This is what happened in my last workplace. Xmas 2020 I said i didn’t want to participate in secret Santa as it was £25 of tat I didn’t want or need and I personally would rather the money was spent on a charitable donation. Lots of people agreed and if anyone still wanted to do ss they were free to but at least the rest of us didn’t have to.I think it just takes one person to say that they feel the amounts are too much and others will agree.
We only bought birthday gifts on milestone birthdays and it was between £3 or £5 each. Between 15 that’s still a decent gift