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AIBU?

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Original poster

Secret Santa in RAF

38 replies

Roiesin57 · 09/12/2023 12:44

Has anyone been in the armed forces & had to do a Secret Santa? My poor old young son has been at his first proper base after passing phase 2 & has only drawn put his female corporal. After 3 weeks he knows nothing about her, doesn't know if he should be rude, respectful, boring & generic. It usually comes out who has bought what. Budget is £10 - £15. Personally I think something nice that is not tat that ends up in landfill

OP posts:
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Coffeesnob11 · 12/12/2023 21:17

A funny but not rude mug, a £1 lottery ticket, a teabag and a couple of wrapped chocolates and if theirs left over change some fluffy socks.

Clemfandango95 · 12/12/2023 20:29

I would much rather buy for a female than a male!

Agree with some nice chocolate

ActDottie · 12/12/2023 20:24

Something edible. Can’t go wrong with that.

If it’s a bit jokey then maybe something that’s says “the boss” or something but I wouldn’t get anything more extreme than that.

Original poster
Roiesin57 · 12/12/2023 19:46

Thank you all for your suggestions, he's playing it safe for this year, see how it goes & he could be more adventurous next year.
@BlowDryRat I love the slippers, will save that for the future 🙂

OP posts:
wite · 12/12/2023 19:39

Lovelydovey · 12/12/2023 19:26

Something genetically silly but not rude? I loved my book about Wetherspoons carpets...

Second this.

Wonderwool · 12/12/2023 19:34

I'd play it very, very, very safe. Nothing that involves imagining the recipient naked - eg, bath foam, shower gel; or assumes they drink; or is too personal, eg perfume.

And definitely not a Top Gun DVD.

Karaoke microphone from Amazon? Contigo travel mug? £15 worth of first class stamps?

Catsonskis · 12/12/2023 19:27

Starbucks gift card?

Lovelydovey · 12/12/2023 19:26

Something genetically silly but not rude? I loved my book about Wetherspoons carpets...

HollaHolla · 12/12/2023 19:21

BoobyDazzler · 09/12/2023 18:42

A bottle of SJP Lovely costs about that and I don’t know a woman who doesn’t like it so it’s unlikely to end up in landfil. It’s not like she’s going to know who’s bought it, is she.

That’s horrible and sickly sweet yuck. So, here’s one woman who doesn’t love it. It would go straight in the hygiene bank bin for me

HardStareBear · 12/12/2023 19:14

Buy a fun, but not rude, mug. Fill with Twix fingers. Job done.

SunshineLollipopsRainbow · 12/12/2023 16:29

Christmas candle?

CornishPorsche · 12/12/2023 16:02

Definitely depends on the local culture. DH is Navy and his work place it's home made joke gifts / minimal spends. He got chsorttw shop flip flops built up with cardboard soles one year (as he's short).

The best one I've ever seen was a picture book one chap wrote and illustrated about DH and his best mate at work - I was literally crying with laughter reading it, it was so clever, utterly rude and just brilliantly done.

One lass got a hobby horse DH and I made from toilet roll inners and cardboard because she's horse mad.

He's a trainee though, and presumably she's on the Staff at the training establishment, so I'd go neutral and inoffensive.

Alltheusernamesaretakennow · 12/12/2023 15:56

I work with lots of ex military and this time last year, we had a new female colleague join. After only a couple of weeks we were doing the £10 Secret Santa and I had to get her something without really knowing her. Got her a Calendar which was a bit cheeky (but not too rude)! She loved it!

supersuss · 09/12/2023 18:49

Is there something regional to where he/your family is from? E.g. shortbread in a nice reusable tin of shortbread if you're Scottish, or pastel de nata if he has Portuguese heritage? That way it's somewhat personal and thoughtful...

BoobyDazzler · 09/12/2023 18:42

A bottle of SJP Lovely costs about that and I don’t know a woman who doesn’t like it so it’s unlikely to end up in landfil. It’s not like she’s going to know who’s bought it, is she.

DinoDays · 09/12/2023 18:19

Mulberry2627 · 09/12/2023 15:06

My husband is a current serving officer in the RAF and he said he would get a rude gift. It's the forces, it will all be rude, especially other ranks!

Would he fuck! Especially as a recruit!!!

wellingtonsandwaffles · 09/12/2023 18:08

How about

A plant in a nice pot - succulent / cactus keep better if overseas posted occasionally

a spinning candle tea light

some nice Christmas decorations

Iam4eels · 09/12/2023 16:49

Asda have the large Yankee Candle jars on sale at the moment for £8 each. I'd get a Christmas themed one of those and a box of chocolates.

MrsToothyBitch · 09/12/2023 16:49

Play it safe! Our budget is £10 at work, all female team and we're all just putting something in for a "bad santa" game so "generic female gift" is my vibe this year.

I've got a box of Lily O'Brien truffles from Waitrose for £4- they currently have offers /reductions on boxes of chocs- and I'm going to pick some bubble bath or body scrub from Sunday Rain at Oliver Bonas for £5 or £6. They have a few nice things for £12-£15 or he could combine toiletry items.

Coolblur · 09/12/2023 16:40

Gt86 · 09/12/2023 15:51

Alcohol is probably a safe bet

Alcohol is never a safe bet if you don't know the person, or even if you think you do.
People assume a bottle of wine or whatever is fine, but maybe they live with an alcoholic, or they grew up with one.
Boring and safe is best, especially when he's so new

FourLeggedBuckers · 09/12/2023 16:14

Coolhwip · 09/12/2023 13:19

It’s a £10 budget, you’re not going to get designer gear for that 🤣

Why so pompous?

Show quote history

Designer? Pompous? I think you’re projecting onto my post 😂

However, since you wanted pompous:

There are plenty of useful things you can buy for a tenner than aren’t poorly made in sweat shops using ecologically damaging fabrics. Something by edible or drinkable would be a reasonable, useful and less horrific SS gift.

Gt86 · 09/12/2023 15:51

Alcohol is probably a safe bet

cansu · 09/12/2023 15:40

Not something rude.

OrigamiOwl · 09/12/2023 15:38

Go safe - chocolates, hand cream, mug, something genetic. Having been there 3 weeks it isn't the time to risk anything rude.

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