Secret Santa Budget Etiquette - Actual Price Vs. RRP

CarpalTunnel on 15/12/2018 - 12:51
Last edited 15/12/2018 - 17:07

As many workplaces, clubs etc. have, we have a Secret Santa coming up.

$20 present to bring along to the Christmas Dinner. Not addressed to anyone, will be put in a pile and raffle ticket randomised who gets what.

Now was having a discussion with the missus about the ettiquete of the budget in the sense what does the $20 represent - the item(s) regular retail price OR the price that we actually paid for it.

An example here is a nice fragrence diffuser set that normally sells for $20, but the department store had it half price, so it was on special for $10. I've seen the item for $20 most days of the year previously (e.g. it's not some bs inflatted RRP like some stores have that are always on sale).

Thus the question is, if it's a $20 Secret Santa present that you need to buy, does the $20 represent:
- The ordinary daily price for the item
- The price you actually paid for the item (post any discount).
- or if you're very 'frugal' It represents the upper limit, so buy whatever you want at any pricepoint below it

Side note: Yes, the gift will be 'annonymous', but I'm after what the 'right' thing to do is - sure you could in theory just gift wrap a slab of tim tams. Also, I believe it's a "$20 gift" and not a "Gift under $20" that we need to bring.

Personally I’m in the $20 is what you spent even if rrp is $40 camp - just wanting to know how the community feels

Poll Options

  • 45
    $20 represents the ordinary price for the item in store
  • 188
    $20 represents the amount you actually paid for the item (after any discount)
  • 9
    $20 represents the max price so any gift is fair game that's under it
General Discussion

Comments

  • rompastompa on 15/12/2018 - 12:53
    +4

    The important questions in life..

    Do you want to give the best gift? or are you forced to join? That'll answer your question..

    • Kangal on 15/12/2018 - 21:00
      +1

      If we're talking about which item gives the most pleasure, then surely sex toys must be high upon the Secret Santa list

      • rompastompa on 15/12/2018 - 21:48

        one mans pleasure is another ones pain?

        wait.. that doesn't sound right.. or does it :O

  • dcep on 15/12/2018 - 12:56
    +4

    "but I'm after what the 'right' thing to do is"

    $20 represents the amount you actually paid for the item (after any discount)

  • Downvoter on 15/12/2018 - 13:05
    +28

    Just spend $20 ffs

    • Iamnotcheap on 15/12/2018 - 13:16
      +1

      ^this. It’s $20.

    • CarpalTunnel on 15/12/2018 - 17:10
      +1

      The dinner itself is over $50. I don’t mind spending $20for the present by any means. Just curious how others view it

      • Seedy seed on 15/12/2018 - 17:32
        +2

        We view it that your being to tight. Ours is $15, i got 12 presents, wrapped seperate then wrapped em in 1 parcel 😂

  • Ace Ventura on 15/12/2018 - 13:19
    +3

    Reads more like your being a tighta….. I mean Ozbargainer and want to get away with spending only $10.

  • Gandalf the Thrifty on 15/12/2018 - 14:00

    It should be acceptable to provide $20 item that you actually paid $10 for. But if want to be nicer, get an item that paid ~$20 for but worth more.

  • josetann on 15/12/2018 - 14:18
    +1

    If the giver is anonymous, then you get no bonus points for buying a better gift. Just get the $20 gift for $10 and be done with it.

    If the giver is not anonymous, then you'll make others feel bad since the gift you bought is worth more than theirs. Just get the $20 gift for $10 and be done with it.

    Ignore RRP, I'd go by the price it was for 75% of the year.

    One exception would be if you might need to give them a receipt (i.e. an electric razor that might break, or your friends/relatives are the type that would ask for a receipt to exchange something they didn't like vs regifting). In which case I'd just take the item back from them and hand them $20 cash, explaining that since I paid with a credit card the refund would go back on my card anyway.

    Yeah, maybe I overthink things, but why the heck would I try to save a few bucks buying stuff on clearance, if "etiquette" states that it's the dollar amount spent, not the value? I'll just stop by BigW on the way, buy whatever crap for $20, tape the receipt on it, and call it a day. The $50 present I paid $10 for can go to someone who'll appreciate it.

    • CarpalTunnel on 15/12/2018 - 17:20
      -1

      Thanks for the very articulate reply and explanation of your (seemingly minority) position. I guess what you’re suggesting is at the end of the day the $20 gift is that price > 75% of the year, so the receiver would feel like they got a $20 gift right (they have no way knowing you went to the store whilst there was a weekly special).

      Arguably if you got a $40 gift (that was bad price), might lead to some jealousy torwadds that person getting a “more expensive gift” than the other gift openers on the night? Or at the very least as you say you “don’t get bonus points” for the better gift.

      • josetann on 15/12/2018 - 17:38
        +1

        I find gift giving in general to be really stressful. I try to keep it as low key as possible, don't like making a big deal out of it, comparing who got what and how much, etc.

        You forgot that in the scenario where you buy the $40 gift for $20, it can look bad on YOU because you broke the rules ($20 was clearly stated, you disregarded the instructions just to make yourself look good). I mean, this can go a whole lot of ways, depends on the group of people. If it was a family tradition to go to an op shop and get the coolest thing you can find for $10…then spend $10! The more it's "worth", the better. If it's an office gift exchange with a set $20 value, then get something that people would reasonably expect cost $20.

        Just a random example here, I purchased some gift certificates for a local movie theatre for less than face value. Whenever we need a quick gift (last minute birthday party, shower at work, etc.), we grab a $20 gift card and call it a day. It doesn't matter whether we paid $1 or $19.99, the recipient gets a gift valued at $20 and so far no one's asked how much we paid for it.

        • pais on 15/12/2018 - 18:52
          +3

          you disregarded the instructions just to make yourself look good

          If you paid 20 bucks, you haven't disregarded the rules - you've adhered to them.

          You guys would all be shit people to do KK with. Spend the $20!

          • josetann on 15/12/2018 - 19:00

            @pais: Well, YOU know that you only spent $20. But unless you immediately scream out "I ONLY PAID $20 FOR THAT $40 BOTTLE OF PERFUME!", people may (will) assume otherwise.

            Like I said, it depends on the group of people. I've heard no complaints, though if they whisper quietly enough I guess I wouldn't hear them anyway.

  • [Deactivated] on 15/12/2018 - 14:25
    +4

    Just don't leave the NQR receipt in the bag.

    • CarpalTunnel on 15/12/2018 - 17:22

      Or the sale sticker on the box either hehe (I always worry I might have forgotten to rip it off)

      • josetann on 15/12/2018 - 17:44
        +1

        Leave the retail sticker on, but peel off the op shop tag. Bonus points if you make a "token" attempt to mark out the retail price, where it's still very clearly legible. Not that I have any experience in this….

  • peterpeterpumpkin on 15/12/2018 - 15:24
    +2

    I'm gonna go against the grain here. I think it's stupid to even give a monetary value to a Secret Santa.

    I've given and received a few Secret Santa gifts in my time and I can assure you that none of the gifts I received were necessary in my life and at best could allow some redundancy with the kitchen essentials I already owned. Not much of a gift for a minimalist like myself. I honestly would have found more use from a single-use plastic bag…

    One of my workplaces had randomly assigned Secret Santas. There was no monetary value assigned and it was a lot more fun in designing a gift (yes, you could actually be creative and thoughtful). But it's much more likely to result in what may be perceived as bullying.

    I'm not much of a fan of receiving gifts in general. No, I'd prefer if you quit drinking and gambling and stopped complaining all the time about how broke you are…

    Bah, humbug!

  • bluesky on 15/12/2018 - 16:25
    +1

    My interpretation is - it is the amount you paid after discount, as close to $20.

    Years ago, Secret Santa among friends, the amount also happened to be $20. I gave a wine which I paid a bit over $20 after good discount – so RRP was much more than $20. It made me happy, that whoever got my gift would be pleased too. Turned out most people stuck with gifts way below $20 (like $10).

    The person who got my gift was pleased indeed. But the downer was, the recipient automatically turned to a richer friend (only a few there likely to give wines, and I was the least well-off) saying it must be from him and thanked him. I was a bit miffed – why would anyone automatically assume that the richer person would be the more generous one?

    • CarpalTunnel on 15/12/2018 - 17:28
      +1

      Yeah I always think the $20 is the “TARGET” as opposed to a “MAX”

      But having most your friends submit $10 regular value gifts is miffing. Though funny you mention wines, given they often are over 60% off their RRP at your local bottle o - especially in the lower bracket - where this discussion would apply.

      • bluesky on 15/12/2018 - 18:21

        Actually, it did not bother me at all those friends chose to submit $10 gifts, even if I decided on the $20 mark, which seemed right to me. It was a season of giving, and about goodwill to the recipient - I had no expectation about receiving a gift of same value back. Whatever my friends chose and felt comfortable with would have been fine.

        No, the thing that I was miffed about (just momentarily) - was the recipient thanking the richer person, assuming he must have given the better gift. Implicit assumption was that richer people are more generous. Studies have shown the contrary, but it remains a widely-held misconception.

        • [Deactivated] on 15/12/2018 - 23:03

          Wait - what did the 'richer person' say when the giftee thanked them for your gift? Did they correct the person or accept the thank you under false pretenses? That's the part I want to know..

          • bluesky on 16/12/2018 - 00:41

            @[Deactivated]: He said nothing, so I guess he implicitly accepted the thanks.

            • [Deactivated] on 16/12/2018 - 01:37
              +3

              @bluesky: What a jerk. Sorry you experienced that :(

  • try2bhelpful on 15/12/2018 - 16:25
    +4

    The concept of the amount is so people get a feel for what sort of gift to bring. It doesn't have to cost $20 - it just means you don't go nuts and buy something too expensive or, contrarily, buy a roll of lollies. Personally, I dislike secret santa as it is just people buying junk for people who already have enough junk.

    One year we did a "secret santa" where we all put in money and then drew out three people's names and they got to donate the money in the pool to the charity of their choice. They got the tax benefit of the donation and the money went to causes that really needed it.

  • Quantumcat on 15/12/2018 - 16:36
    +4

    The game is really to get the nicest thing you can within the limit, so spend the $20 and try to get the best value for it.

  • AlienC on 15/12/2018 - 17:13

    What would you prefer to receive OP because whatever you say that is your answer.

    If unsure always pick the higher option unless you feeling cheapie then go the cheap option.. It doesn't matter in the end because whatever you pick Will be on you and your conscience and yours alone.. the question can be interpreted many ways whatever you choose will be up to you.

  • ChillBro on 15/12/2018 - 17:33
    -2

    Find any garbage item and place a $20 sticker on it.

  • Windows7forever on 15/12/2018 - 18:18
    +4

    Man, you're overthinking it.

  • JayM on 15/12/2018 - 20:46

    Completely free if you go Hard Rubbish dumpster diving like the OP in this post and find something good: https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/422749

  • blitz on 15/12/2018 - 21:15
    +2

    As many workplaces, clubs etc. have, we have a Secret Santa coming up.

    I've read enough. Bikies.

  • barbarella on 15/12/2018 - 21:30
    +1

    and on the receiving end…what would you prefer????…your answer to this is your answer to that :/

  • Archi on 16/12/2018 - 09:46

    Too many people give crap gifts.. whether that be to a stranger for secret Santa or a family member.

    You always here at this time of year of unthoughtful gifts that are dishes out this time of year..

    I tell my wife all the time…She spends way too much effort and consideration for other peoples gifts that aren't always reciprocated.

    Her reply is, I feel good for thoughtful gifts i give to others. I can't control how others think.

    • bluesky on 16/12/2018 - 14:32

      Her reply is, I feel good for thoughtful gifts i give to others. I can't control how others think.

      She is onto something :-) … Giving is actually good for you

    • Cletus vandamme on 16/12/2018 - 18:32

      Smart women. If everyone acted douchey because the next guy was the world would be a sucky place to live.

  • Sira on 16/12/2018 - 16:50

    This post reminds me of when my wife comes home from from doing some clothes shopping. She comes home; "Ohh i got this dress for $100… BUT IT WAS ACTUALLY $300…" I have to reminder her no, the true value of the item is what the buyer and the seller agreed upon. Not some random RRP.

    • ChemicalMan on 16/12/2018 - 17:12

      One transaction doesn't determine the true value of an item. If you can sell the same dress on eBay for $250 then its value is not $100. The true value is the market price (which might be the 'random RRP').

  • newbiesh on 16/12/2018 - 18:21

    i usally wrap whatever i dont need at home, its secret nobody knows

  • Banana on 16/12/2018 - 21:34

    I usually spend more than the suggested price as I want to get the other people what they would actually use, rather than buying junks that quickly join the landfill.

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