25+ Secret Santa recipients who wish they hadn't swapped presents: 'Bought someone $25 worth of chocolate... received a cabbage'

Author image for Remy Millisky
Remy Millisky • Writer and Editor
Dec 23, 2024 11:00 AM EST

They say gift-giving is an art, and these people are no artists. 

Imagine the excitement of waiting to give your loved one a gift you know they're going to adore. There's nothing like watching your favorite cousin's eyes light up as they unwrap a copy of that movie they can't stop talking about. It just gives you the warm and fuzzies to watch as your Mom opens a new coffee mug that she keeps gushing over, or when Dad unwraps a new hat that he'll be able to wear all the time. And getting presents is just as fun, if not more fun, for most people. 

Then again, some folks just want to get through the holiday season as fast as possible. There's a gathering coming up? Uh…uh… just throw together some random junk from around the house and call that a gift! Sure, that'll fool them? No, actually, people aren't fooled when you show up to a Secret Santa gift exchange with a random pair of socks or a shirt you found in the back of your closet. There are a lot of people who gave much worse things than that, which you can read all about down below. 

After that, have a laugh at some chaotic Christmas trees, melty menorahs, and other holiday mishaps, like one person who is steamed that "Someone stole my $400 Christmas tree." 

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    Cheezburger Image 10444866048
    via freestocks on Unsplash+

    This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 02
    Secret Santas of Reddit, whats the worst trade deal in the history of trade deals, maybe ever?
    via u/greenbagmaria
  • 03
    Springthespring Bought someone £20 worth of chocolate (general limit is a fiver). Received a cabbage. They proceeded to ask for the cabbage back
    via u/Springthespring
  • 04
    Ninjanese I did a secret Santa with a club at my school. The budget was around $35. For my person, I went all out and basically got them a bunch of items they wanted and listed down on their paper.
    via u/Ninjanese
  • 05
    The person who had me gave me a takeout box filled with broken cookies. Worst part, those cookies were leftovers that she took back home from our Thanksgiving party we had a few weeks ago...
    via u/Ninjanese
  • 06
    Blisteredhobo I found a lego christmas set, still in box, from the year the giftee was born. They collected lego, and mentioned that sometimes they just collect them in box and keep them MIB, so I thought it would be a fun gift. Miraculously managed to stay under budget, except for shipping.
    via u/Blisteredhobo
  • 07
    They also managed to get me, and didn't get me anything. It would have been forgettable, except they kept bringing it up every week or so, until they finally 'bought me lunch' by bringing in an energy drink and a bag of chips.
    via u/Blisteredhobo
  • 08
    itellteacherstori... At one of the schools I used to work at, it was basically. tradition that you participated in Secret Santa, both staff and students. But the main thing was that this school apparently "transcended the boundaries" or some deep quote sh, because you could be matched with anyone. Teachers with students, students with
    via u/itellteacherstories
  • 09
    students, students with the janitor, anything. So, for 3. years I got students I didn't even know, and got them stuff based on asking around. One year, I got matched with a student in one of my 11th grade classes. Score, the kid was a known HUGE Pokémon fan. After a week of prodding around, listening in on conversations in class and walking by during
    via u/itellteacherstories
  • 10
    breaks, I finally heard him telling a friend that he really wanted a ditto plushie. Boom, it was within our set budget (30$) so I got it. The kid was ecstatic. I got a bottle of "Liquid A Spray".
    via u/itellteacherstories
  • 11
    t... I have a friend who is terrible at gift giving. He is so absent minded and last minute about things like this, and also refuses to care about 'materialistic things! Which good for him, but if you're participating in a SS you are supposed to be thoughtful to your giftee. It's not about you. Anyway.
    via u/targayenprincess
  • 12
    The first time we run SS, he gifts his giftee a full boiled egg. The worst part is he passed it to her prior to be gift exchange so she ate it (while waiting for dinner) and only found out later that was her "gift". The second year he gave his giftee a book in a language she doesn't read. It was most certainly a book he plucked off his shelf.
    via u/targayenprincess
  • 13
    The third year, he gave her a coffee tasting experience (his friend owns a cafe). She doesn't drink coffee. This year.... we'll see. We've all warned him to put effort etc. Edit for clarity: The first year is a different girl. Second and third year is the same girl. The allocation is randomised. This is a close friend group, not office
    via u/targayenprincess
  • 14
    workers. He's a good friend outside of this gift giving debacle.
    via u/targayenprincess
  • 15
    PM_Skunk Place where I used to work did one of those gift giving games where you either got to pick a new present or steal one from someone else. It was a hideous idea, but all the presents were just goofy little things. I had the last number, so basically my pick of any gift. Right from the early stages, I joked that I'd be taking the
    via u/PM_Skunk
  • 16
    "dogs playing poker" serving tray. People kept stealing it back and forth, it became a running joke throughout the whole game. When it got to the end, I did exactly as I said and went and took the box that had the serving tray in it. That person got up and picked whatever the last remaining gift was, seemed satisfied.
    via u/PM_Skunk
  • 17
    Later, after they'd left the party, I went to open the box with the serving tray in it and found our they'd only given me the empty box, had hidden the tray in their coat, and taken two presents. Even the next workday after the party, that person was all like, "hahaha! got you! you got an empty box, dumbass!"
    via u/PM_Skunk
  • 18
    DIGGYRULES The school where i teach does Secret Santa every year. I quit participating after about 5 years. For 5 years in a row, I bought thoughtful gifts for my recipient, based on what they put on their list of likes/not likes. For 5 years
    via u/DIGGYRULES
  • 19
    in a row, the person who got my name totally got me NOTHING. I freaking hate this. It's voluntary. Why the h I participate if you're not going to participate???
    via u/DIGGYRULES
  • 20
    Wontonnoodles... It was a $20 CAD budget and my recipient asked for earrings. I spent the day in my downtown area looking at shops before settling on a pair I was cut a good deal on. It cost me $19.99 before tax.
    via u/Wontonnoodles98
  • 21
    I asked for a set of pens. Nothing fancy, just a set of pens I needed for school. I got a $2 Daiso turkey Christmas hatl wouldn't be caught de d in and a package of toilet paper my secret Santa probably just straight got from her bathroom cupboard.
    via u/Wontonnoodles98
  • 22
    slipperyjim8 I did reddit secret santa. Bought a gift for someone. Sent it. other person said they sent one. Never got it. Signed up for the get- another-gift-cus-l-never- got-one group. They said they sent it. Never got it. I don't do reddit secret santa any more.
    via u/slipperyjim8
  • 23
    domcobbstotem When I was around age 5, our babysitter did a secret Santa for all of the kids. I gifted my secret Santa a Barbie doll. Mine gave me coupons for Hardee's, which is a fast food restaurant, where her mom was the manager. Not even for a free burger, it was like $1 off of a
    via u/domcobbstotem
  • 24
    burger. At 5-years-old, I was not buying my own food. I cried while watching the others play with their cool toys. This was the worst gift in my history of receiving gifts.
    via u/domcobbstotem
  • 25
    A.. In high school we did secret santas. One year the quirky boy in the group had me. He didnt have the gifts on hand the day we exchanged, so I was literally sitting there at lunch giftless while everyone opened theirs. He brought mine in a week later
    via u/Aruraa
  • 26
    and it was basically an assortment of Christmas home decor: a santa ornament, some weird crucifix, and I forget what else. It occurred to me years later that he probably couldn't afford an actual gift.
    via u/Aruraa
  • 27
    [deleted] Probably over ten years ago now, in middle school, I coordinated a secret Santa in my friend group. So of course I went hard af and got my secret santa a great gift (within the budget limit- around $15 iirc) The time comes to swap gifts, and one girl announces she got everyone a small something- I can't remember exactly what but I think it was like a
    via u/[deleted]
  • 28
    small pencil and notepad (probably about $1 each.) I thought that was sweet. Turns out she had me for secret Santa, and didn't get me anything bedsides what she also gave to everyone else, so essentially I got nothing. I don't actually care, I'm just floored at how clueless some people can be. Never coordinated a SS again though.
    via u/[deleted]
  • 29
    shinyhappycat I spent a long time thinking. up something for my work secret santa. She was a bit odd, a bit quirky, but I knew she loved these weird doll things so I found her one - and some accessories to go with it.
    via u/shinyhappycat
  • 30
    She gave me some paper napkin rings her son (age 4) made at school. We had a £20 budget.
    via u/shinyhappycat
  • 31
    simplyatomic My exhusbands family always pulled names. His uncle got me and decided to not buy me anything. I had to sit while everyone else opened their gifts and try not to cry.
    via u/simplyatomic
  • 32
    lukedemay Gifted a 25$ Dunkin Donuts gift card (25$ limit on gift), person I exchanged with got me a 20$ gift card to Sonic with 7$ on the card. Still used that 7$ though.
    via u/lukedemay
  • 33
    Rogue Squadron We had a gift exchange several years ago between my wife's cousins and all of their significant others. The guy I was gifting for is a lot like me and is into board games and beer (among other things). I was able to find a game that normally ran for $75+ dollars on sale for $50 ($50 limit for our exchange). In addition, I made him a double growler
    via u/Rogue_Squadron
  • 34
    carrier using my woodworking tools and spare lumber in my garage, so practically free aside from my time investment of about 8 hours or so. It turned out pretty nice and professional looking and I was really proud of the overall gifts.
    via u/Rogue_Squadron
  • 35
    The person who was supposed to bring a gift for me ended up not showing up to the Xmas celebration and promised to send me a gift. After 5 years, I am beginning to think I won't be seeing that gift.
    via u/Rogue_Squadron
  • 36
    Jilltro Not reddit secret Santa, but one organizes through a Facebook group. I bought this guy a beautiful legend of Zelda print and he bought me a box of hot chocolate k cups from Aldis (I don't even have a keurig
    via u/Jilltro
  • 37
    Funnily enough I met him recently and he told me how much he loved my present and how he had it hanging up in his room. He asked me how I knew he liked Zelda and I said I looked at his Facebook page. There was a very long pause and he said “oh. . .i didn't think to do that for you. I hope you like hot chocolate." It was pretty funny, he wasn't a bad dude just completely clueless.
    via u/Jilltro
  • 38
    T... Was at a work white elephant. Saw a bunch of cool gifts pop up and rotate around. Alcohol, a breakfast set of special bowls, spoons and a variety pack of cereals, etc. Someone walks up midway through and opens a half eaten bag of chips. Like the person opened a bag of lays, realized they didn't have a gift, folded it shut and
    via u/Tsukasasoul
  • 39
    wrapped it in Christmas paper. The witch hunt lasted an hour with our boss chipping in $25 to the chip gift person. (They took it on purpose from the one who opened it)
    via u/Tsukasasoul
  • 40
    Edit: As pointed out, I'm bad at grammar. After the chip gift was opened a super chill dude in the office stepped up and "stole" the chips. This let the other person repick or steal, basically saving the event. At the end of the white elephant, our boss gave the dude with the chips $25 as thanks for being a stand up person.
    via u/Tsukasasoul
  • 41
    Musing_Moose In 5th grade my class played Santa is Mean and each person brought in one gift. For those of you who know, in Santa is Mean there is one difference; after choosing a present people that come after you can choose to take your gift and you'll have to get another one from the
    via u/Musing_Moose
  • 42
    pile. Long story short one kid brought in an empty tissue box that had some scribbles on it. I got that one after my original one was taken.
    via u/Musing_Moose
  • 43
    DatLanced Jack I participated in a Reddit Secret Santa. I received a t shirt that said "In Pizza We Trust" and was 3 sizes too big.
    via u/DatLancedJack
  • 44
    Breanna5395 In a Secret Santa in 7th grade, whoever got me forgot to bring a gift so the teacher gave me a student dictionary.
    via u/Breanna5395
  • 45
    Skydogsguitar I received a stolen Sears gift card about 10 years ago. Made for an embarrassing hassle with Loss Prevention at the cash register.
    via u/Skydogsguitar
  • 46
    Rapture Rising In year 4 we had a secret santa with a $2 minimum, $5 max and i got a 20c pad and paper, dumbarse didn't even take the price tag off. The entire class got cool gifts and i got a stationery.
    via u/Rapture Rising
  • 47
    1898smo The posts on Reddit secret santa made me drop $100 a couple years ago, kind of expecting something similar in return. I got one of those $8 shitty fleece throw blankets that are too small to be comfortable
    via u/1898smo
  • 48
    pm_ur_wifes_n... $50 worth of goods local to Michigan, plus shipping to Germany for a Amazon.de gift card worth €20. You can't buy anything there and ship it to the US for that much.
    via u/pm_ur_wifes_n****
  • 49
    [deleted] Not me, but this poor girl in Middle School band class got a giant bag with nothing in it but one, tiny clip-on earing. The teacher didn't even let her complain about it.
    via u/[deleted]
  • 50
    ic3manpw 20$ min 30 max when I was working my highschool job at McDonald's (located IN A WALMART) I gave a phone case to someone who just got the new blackberry storm! I got a pack of tank tops from the walmart, itchy and a size too small...
    via u/ic3manpw

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