Guide
Secret Santa ideas for house shares (UK)
Easy, budget-friendly Secret Santa gifts for housemates – plus how to run a house share Secret Santa without the awkwardness.
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Secret Santa is the easiest way to do presents in a house share: one gift each, a fixed budget, and nobody spends December worrying about who to buy for. Here's how to run it, and ideas that suit most housemates.
How to run it
- Agree a budget. £10–£15 is common in house shares. Agree it in the group chat so nobody overspends.
- Draw names fairly. Use a free online name-drawing tool so nobody sees the list.
- Add a wishlist line. Ask everyone for one thing they'd like and one thing they wouldn't.
- Pick a date. Before the first person goes home for Christmas.
Ideas for any housemate
A labelled set of fridge storage tubs
Ends the "whose cheese is this?" debate for good.
A personalised mug
The house share classic – their name, an in-joke, or their favourite drink.
For their room
Battery fairy lights
Makes a small bedroom cosier, with nothing to fix to the wall.
A small desk plant
Real or artificial – a good artificial one is safer for anyone who forgets to water.
For the foodie
More ideas: Christmas gifts under £20 and our Christmas gift guide for renters.