Secret Santa questionnaire
· 2 min read
The questions worth asking before anyone buys anything. Copy them into a form, or run the exchange on Humbugg, where each person’s wish list covers them and the anonymous chat handles the rest.
The basics
- Favorite color, and a color you never wear
- Clothing size, shoe size, ring size if it is that kind of exchange
- Coffee, tea or hot chocolate
- Sweet or savory snacks
- Any allergies or foods you avoid
- Do you drink alcohol?
Tastes and hobbies
- What do you do on a free Saturday?
- A shop you could spend an hour in
- A book, show or film you loved this year
- A hobby you would like to try
- Indoor plant person, or not?
- Favorite scent for candles or soap, or none at all
- A sports team, band or author you follow
- Do you collect anything?
Practical gifts
- Something you use every day that is wearing out
- Something you keep meaning to buy for yourself
- Kitchen gadget: welcome, or clutter?
- Desk or home office item you would use
- Phone model, if accessories are fair game
Please avoid
- Gifts you already have too many of (mugs, scarves, socks)
- Anything that would not fit where you live
- Strong scents, glitter, or anything you are sensitive to
- Joke gifts, yes or no?
The questions you think of later
A form is filled in once, before anyone knows who they drew. The useful questions come afterwards: “you said books, have you read this one?” With paper, asking gives you away.
In Humbugg, each person’s wish list holds ideas with links and rough prices, likes and sizes, and things to avoid. After the draw, the giver can ask the recipient anything in an anonymous chat, and the recipient sees only “Your Secret Santa”.
Good to know
The answers are not secret, because whoever draws you needs them. What matters is that nobody learns who drew whom. On Humbugg, your wish list is private to you until the draw, and then only the person who drew you sees it.
Ten to fifteen questions get answered. Thirty get skimmed. Pick the ones that fit your group, and let the chat cover the rest.
Humbugg never says who is typing. Your recipient sees “Your Secret Santa” and never your name. What you write is up to you.
An exchange of up to 6 people, organizer included, is free, chat included. Bigger exchanges need Plus, which covers every exchange you organize for a year. Subscribe if you want it to renew automatically.