For those of you who haven’t yet been subjected to this holiday torture, the Secret Santa tradition goes a little like this: Your office sets a limit on how much everybody should spend on the person who’s name you’ve picked. Some offices do small gifts for four consecutive days, then on the fifth day they do a bigger gift, usually in the $10 range. This ends up bringing the total to 14 or 15 bucks. Other offices have everyone buy one single gift and simply set a higher price limit. Either way, the key here is it’s Secret Santa. You can’t let the person you’re buying for know it’s you, and you don’t know who was lucky enough to get your name. You could get really lucky and end up with your favorite office buddy, but usually serendipity is not that kind and you end up with that one person in the whole office that, to put it bluntly, you just can’t stand. Either way, with the price limitations, this can be a pretty stressful time. To help you out, I’ve done a little scouting. Check out the official Betty’s Guide to Secret Santa Giving.

Okay, let’s get started. For those dollar or less gifts, don’t forget the obvious — The Family Dollar Store! Usually known as simply the Dollar Store, two can be found in Harrisburg, and there’s one each in New Cumberland, Mechanicsburg, E-Town, and Steelton. For spatulas, stickers, pencils with fuzzy stuff on top, and Day-Glo post-it notes, the Family Dollar in New Cumberland on Old York Road can’t be beat. For that artistic person on your list, don’t forget to check out the Bead Tree on North Third Street next to the One Stop. Angela can help you find that perfect bead to add to a piece of leather or fishing wire for a unique necklace. Another great place I found was Perk’s N Bribes at 215 North Second Street in Harrisburg. You can’t go wrong in any price range there, but you might find yourself late getting back from lunch … I couldn’t leave once I saw their huge selection of gifts! From Yankee candles to Chia I-can’t-say-what-they-are-in-print pets and dirty cards to angel pins, Perk’s N Bribes has it all. Just beware, sides really do split, and in this store that just may happen.

For five dollars or less, you can’t go wrong with Cabin Crafts at 123 E. Main Street in Mechanicsburg. Val Dunkelberger showed me some adorable gift ideas that could be enjoyed by just about everyone. Some of the cutest were wrought iron recipe holders for the cook in the office. They come in roosters, stars, cows, and other assorted shapes that would be ideal for anyone. They also sell candles in all shapes and sizes, including a honeydew votive (95¢) that knocked me for a loop. A candy shelf houses white chocolate covered pretzels, non-pariels and just about every other kind of homemade candy you can imagine. From 95¢ to $4.75, these candies are a steal. Tuesday and Friday, they are open ‘til 8pm, Saturday until 7pm, and 6pm on Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday. The store takes a siesta on Mondays.

Asma Gifts on Main Street in Mechanicsburg also had some adorable faux-jewel encrusted bangles in their window that caught my eye for only $1.25 — great for dressing up a suit for the office Holiday Happy Hour (my favorite work-related experience).

If you are fortunate enough to get someone that needs a little pampering, send him or her along to Salon DeChene in Briarcrest Square in Hershey. A five-dollar gift certificate will get them a paraffin hand wax, and if you mention that Betty from MODE sent you, a custom facial for 30 minutes that is normally $30 will only run you $20. While you are in Briarcrest Square, don’t miss TOYS on the Square. For the big boss, they’ve got mood rings for $3.95 that are big enough for you to see if you should plan on asking for a raise that day. $10 will get you a slinky pet in the shape of a tiger, elephant, Dalmatian, or even a skunk. If you get the office clown, how about some edible bubbles for $1.50? (Bubble gum flavored was my favorite … my companion preferred the cherry). My grandson was really into these tiny little plastic elephants that were only 50¢ a piece and would look great walking across the top of a keyboard. I personally liked the Tuckin’ Tails. They are tails from different animals that you can tuck in your pants to let everyone know what kind of mood you are in that day. At only $9.95, you can afford to let a coworker know in a polite way that he or she has been acting like a skunk!

The last place I hit was for personal reasons — The Eckerd Drug Store in Strawberry Square. Biggest selection of foot powder, knee braces, arthritis cream, and bath salts you can find under one roof downtown, and after a weekend of shopping, boy did I need it! Signing off for now, and remember, have fun on your mission, Secret Santas. And, if you visit any of the stores above, tell ‘em Betty sent ya!