We are starting a new feature this year for the holidays – The First Annual Survival Weekly Secret Santa Project!

Here’s how it works. To sign up, send an email to Jim@SurvivalWeekly.com (put Secret Santa in the subject line, please). Give me your name and your mailing address. Do this BEFORE November 29, 2013. Once everyone has signed up, you’ll receive an email with someone’s name and address. Send them a small gift and maybe a card. No need to spend a ton of money on this. In fact, we’ll cap the gift value at no more than $15.00.

Send your gift to your Secret Santa recipient no later than December 15, 2013, to ensure it arrives before Christmas.

Once you’ve mailed the gift, email me again to let me know. I want to make sure every gift gets mailed so no one is left empty-handed. If for any reason you find yourself unable to mail a gift, let me know IMMEDIATELY and we’ll do what we can to help.

I’d also like you to let me know when you receive your gift. Again, we want to make sure everyone who signs up gives and receives a gift.

What should you send as a gift? Admittedly, it can be difficult to figure this out when you know absolutely nothing about the person and don’t even have a friend in common you could ask. Remember, though, the idea here is just to do something nice for someone else. A cool tree ornament is usually appreciated. Or, a small gift basket with the fixin’s for hot cocoa. Maybe a camo pattern hat with built in LED lights in the brim? A copy of your favorite book? A DVD of a favorite movie? Don’t just wuss out and get a gift card for Walmart or something, get creative and have fun with this!

Note: If you want to spend more than $15.00 on the gift, that’s your choice, I can’t stop you. But, it truly is the thought that counts here. No one, and I mean NO ONE should feel compelled to spend a ton of money on this. This should be a fun project for the holiday season, not just another source of stress and anxiety.

The only rules you need to follow with regards to the gift you send:

1) You’ll need to follow U.S. postal regulations. No explosives, for example.

2) The gift should not be mean-spirited. This is meant to be fun for all involved.

To recap, if you want to play along this year, here’s what to do.

Step 1:
Send an email to Jim@SurvivalWeekly.com. Put Secret Santa in the subject line. Give me your name and mailing address. Sorry, continental U.S. residents only. We are closing the sign ups as of November 29, 2013.

Step 2:
On or about December 1, you’ll receive an email from me with the name and mailing address of your Secret Santa recipient. This will NOT be the person sending you something. Buy or make a gift with a value of $15.00 or less and mail it out no later than December 15, 2013.

Step 3:
Email Jim@SurvivalWeekly.com the day you mail the gift so we can make sure every gift gets mailed out.

Step 4:
Email Jim@SurvivalWeekly.com when you receive your gift in the mail.

Have fun with this!