Secret Santa - What do I buy the new girl in the office whom I know zero about her?

[RocketIceLollie]

I think I pulled the short straw in the office Secret Santa this year. I got the new girl in the office whom I barely know anything about what she likes....what do I get as a random gift for a 22 year old woman whom I know nothing about for a £10 max gift?

A couple of years ago OP someone bought me a pretty Oliver Bonas lanyard, still use it every day because it looks nicer than the standard issue one for my work pass! Think they are only £5 so you could get a couple or throw an extra perishable item...

costa coffee or Starbucks voucher is safe

Even the few young people I know who do drink - most don’t seem to - none drink Prosecco.

Just go generic. Chocolate, alcohol, bath stuff.

Why is it always smellies and chocolates for women?! I’d hate chocolates, smelly stuff, candles, anything glittery. A voucher would be great (something generic like Amazon, Deliveroo, John Lewis). At least it wouldn’t be wasted or more tat you have to dispose of.

You know some very different young people to me them 😂

Baffled people are genuine suggesting scratch cards, they’re the most lazy “stoped at the garage on the way in” gift ever. Plus she could have any sort of background with gambling etc. Same goes for booze.

I have to say I think a really nice travel mug for keeping drinks hot sounds good to me. If she drinks any hot drinks at all , not necessarily for travel but she can keep in on her desk so drinks last longer.
Personally I like reed diffusers & I don't like chocolate
Or - not sure if you can get them for £10 but I once bought a friend whose birthday in winter a pair of those gloves with bits on the end so you can text in the cold - I am sure a google will see if you can get them for £10.

Otherwise I have to say I think Secret Santa is more effort than it his worth . But again - just me .

Good luck though
Basilisk

Christmas bauble. Nice notebook. M&S glittery gin. Starbucks / Costa.

That should have said Starbucks / Costa voucher.

Thanks for the suggestions all 👍

I think my shortlist will be:

Gin (I know she does drink, not like that, but she does like a tipple).

Reed defuses.

A nice notepad.

I have had 2nd thoughts on the cake in a jar idea after the comment about it being left in the cupboard as that's exactly what would probably happen if I were given it 😂

I’ve got my person a mug with marshmallows/biscuits/chocolate bar in it (like a pre made one) and also a candle gift set with chocolate money bag. Is that okay?

I’m new … and don’t really know this girl well.

I bought a twenty something girl I don't know very well her initial in a light up letter. M&S do them.

A water bottle! Like the metal ones. So useful - can get ones with initials on to make it more personable

This is why I don’t do secret Santa anymore.

Suggestions for women are always:

1. toiletries (which can be difficult cos people have sensitive skin or specific preferences).
2. alcohol (so many people don’t drink)
3. mugs (random tat which no one needs)
4. notepads (boring)

I don’t have any better ideas by the way….but why go through this every year?

A good nail varnish? Nails inc etc.

Nice funky gloves? Always useful especially at the moment!

Touchscreen gloves

Hangover kit......
Hear me out as everything is useful!
Panadol
Berocca / hydralite / or similar
Jelly sweets
Gatorade (or similar)
Crisps
Red Bull / coffee voucher
Under eye masks
It's my go to secret Santa

kookykits.com.au/products/womens-hangover-kit-party-recovery-kit

Can't add a photo but basically this ...... much better than a random mug, nail polish etc. even if you don't drink you'd use all the bits !

All ladies that age i know like. Yankee candles or wax melts..

My dad’s secret Santa’s at guides/sports clubs etc are all asking for fluffy socks and body shop hand cream 😂. Age ranges 13-20.

the ones of age all hate Prosecco and gin. The new thing for the youngsters is sourz.

they are all also into blankets. Asda do some lovely cheap soft ones.

DD’s not dads, obviously 🙄

@uncomfortablydumb53 - yes touch screen gloves is what I was trying to say but did not do it so succintly

It's hard but I may be unusual in that I do not like chocolate, and yet people buy it all the time for me. If I did not have DCs it would stay in the cupboard / fridge until it went mouldy. I appreciate the thought but I do not like chocolate.

I am also prone to excema so random skin smelly things go in the back of the cupboard.

I do realise I am being a bit picky here but apart from that I like a reed diffuser or indeed anything a bit nice I would be grateful for - so nice pens , I would love a book of stamps as they are so expensive now and always useful ( I realise I am coming across boring here 😊

I would buy chocolate or shower gel. If you don't eat chocolate you can leave it in the office for everyone to share, or give it to someone else. Or nice socks.

And I'll always use shower gel, even if it's not necessarily the scent I would have chosen. Or hand soap. Not body or hand lotion though.

Not really because I would never use them. Definitely not Starbucks, anyway.

Costa is ok at an airport or in a town where I don't know where the nicest cafes are. But the chances of my using it before it expires are fairly slim.