Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Revenge secret Santa for the office b£#@!

467 replies

Surewhyknot · 15/11/2022 20:17

I'm looking for the worst, most subtle insulting secret Santa gift for the office stirrer.. limit is £10 and we're opening them in person.

I'm torn between a pair of secondhand socks or a homemade loo roll cozy al la your grandma!

What are the worst you've had? Can I cast insult without being too overt??

OP posts:
NeverDropYourMooncup · 15/11/2022 23:19

I used to look forward to the office SS as it was the only present I'd get - and to me, a battered old unwanted Body Shop gift basket dumped on me because they didn't like me that much was a result, as it meant I got some nice smelling toiletries, even if they were usually covered in a layer of dust. I couldn't really afford to join in, but I always did. I knew that some of them were actually meant maliciously, but I always smiled and looked on the bright side whilst telling myself But you got a present.

Then one year, in a place where I really didn't think I was held in that much contempt, I sat through people opening £30-50 presents (£10 budget, easily manageable for everybody else there, as they were on a minimum of 3x my salary), to find that whoever had been unlucky enough to draw my name had decided they wouldn't bother.

Even my boss, who had form for being a bit of a dick to me, was really angry about it. But there wasn't much I could do, other than slink off home and spend the next fortnight alone and skint until work reopened again. After that day, I never took part again, as there wasn't any clearer way to say 'everybody despises you' than that. I'd rather go without than spend a tenner to have everybody see me be humiliated like that, as you can't style out 'Well, when I found out it was you, I couldn't be arsed'.

Don't be a cunt to people.

PurpleButterflyWings · 15/11/2022 23:26

@NeverDropYourMooncup Flowers What a sad tale. Sad I am SO sorry you have experienced people being not very nice to you. (((HUGS))) Hope things improve. 😘

SuperlativeOxymoron · 15/11/2022 23:26

NeverDropYourMooncup · 15/11/2022 23:19

I used to look forward to the office SS as it was the only present I'd get - and to me, a battered old unwanted Body Shop gift basket dumped on me because they didn't like me that much was a result, as it meant I got some nice smelling toiletries, even if they were usually covered in a layer of dust. I couldn't really afford to join in, but I always did. I knew that some of them were actually meant maliciously, but I always smiled and looked on the bright side whilst telling myself But you got a present.

Then one year, in a place where I really didn't think I was held in that much contempt, I sat through people opening £30-50 presents (£10 budget, easily manageable for everybody else there, as they were on a minimum of 3x my salary), to find that whoever had been unlucky enough to draw my name had decided they wouldn't bother.

Even my boss, who had form for being a bit of a dick to me, was really angry about it. But there wasn't much I could do, other than slink off home and spend the next fortnight alone and skint until work reopened again. After that day, I never took part again, as there wasn't any clearer way to say 'everybody despises you' than that. I'd rather go without than spend a tenner to have everybody see me be humiliated like that, as you can't style out 'Well, when I found out it was you, I couldn't be arsed'.

Don't be a cunt to people.

This is disgraceful and I'm so sorry someone was that awful.

Where I work our office manager keeps a list of who got who, so if someone "can't be arsed" their gift is given to the person they drew because as she says "if you don't care enough to get your pull a gift, you don't care enough to receive one"

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

MyLoveIsYourLove0xO · 15/11/2022 23:34

NeverDropYourMooncup · 15/11/2022 23:19

I used to look forward to the office SS as it was the only present I'd get - and to me, a battered old unwanted Body Shop gift basket dumped on me because they didn't like me that much was a result, as it meant I got some nice smelling toiletries, even if they were usually covered in a layer of dust. I couldn't really afford to join in, but I always did. I knew that some of them were actually meant maliciously, but I always smiled and looked on the bright side whilst telling myself But you got a present.

Then one year, in a place where I really didn't think I was held in that much contempt, I sat through people opening £30-50 presents (£10 budget, easily manageable for everybody else there, as they were on a minimum of 3x my salary), to find that whoever had been unlucky enough to draw my name had decided they wouldn't bother.

Even my boss, who had form for being a bit of a dick to me, was really angry about it. But there wasn't much I could do, other than slink off home and spend the next fortnight alone and skint until work reopened again. After that day, I never took part again, as there wasn't any clearer way to say 'everybody despises you' than that. I'd rather go without than spend a tenner to have everybody see me be humiliated like that, as you can't style out 'Well, when I found out it was you, I couldn't be arsed'.

Don't be a cunt to people.

Hope OP reads this!
Shit like this can really mess with peoples lives unfortunately.

Lalliella · 15/11/2022 23:38

NeverDropYourMooncup · 15/11/2022 23:19

I used to look forward to the office SS as it was the only present I'd get - and to me, a battered old unwanted Body Shop gift basket dumped on me because they didn't like me that much was a result, as it meant I got some nice smelling toiletries, even if they were usually covered in a layer of dust. I couldn't really afford to join in, but I always did. I knew that some of them were actually meant maliciously, but I always smiled and looked on the bright side whilst telling myself But you got a present.

Then one year, in a place where I really didn't think I was held in that much contempt, I sat through people opening £30-50 presents (£10 budget, easily manageable for everybody else there, as they were on a minimum of 3x my salary), to find that whoever had been unlucky enough to draw my name had decided they wouldn't bother.

Even my boss, who had form for being a bit of a dick to me, was really angry about it. But there wasn't much I could do, other than slink off home and spend the next fortnight alone and skint until work reopened again. After that day, I never took part again, as there wasn't any clearer way to say 'everybody despises you' than that. I'd rather go without than spend a tenner to have everybody see me be humiliated like that, as you can't style out 'Well, when I found out it was you, I couldn't be arsed'.

Don't be a cunt to people.

@NeverDropYourMooncup I’m so sorry this happened to you, but maybe the person organising the draw fucked it up. I did this once when I organised it - one person was in twice and one not at all. Luckily I found out by chance and had to redo it. So embarrassing.

AssumingDirectControl · 15/11/2022 23:44

Don’t get anything tacky or horrible. Even if this person is a nightmare, it makes you no better than them. If you really must poke at them, get something at least considered to be nice, like some hot chocolate spoons. But really, a generic toiletries or chocolate box for £10 would be fine. You don’t need to make loads of effort, but don’t be a bitch.

IneedcoffeeinanIV · 15/11/2022 23:45

This is awful. Don't act like a mean child.

NeverDropYourMooncup · 15/11/2022 23:46

Lalliella · 15/11/2022 23:38

@NeverDropYourMooncup I’m so sorry this happened to you, but maybe the person organising the draw fucked it up. I did this once when I organised it - one person was in twice and one not at all. Luckily I found out by chance and had to redo it. So embarrassing.

I do wish that was the case, but the person who organised it was incredibly precise and knew exactly who they had allocated me to. They'd even asked if I needed them to buy a present for my person in advance and i couldbecause it wasn't payday yet.

DPotter · 15/11/2022 23:46

I've been missed out of SS twice over the years and it's a horrid experience. In both cases involved groups of people and the person who drew my name 'forgot' / couldn't be bothered. Each time everyone else was very kind, and I'm a pretty upbeat sort of person, but it was still an unpleasant situation.

Greyarea12 · 15/11/2022 23:50

Hmm.. publicly humiliating someone is a form of bullying. If she is 'the office bitch' then what does it make you for even considering doing this to someone. Horrible thing to do.

NeverDropYourMooncup · 15/11/2022 23:51

NeverDropYourMooncup · 15/11/2022 23:46

I do wish that was the case, but the person who organised it was incredibly precise and knew exactly who they had allocated me to. They'd even asked if I needed them to buy a present for my person in advance and i couldbecause it wasn't payday yet.

Trying again - they'd planned for it not being payday yet for me and offered to buy the present for my person and I could pay it later. It was definitely somebody who had been there and picked up their gift, too.

You know that time when life is really, really tough and it takes all you've got to get through the days because it can't really be that cold and sad all the time? And then somebody decides they're going to do something to kill your last little bit of hope?

Yeah, that.

Booklover3 · 16/11/2022 00:04

Just don’t do this. It isn’t funny. It’s vile.

Floogal · 16/11/2022 00:05

A box of broken biscuits wrapped very nicely.

My aunt's ex mil used to hate her and would give her magazine samples as Xmas gifts

StoppinBy · 16/11/2022 00:11

I think this is a terrible idea. If you have an issue, address it with them/the company but do not do this.

Buy something generic and boring and move on.

LovePoppy · 16/11/2022 00:14

Don’t be a dick

yellowstickerbargain · 16/11/2022 00:18

LadyMonicaBaddingham · 15/11/2022 20:22

A Baylis & Harding gift set. Utterly inoffensive, utterly impersonal and utterly blah. Job done.

I came to say the same! Baylis & Harding gift set basically says "I don't give a shit about you. Here's some shit toiletries because I had to buy you something.

yellowstickerbargain · 16/11/2022 00:19

TheLightSideOfTheMoon · 15/11/2022 20:28

Just give her the tenner in a plain white envelope.

I'd love to get that as my secret Santa present! 😆

Fraaahnces · 16/11/2022 00:22

Dog chew toy in the shape of a turd emoji

ArcaneWireless · 16/11/2022 00:27

Just because some can’t bring themselves to type bitch in full doesn’t make them any less of a nasty twat.

Fraaahnces · 16/11/2022 00:30

Whoops! That was meant to be me googling this to attach. Need a coffee. How about a turd emoji dog toy - if she has a doggy…
Turd emoji dog toy

Quackpot · 16/11/2022 00:44

You sound delightful....

pollyglot · 16/11/2022 00:54

Last year's SS gift to the person who then regifted it to me. Still had the card on it from last year...

ilo · 16/11/2022 01:06

I’d go for something really naff, boring and generic that you know she won’t like. Maybe an ugly scarf or hat, but not too ugly. I would’ve do anything outright mean like the mouthwash 😢 or a passive aggressive book etc.

ForgetBarbie · 16/11/2022 01:11

A box of second hand chocs with one missing

🤣🤣🤣🤣

*Someone in my office gave my boss a bottle of Listerine.

Unfortunately, my boss did have horrendous breath.*

I’m sorry but I laughed too hard at this. At least he got the message