To regift items and use loyalty points for work secret Santa?

IHateSecretSanta · 2025-11-16T10:07:17+00:00

I’m in a work secret Santa, and to be honest I just don’t want to spend extra money on a gift that is unlikely to be used. I got gifted a glossy box subscription a while ago, and I have about £40 of boots points I could use. AIBU to just use some of the glossy box items (some are full size) plus a gift set from boots as my secret Santa gifts?

MardyAnn · 17/11/2025 12:50

IHateSecretSanta · 16/11/2025 11:17

I love a toiletry gift set, it’s just money saved on soap and shower gel later down the line 😂

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It just goes to show how differently people view things. I feel like the regular shower gel gift sets, Dove for example are akin to being given Fairy Liquid or Flash for Christmas. However I’d love a £4 bar or soap from TK Maxx.

WithIcePlease · 16/11/2025 12:28

Sounds fine to me
I'd love some bits from glossy box to try and so would my DD's

SkinnyOatFlatWhiteForMePlease · 16/11/2025 11:30

IHateSecretSanta · 16/11/2025 10:52

A tenner, but I’ve technically spent nothing 😅

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That’s fine! To the value of £10, you already purchased the glossy box etc.

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IHateSecretSanta · 16/11/2025 11:29

NotForTheMoneyandNotForTheApplause · 16/11/2025 11:29

I wouldn't be wasting my boots points on a work make, it seems like you're overthinking the whole thing. Is it your first time with a work secret Santa?

I've been in a few and never got the impression people put much thought into them, it's usually generic gifts

If the limit is a tenner is given the free stuff and then not give it a further seconds thought

To be fair I’ve made use of the 3 for 2 offer and got some gifts that will be absolute winners with my niece as well 😂

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NotForTheMoneyandNotForTheApplause · 16/11/2025 11:29

I wouldn't be wasting my boots points on a work make, it seems like you're overthinking the whole thing. Is it your first time with a work secret Santa?

I've been in a few and never got the impression people put much thought into them, it's usually generic gifts

If the limit is a tenner is given the free stuff and then not give it a further seconds thought

Original poster

IHateSecretSanta · 16/11/2025 11:25

intrepidpanda · 16/11/2025 11:18

Me too. Sometimes buy them for myself

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I’ve got my eye on a couple of the dove ones that are in the boots offers, for payday. You can get a years worth of shower gel, soap and deodorant for £25 😂

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IHateSecretSanta · 16/11/2025 11:24

Lurleene · 16/11/2025 11:21

Nothing wrong with using your Boots points at all, but sounds like you are going way over the agreed budget so that may make the recipient uncomfortable.

I’ve just grabbed a ton that’s in the 3 for 2 offer, I’ll use them for other people as well. I just don’t really know how to make it look like enough

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Lurleene · 16/11/2025 11:21

Nothing wrong with using your Boots points at all, but sounds like you are going way over the agreed budget so that may make the recipient uncomfortable.

intrepidpanda · 16/11/2025 11:18

IHateSecretSanta · 16/11/2025 11:17

I love a toiletry gift set, it’s just money saved on soap and shower gel later down the line 😂

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Me too. Sometimes buy them for myself

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IHateSecretSanta · 16/11/2025 11:17

intrepidpanda · 16/11/2025 11:14

Most normal would not think that about toiletry sets.
Unless you really do have an issue that you are extremely self conscious of a toiletry set is just seen as a nice gift.

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I love a toiletry gift set, it’s just money saved on soap and shower gel later down the line 😂

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intrepidpanda · 16/11/2025 11:14

ComtesseDeSpair · 16/11/2025 10:11

Personally I’d avoid giving beauty products or toiletries in a work Secret Santa unless you know the recipient well and that they aren’t likely to think it’s an unkind “you smell, have a wash” hint. Otherwise, box items which are recipient-appropriate, sure.

Most normal would not think that about toiletry sets.
Unless you really do have an issue that you are extremely self conscious of a toiletry set is just seen as a nice gift.

Original poster

IHateSecretSanta · 16/11/2025 10:53

Judystilldreamsofhorses · 16/11/2025 10:35

Honestly so good. I’m a lecturer and have put quite a few of my students into them after they saw me with mine. They are with the “man gifts” in the Christmas section, I just saw them because they were on an end.

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I go to a lot of sporting events in Europe and they’re starting to crack down on the size of power banks, they’ve got to be under 300g now. Usually that means they’re useless and don’t charge your phone more than once. I’ll take a look (and suggest it to my brother for a gift for me 😂)

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IHateSecretSanta · 16/11/2025 10:52

SkinnyOatFlatWhiteForMePlease · 16/11/2025 10:37

What’s the budget? If anything it sounds like you are gifting too much.

A tenner, but I’ve technically spent nothing 😅

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SkinnyOatFlatWhiteForMePlease · 16/11/2025 10:37

What’s the budget? If anything it sounds like you are gifting too much.

Judystilldreamsofhorses · 16/11/2025 10:35

IHateSecretSanta · 16/11/2025 10:23

Ugh I wish I’d seen them, I’m in need of a couple of tiny power banks!

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Honestly so good. I’m a lecturer and have put quite a few of my students into them after they saw me with mine. They are with the “man gifts” in the Christmas section, I just saw them because they were on an end.

Crofthead · 16/11/2025 10:35

It will look better than a half hearted regift though? I wouldn’t think twice if someone opted out of SS

ChopstickNovice · 16/11/2025 10:35

I'd be happy with that! As long as it isn't something potentially offensive like deodorant which someone could take to mean they smell. Also someone could regift a beauty set if they don't like it.

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IHateSecretSanta · 16/11/2025 10:35

Crofthead · 16/11/2025 10:33

haha of course you can! Just say you’re not doing gifts this year as trying to cut down. It won’t be in your employment contract

Edited

As a new starter though it’s going to look awful and exclude me from the group

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Crofthead · 16/11/2025 10:33

haha of course you can! Just say you’re not doing gifts this year as trying to cut down. It won’t be in your employment contract

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IHateSecretSanta · 16/11/2025 10:33

Crofthead · 16/11/2025 10:32

Why are you in the secret Santa if you don’t seem to want to be and it’s just an extra stress for you? I wouldn’t want anyone in a SS to feel they had to throw together a gift just as a tick box exercise

Edited

The whole office is in it, we don’t get to opt out

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Crofthead · 16/11/2025 10:32

Why are you in the secret Santa if you don’t seem to want to be and it’s just an extra stress for you? I wouldn’t want anyone in a SS to feel they had to throw together a gift just as a tick box exercise

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IHateSecretSanta · 16/11/2025 10:31

MardyAnn · 16/11/2025 10:22

I probably wouldn’t give the glossy box bits, Boots points is fine but toiletry gift sets scream CBA.
You know the ‘vibe’ of the Secret though, if it’s pretty generic then it’ll be fine.

I think in general it’s pretty generic. There’s ten of us taking part who have all been there under a year, so it’s quite hard to know people well enough to get really thoughtful gifts

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IHateSecretSanta · 16/11/2025 10:23

Judystilldreamsofhorses · 16/11/2025 10:22

I spotted and bought really excellent tiny power banks in the Boots three for two gifting section the other week. They are light and the size of a credit card, and charge really well. Honestly so good for the price. I got one each for me and DP (not for Christmas, just as handy to have) and a candle (also not for Christmas) and it was £20 total. Something like that might work with your points as a useful present?

Ugh I wish I’d seen them, I’m in need of a couple of tiny power banks!

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MardyAnn · 16/11/2025 10:22

I probably wouldn’t give the glossy box bits, Boots points is fine but toiletry gift sets scream CBA.
You know the ‘vibe’ of the Secret though, if it’s pretty generic then it’ll be fine.

Judystilldreamsofhorses · 16/11/2025 10:22

I spotted and bought really excellent tiny power banks in the Boots three for two gifting section the other week. They are light and the size of a credit card, and charge really well. Honestly so good for the price. I got one each for me and DP (not for Christmas, just as handy to have) and a candle (also not for Christmas) and it was £20 total. Something like that might work with your points as a useful present?