Mum Reads The Room And Announces Extended Family Secret Santa Just $15 Each

KEITH T. DENNETT | New South | CONTACT

A local girl is breathing a sigh of relief tonight, after being gifted a small, but appreciated, sprinkle of financial reprieve.

Coming from a large Italian family, Zara D’Amico (28) spends every November anxious to receive an obligatory message in the family WhatsApp that details the rules and regulations for the extended family Secret Santa.

And now that she and all her cousins are getting closer to 30 rather than 20, Zara’s been noticing that the budget seems to increase by a decent nudge each year.

But tonight, after reading over a message from her mum, The Advocate can reveal that the D’Amico Christmas will be a little more humble this year.

“Mum’s just set the Secret Santa to $15, Halle-fooking-lujah!” Zara cackled, as she rolled through the message and watched a flood of thumbs-up emojis come in from cousins in Melbourne, aunties in Townsville, and a love heart from an uncle who lives in Wagga.

“The last few years Mum started upping it to $50, then $75, and then $100 last year, but she’s finally come to her senses and realised that, no, I don’t want to blow one hundred bucks on my second cousin who I don’t speak to all year.”

Now that the Secret Santa budget has been set to something more palatable to those experiencing the wrath of the cost-of-living crisis, Zara says hopefully the day will be a bit more relaxed and festive for everyone.

“$15 is giving joke present, like wrapping up a bag of nice muesli or a cactus from Bunnings.

“Hell, I’ll gladly welcome a bottle of top-loader washing liquid if someone can find one on special.”

More to come.