You would have better results by planning a whole set of years in advance. The problem is similar to, but simpler than the one here Lunch Bunch arrangement problem.

Suppose there were a constant group of 5 friends. The following block would set up a schedule for four years, such that each gives to each of the others without repeats. 

1 2 3 4 5
5 1 2 3 4
4 5 1 2 3
3 4 5 1 2
2 3 4 5 1

You would read down the columns, so that the first year person 1 gives to person 5, and the next year to person 4, and so on. You could most likely fit in old information into the pattern by appropriate assignment of numbers and rearrangements of rows.

All you need is a latin square of appropriate size to plan for any number of people.

In reply to Re: Kris Kringle / Secret Santa by tall_man
in thread Kris Kringle / Secret Santa by BigLug

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