A relative has been left 'annoyed' after putting together a family Secret Santa for Christmas - but when it came to the day of exchanging gifts, two unreliable members of the group failed to show up. Secret Santa is a popular budget gift swapping trend which means buyers only have to spend money on one present and will receive an anonymous present back in return, Hull Live reports.
However, one family were left frustrated when two 'ill' family members didn't turn up for the present exchange, ruining the fun for two other people that would then go without a gift. The disappointed relative anonymously posted to a popular chat forum, seeking advice on the situation: "This year we decided that my partner and I would ask the family (parents and siblings) if they'd prefer to do a secret Santa instead of all of us buying each other presents.
"Partly to save money. And so that we could focus on getting one decent present rather than lots of presents for everyone. We put the amount at £50. All family agreed.
"We're supposed to be meeting today to do the secret Santa. Two members have messaged (they are partners) to say they can't come because they're not well.
"I feel annoyed by this, partly because I am not sure they're unwell. I think they didn't buy secret Santa presents therefore are just not going to come.
"I feel upset that two people won't get their present today. And I'm annoyed with myself because when my partner suggested it, I just knew that these two family members would likely do this.
"But we didn't want to not include them and they said they were happy to do it at the time. We have these two members as our secret Santa's and we have gone to a lot of effort to get them really lovely and thoughtful gifts. I'm not really sure what to do?"
People were quick to sympathise with the unfair situation and suggested the poster went round to their house to physically collect the gifts to see if they had actually bought any or not. One person proposed: "Suggest you go and collect the gifts.
"If they haven’t got them then you know not to include them next year. So frustrating for you and very inconsiderate for them but they need to know they can’t upset people like that. It’s not fair."
Another person also suggested: "Why don’t you just send a breezy message saying something like ‘that’s a shame, hope you feel better soon. Do you want us to swing by to collect the secret Santa gifts from your doorstep or have you arranged for mum/partner/grandma to collect them.
"After the gift exchange we’ll arrange for someone to drop yours off. Then, if they respond that they haven’t organised a gift you can address the issue directly instead of speculating and getting wound up.
Another person said that the person should never have included them in the first place: "Yeah you’re a mug for including them; message and say you’ll collect the gifts from them- if they’re rude enough to have not done it then they should be put on the spot about it"
On the other hand, some people thought the poster was making too big of a deal about the situation: "So two adults won't get a present a week before Christmas. It's not a big deal; they can arrange to meet the two absent family members another day.
"I don't see that it's your responsibility to sort this out." Another user said: "Don't ask them to post -there is a postage strike on, tell them you are dropping by to collect their Secret Santa gifts so nobody won't have gift to open.
"Suggest a voucher if they have been too poorly to get out to buy a gift. They can buy a voucher online and gift to recipients phone number."
Some users also questioned why the author was so adamant that they weren't actually unwell: "Maybe they're genuinely ill and can't come? They can just have the gifts couriered.... Having know loads of people including myself have this horrific bug, although disappointing, if rather them not infect my entire family for Xmas."
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