards, although they are not particularly glamorous, are an essentially foolproof option, Rogers said, and they wonB次元官网网址檛 leave your recipient wondering where theyB次元官网网址檒l find room on their shelf for another mug or book.

B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 want to give someone something solely to check a box,B次元官网网址� Rogers said. B次元官网网址淚 want them to enjoy it, instead of being like, B次元官网网址榃hat do I do with this now?B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�

Embrace Secret Santa as a stress reliever, instead

Some gift-givers find that Secret Santa (and its many counterparts like White Elephant and Yankee Swap) actually cuts down on stress and spending, as itB次元官网网址檚 often done in place of giving individual presents to each member of a group.

Nicole Troiano of Cranston, Rhode Island, finds them to be a fun way to handle holidays with large groups B次元官网网址� even if co-workers may need to ask around to get specifics on their assigned person.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 fun to do it that way and think about something that would be good for that person,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淎nd then, when they open it, theyB次元官网网址檙e like, B次元官网网址極h my God!B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�

By the weekend after Thanksgiving, Troiano had already purchased and wrapped her gift for the exchange sheB次元官网网址檚 taking part in this year. After her swap, a lucky participant will be the new owner of a cutting board, two bottles of wine wearing bottle-size ugly sweaters, and gourmet chocolates.