Secret Santa

[MaxPepsi]

I've just put my 'gift' straight into the bin.

AIBU??

[quesadilla]

YANBU. I hate secret Santa. It works passably in an office or friendship group where people know each other really well. Doing it in a standard office set-up is just awful, cringeworthy and a total waste of money.

[MaxPepsi]

I quite like the idea between friends, saves money when you only need to buy one present.

This is a work one, not a massive budget £5-£10. I got a bargain present for £3.99 as it had been reduced from £10.00

I doubt the person who got my 'gift' even spent £1.50. If they didn't know what to get why not a cheap bottle of plonk like some of the rest were given??

Bah Bloody Humbug!

[Middleagedmotheroftwo]

It's particularly hopeless where men are involved. I generalise, but they have no interest in present buying, and usually buy the easiest commedy present/cheap soap that they can find.
YANBU.

[Pobblewhohasnotoes]

No, it's why I don't do it anymore. I don't understand when there's a £5 or £10 limit people just go to the pound shop or give something that was clearly some crap unwanted gift.

If you can't afford it or aren't planning on spending the amount you shouldn't join in, in my opinion. I've had some right crap given to me, it's really disappointing.

It's not like SS is compulsory where I work. Some years people have had no presents bought back for them! I think that's terrible.

[tinselkitty]

Hotel chocolate is my friend for secret Santa. Most people appreciate even a small packet of yummy chocolate.

I hate it when people buy crap. Mine was obviously re gifted to me last year

[MaxPepsi]

I'm going to have to share it with you all. after retrieving it from the bin

It's a book entitled 'don't wanna!' The official rule book of the refuse to grow up club, with a key ring saying I refuse to grow up.

I'm a 38 year old woman ffs not a 12 year old child!

I'm genuinely astounded at how crap it is. And what makes me more angry is the rest of the floor have fucked off out on a team lunch which I wasn't invited to as I'm not part of their team! Makes me feel really wanted in my workplace. NOT!

[Middleagedmotheroftwo]

Learn your lesson, and don't participate next year - if you're still there!

[TheGinLushMinion]

Oh dear-I'd think whoever bought it for you was indeed trying to tell you something... Sorry.

[lessonsintightropes]

I usually give a 'Secret London' guidebook or other unusual London-related thing for our office (as we are based there and employ a lot of graduates who aren't necessarily that au fait with some of the more odd corners of the capital). It's something I'd like to receive and I'd be delighted with the Hotel Chocolat chocs too. Last year I got a really nice Cath Kidston mug.

The present was ridiculous OP and if your colleagues are so cheap and inconsiderate I probably wouldn't participate (very quietly) next year.

[Gossipmonster]

I buy something really nice and thoughtful every year and always get something smutty - I also feel like chucking mine in the bin

[happygirl87]

I bought hotel chocolat this year! Was a £10 limit though and I spent £12.50 (shhh!)

I received a book called "how to work with difficult people"- whcih I know was from a guy on my team as a joke, and made me smile.

[LineRunner]

OP, if you PM me your address I'll send you a nicer present that may or may not involve chocolate. That's for making me

[Purplefrogshoe]

YANBU I spent a lot of time on my secret Santa gift, lovely candles and wine wrapped really nicely and I got £1 shop tat

[clarinetV2]

YANBU. I once worked in an office where we knew each other reasonably well. The way we did Secret Santa was to draw the recipient's name out of a hat so that you knew who you were buying for, and it was fun trying to find (or make!) something within the price range that the person would like. In my current workplace we just put all our gifts into the sack, and draw one out at random. It's useless. I have given up trying to put much thought into the present I buy, because a) I don't know all my colleagues very well, and b) they all vary in tastes and interests. So I buy a candle-holder or something equally unimaginative from the local German Market which is full of such tat, and bung that in. I suspect most of the presents I've had are 're-gifts' from previous Christmases. Waste of time and energy.

[makemineabacardi]

YANBU. It's even worse when its a SS within a friendship group - my present last year was astonishingly shite. Limit was £15, I got a shitty tiny board game of 'gender questions'. Played it once on opening when I inflicted it upon the whole of said friendship group then it went to charity. I made myself even angrier by looking it up online to find it was selling at Hawkins Bazaar for £5.

I've refused to participate this year.

Chocolate is a go-to gift, never fails!

[Joysmum]

Did you put it in the bin at work? Hope not as that wouldn't be very bright.

And yes, YABU because shit presents can still be donated to charity shops to make money.

[Bloodyteenagers]

So you did the mature thing of chucking the book in the bin and are now having a strop about the present you received.

[FetaCheeny]

Don't blame you for putting it in the bin, that kind of gift is only funny from someone who knows you, otherwise it's insulting!

[RobotLover68]

I pulled out of friendship group SS this year - I gave it one last go last year and I got (for £10)

A packet of tictacs
A tin "think tobacco sized tin"
A squidgy soap which I wasn't 100% sure what it was

I cried. I know that sounds pathetic but i hardly get any presents and they are never surprises because my DH is rubbish at surprises

Over the years, same group, I've sent beautiful chocolates, a scarf, necklace/earring set - really made an effort and every single year I've got a "oh that'll do" gift

This year I said no more

OP YANBU

[Owllady]

The last Time I was in one at work I got a penis corkscrew

[BabyMummy29]

I've always hated it in the past as it just consisted of (some people) giving and receiving rude gifts which was quite embarrassing in some cases.

This year we all bought a gift and they were just pulled out at random from a sack.

Much better for 90% of those concerned.

[Littlefish]

I've knitted a pair of hand warmers in my recipient's favourite colour. We had a £5 limit, so it's difficult to get anything nice. I bought a ball of nice wool, and got knitting!

[tearoomtrash]

I hate the £5 spending limit! It's so hard to buy something thoughtful / relevant on such a small budget. I'm afraid I succumbed to buying a mug containing hot chocolate & marshmallows. Far from imaginative! I was embarrassed giving it, but I had genuinely searched for days for something nice...