10 Gift Ideas Every Secret Santa Should Have Up His Sleeve

Be the perfect gift-giver this holiday season with these fabulous Secret Santa gift ideas!

Christmas is just around the corner, and with it comes the inevitable Secret Santa gift exchanges. But what exactly is a Secret Santa gift exchange? Well, just in case you've been living on Mars, a Secret Santa gift exchange is generally used when a large group of people, such as coworkers, large families or a group of friends, wish to exchange gifts. Everyone's name is written down and thrown into a hat, and then each person draws a name. The name you draw is the person you will anonymously give a gift to. There is also usually a price cap attached to the gift exchange.

There are lots of great ideas for Secret Santa gifts. It's more helpful if you know something about the person you're gifting, but even if you don't there are still lots of things you can give. And unless you really know the person well, it's best to stay away from gag gifts. Just because you have a phenomenal sense of humor doesn't mean everyone does!

Chocolates
A universally appreciated gift, chocolate works equally well as a gift for someone with a sweet tooth or someone you don't know very well. Choose a nice box from Godiva, Ghirardelli, Lindt or any other quality chocolatier.

Gift Cards
Repeat after me: everyone loves a gift card. Walmart. Target. iTunes. Starbucks. Barnes & Noble. You get the idea.

Music CDs
Know the recipient's favorite musical group? Purchase their newest CD and your gift will be a hit.

Holiday Decorations
What better choice than something for the holiday itself! Tree ornaments, table decorations, plates, snow globes - they all make great Secret Santa gifts.

Desk Accessories
From stationery and nice pens to mouse pads and drink warmers, there's an abundance of desk items you can give that will be appreciated every day - well, at least Monday thru Friday!

Plants
A desk plant or house plant is a gift that will always remind the recipient of you, and let's face it, they're just nice to have around. Make sure you give it so someone who will actually take the time to take care of it, though!

Theme Baskets
You can create theme baskets based on a variety of different interests. For instance, if the recipient is a movie buff, you can create a 'Movie Basket' with popcorn, candy, soda and a gift card to a movie rental store. If the recipient is a woman who likes to be pampered, create a 'Spa Basket' using body lotion, bath salts and manicure/pedicure tools.

Office Art
Inspirational plaques, photo frames and such make delightful gifts, especially for coworkers. If this is the route you'd like to take, be sure to pay attention to their personal style before you go shopping.

Hobbies
Will you be playing Santa for an avid golfer? Give them some golf tees, balls or a golf towel. Or maybe they like to garden. Check out garden centers for the latest in garden gadgetry.

Games
Who among us doesn't appreciate a good game! Classic board games or hand-held electronic versions of favorite games such as Yahtzee make fun surprises and lead to hours of fun.

Be the best Secret Santa ever by using the gift guide above to help you choose the perfect gift for this year's exchange.