£5 secret Santa that isn't tat

[roarfeckingroarr]

I hate Secret Santa. I find the public giving of gifts with colleagues very awkward.

But I didn't opt out in time and now have to produce a gift around £5 for next week.

The recipient is a really lovely lady in her 50s but I don't know her well because of wfh. I really don't want to get anything plastic, "funny" or food.

Is there anything?

You don’t get a lot for a fiver any more, how about a Body Shop hand cream, they have two Xmas smells. Or a nice mug with a hot choc sachet in.

a bag of ground coffee?

or does that fall under 'food'?

A notebook?

I have same dilemma - someone on here suggested lottery scratch cards, so that's what I'm doing

Bulbs for planting

I nice diary or calendar?

If it were me, I'd like a book token or a hyacinth in a pot.

Candle

Supermarket mug (Morrisons have lovely ones) and a handful of chocolates. I know you said no food but chocolate doesn't count.

pair of gloves

Ooh a book is a good idea.

Book token, scratch card, pot plant or something like that. I'd also be happy with a nice box of chocs but you've said no food.

I often go for something like this…

www.ocado.com/products/m-s-easy-to-grow-iris-flower-kit-533248011<a class="break-all" href="https://www.ocado.com/products/m-s-easy-to-grow-iris-flower-kit-533248011" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Link

Voucher is good idea, or plants, candles, lovely hand cream, mug, nice notebook, coloured pens, set of lip balms, there are so many lovely options out there

I hate Secret Santa's with a passion. But I'd go with a plant or an amaryllis kit, Sainsbury's do one for a fiver.
www.sainsburys.co.uk/gol-ui/product/sainsburys-apple-blossom-amaryllis-bulb-kit-box

My favourite SS gift was an origami set, but that probably wouldn't suit most people.

Seconding body shop hand cream, I love it. Sinks in nice and quick, small tube so easy to carry around. I personally love the citrusy/fresh scents

Christmas themed light-hearted novel. The Works sells them at £2.50 each or 3 for £6.

I always go with food or drink, easy for them to regift if it's not their taste.

Plenty of things on this list I'd hate to receive, so just shows there is nothing universal!

I do quite like the scratch card idea.

I think notebook is a solid suggestion, that would suit almost everyone.

Hand cream also a good suggestion, suits most people (but not anyone with sensitive skin/allergies).

Don't get a plant or bulbs or anything where you're just giving her another responsibility/crap for her house, unless you know she likes that sort of stuff.

Go to TK Maxx and buy a nice notebook, candle? M&S do initial gifts like a mug or make up bag?

I forgot to opt out of mine too 🙄😬 £10 spend on someone with a huge number of food allergies and fragrance intolerances etc.

I always find stationary quite a good go-to. Even if you don’t particularly like a notebook that you’re given, it can usually be used for something or it can be regifted.

• notebook
• pen
• diary
• calendar
• scratchcards
• book token
• costa/Starbucks/local independent voucher

No to a mug. An employed woman in her 50s is almost certainly already in possession of more mugs than she knows what to do with and will be quite particular about what any new mugs she buys look like.

Why don't you want to get her food? Not food is far more likely to end up regifted, donated or shoved in a drawer for the next decades, so you're basically giving her something that will annoy her.

What about a Christmassy cheese truckle with posh crackers if the budget stretches to it. There's loads in the shops now.

We had to do a sustainable one last year, ie nothing plastic, ideally reusable etc. I bought bee friendly seeds for the garden and a wool bee decoration for her Christmas tree.

Bag of seedbombs.