Secret Santa for roommates

Small group, small stakes

With three or four housemates, a draw is quick but easy to break. Two people can draw each other, which is odd if one is also the other's partner. Add rules if you have couples in the house. Hollyhush needs at least 3 people and checks that your rules still leave a valid draw.

A flat budget keeps it simple: $10 to $15 for students, $15 to $25 for working housemates. Say what it is, and make homemade or thrift gifts count.

The draw that cannot go wrong

1. Create the group on your phone and share the one link in the house chat.
2. Add a "can't draw" rule for couples.
3. Draw. The organizer cannot see the matches, so you can play too.
4. Set a swap date, such as the last night before people travel.
5. Remind people in the chat since Hollyhush does not send email reminders.

With only 3 people and a couple among them, a valid draw may not exist. Hollyhush tells you and you can drop the rule or add a fourth person.

Gifts that suit shared living

• Things for the kitchen: a good mug, a spice jar, a cutting board, a basic tool.
• Cozy and small: slippers, a candle if allowed, a blanket, tea.
• Experience gifts: a coupon for cooking dinner, a movie night pick, a clean bathroom day.
• Do not buy anything for the common area, since the whole house will use it. If you are still short of ideas, try Secret Santa gifts under $15.

How it fits with other traditions

Roommates often leave for the holidays, so the swap can be the "last dinner" of the term. Pair it with takeout, a movie, or a house holiday meal. If you also host a white elephant game with friends, run Secret Santa first and keep the white elephant gifts to a separate $10 to $15 budget.

If housemates are not all in, do the exchange for those who are, and offer a shared gift pool for those who skip.

Draw names for your house in about 10 seconds. Free and private. Create your group, free

Keep the peace

Do not use the exchange to settle chores or bills. Keep gifts kind and the stakes small. If someone cannot afford a gift, offer a "time" gift such as a home cooked meal. For more on dorm life, see Secret Santa for the college dorm, and for a wider crowd see Secret Santa for friends.