£20 Secret Santa for a colleague I don't know very well... wwyb?

[DollyMixtureLulus]

Is there such a thing as a thoughtful neutral gift?

On Groupon you can get a cream tea voucher for £20

@CorianderLord - so you haven't got a sense of humour... Luckily the person who it's for will understand.

Packet soup??????!

Don't bu y lots of little crappy things! One or two nice things, or a voucher. And yes to shopping local small businesses if possible.

@majesticallyawkward

A voucher sounds like a good idea, personally I'd go Amazon as it covers all bases. Maybe £10 or £15 voucher and something small to open- scratch cards are always fun (last year someone in our secret Santa won £50 and was over the moon!).

Candles, wax burners (bork), creams, booze, clothing are all a bit too personal for someone you don't know well- I've been given so many gift sets that are just donated or regifted because I have sensitive skin and can't use any creams/body washes but don't really talk about it so not many people would know.
Pets can mean candles/diffusers/melts are unusable, and who's to say the smell you chose is to their taste (and for the life of me I have no idea why folks go mad over shitty wax melts).
Same with books, too personal- as a bookworm I'd be so excited to get a book then gutted if it was something I wouldn't read.

If you can quietly ask around and find out if she has any likes or interests it will make it easier.

that scratch card one could be really fun but I know my luck the person would be a recovering gambler lol.

@Ylvamoon

I am in the process of making a Christmas survival box 2020! for my secret Santa (female late 30's £10.- ) so far I have Christmas socks, Wooden Santa tree decoration and "dinner for 2" = packet of soup mix that serves 2! I just need something sweet and toying with the idea of a mug cake set ... If I get one for £ 5.- ! ...

Not trying to make you feel bad but this is a really wierd gift, if someone gave me soup I would be perplexed as to why, thats something you donate to the homeless shelter for harvest festival not give as a present.

also is soup 'dinner'?

I always thought soup was a starter or quick drink like snack (I also hate when soup comes sized for 2, the rest of my family doesnt eat it which mean I either have to have a massive portion or half gets wasted).

What about a ‘night before Christmas’ box. Assuming they’ll be opened before Christmas. Or alternatively a ‘Boxing Day box’ I’m thinking a nice bar of chocolate, a face mask, a good movie on dvd. Things like that

Are you crafty? The best secret Santa I got was a hand made gift and I thought it was really thoughtful

But how many people watch DVDs now? And as she doesn't know the woman, she won't know what she'd like or what she's seen.

I think this thread has developed a long list of things NOT to but as they DON'T have universal appeal

Handcream
Chocolate
Booze
DVD
Soup
Scarf
Candles
Wax melts
Food

Honestly I think you should either get a voucher (not a local store unless that really has something in it for everyone) or something from somewhere like M&S where you can include a gift voucher so they can swop it if needs be.

You can get a bottle of decent champagne for £20. Personally I don’t like it and don’t drink it but I’m still happy to receive it as a gift because it’s good for Christmas guests (fingers crossed we can have some this year). And most people do like it, even people who don’t drink much. Or maybe a half bottle and a lovely glass.