£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?

Poinsettia.

Oh god, how many unwanted mugs with hot chocolate sachets in them must die in the name of Father Christmas!

On another SS thread, someone suggested a donation to charity, printed out and put in a card – I’d love this and it saves on being given tat/clutter.

Tat/clutter includes hand cream, candles, socks, gloves, lip balm, all those random odds and sods. Surely by your 50s as your recipient is you know what you like and have specific tastes for those things?

I thought the origami kit was a good idea too. Or a gift card for the nearest sandwich shop to the office – “your next gingerbread latte is on me!”

What would I like to receive?

Socks - nice plain ones
A notebook
A small plant
A scented candle or similar
Umbrella
A dipping oil/vinegar thingy
Make up bag
Lip balm
Travel mug

I'd be happy with most of what you think is tat! Except the mugs. Unless it was a big one

Gloves/socks to be donated to local homelessness charity bank?

I don't understand the suggestion of a scratchcard.
Surely the receiver could potentially win £1000s.
Can you imagine giving a scratchcard as a secret Santa and then finding out the person you gifted it to won a load of money and has gone on a cruise/bought a new car/got a new kitchen/whatever...
Wouldn't you be bitterly jealous??

Following for interest as I've got a £5 secret santa in a couple of weeks. Don't know who the recipient will be as we put all the presents into a big bag before our xmas meal then, when we wait for our food to come we pass the bag around and pick something out.
Loving the idea of scratch cards though - hmmmmm

I usually would think about what I'd like to receive and most of the things suggested I wouldn't want ie handcream, notebook, mug, diary. If someone gave me chocolates or wine I'd be happy. They can easily be regifted if they don't like them. If I knew for sure they didn't drink or were on a diet I'd probably just get a voucher.

M and S are doing bulbs in a pretty spotted Emma Bridgwater pot for £4. With the other £1 you could pop in the M and S chocolate covered cashews or some fancy tea bags

A bottle of Barry M nail varnish, varnish remover pads and nail file. All from Superdrug

I'd get a nice lip balm or a hand cream. Slightly over your budget but Waitrose have neals yard hand cream for £6 at the moment and it's gorgeous

I'd go for good hand cream/ nice socks/ candle/ book token

I'd go for something 'green'.
Seedbombs.
Gardening gloves.
Washable make up pads.
Beeswax wraps.
Good neutral gifts - socks, candles, notebook, pot plants, bird feeder.

Couple of stamps (most expensive so optional), couple of gift tags, a roll of sellotape, and a small sweet treat from one of the coffee chains, in a little bag or box. For gift wrapping and general tedious sending work at this time of year. A bit dull but does get used.

My daughter had a lovely faux fur infinity scarf/snood in a pale beige colour on and I was surprised when she said it was a fiver from Primark!

I was hoping she might leave it at mine!

I wouldn’t want seeds, bulbs, notebook, mug, book or a candle.

I’ve bought a resizable coffee mug for my secret Santa, cost £2.50 from Tesco. As I need to spend £5, I’m going to pop some chocolates inside.

1 pair of socks with a nice pattern

A locally handmade bauble for the Christmas tree

independent coffee shop vouchers

local bookshop token

A couple of bars of good chocolate - you might get some locally designed ones

Posh crackers for cheese

All of this is useful or easily regifted.

Try and get something in your area that supports a small business

I would lay off stationary - notebooks diaries and pens - everyone has loads

Not hand cream or candles because people know what they like

Not mugs or makeup bags because she’ll already have loads

not seeds because she either doesn’t want them or has them.

I think you need to get over your dislike of food - it’s the easiest thing that won’t get wasted in this price range

No.

I’d think Yay!

what’s up with you??

Lottery ticket(s)!

Did this for nursery staff last year and they loved it!!

Get lottery tix instead of scratch cards if you're worried about your recipient landing a big win. Just buy yourself a ticket using the same numbers. That way you're safe!

2023 Slimline Diary
Candle
Oil Diffuser
Wax Melt Burner thingy
LipBalm Set
Hand Creams
Luxurious Bath Foam
Relaxing/Cooling Gel Eye Mask
Slimline Notepad
Luxury Soap Set (TK MAXX do amazing ones)
Yankee Candle Pot Car Freshener

I was in the cancer research shop yesterday and they had quite nice diaries for under a fiver, and it's doing something for charity?

Alternatively a little christmas decoration?

I saw these this morning...

www.etsy.com/uk/listing/1106271073/fused-glass-handmade-xmas-card-and?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=fused+glass&ref=sr_gallery-1-4&frs=1&edd=1&pop=1&sts=1&organic_search_click=1

You get a lot for your money with biscuits, so I'd probably get a Marks tin of shortbread or biscuits as most people can make use of that. You've said no food, so I'd probably get a basket of flowering plants or toiletries or a coffee table book with photos

theres lots of lovely ideas on here
as a skint person with children to provide for I’d love literally anything for secret santa

most of the stuff people see as tat or think is crap I’d gladly use 🤣🤣even cheap wine and I’ll take any colour red white pink anything 🤣🤣 if it saves me having to buy it myself then great as it’s a treat I wouldn’t normally have funds for

personally I’d do a succulent in a nice pot from m&s or sainos, and if there was a quid left over a bar of own brand but decent dark choc, can be cooked with or regifted , or a tin of premixed cocktail , again if the person is particular they can give it to a guest at Xmas time

I’ve done nespresso pods for SS before and it was well received but I knew the person was treating themselves to a new nespresso machine

also a personalised mug but it was for a single older man who had by his admission ‘about two manky mugs at home’

Isn't that the point. If that were me and I won more than a few quid, I'd split it with the gift giver.

I'm thinking Amazon voucher for my secret Santa person as I don't want to waste the money.