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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

secret santa

54 replies

Lemonfizz · 18/12/2013 18:02

I know I probably am being unreasonable but we just had our secret santa today at work. Budget £10 nothing rude. I picked out the hat a lady who has just started with us, so I don't really know her. But I got a nice baylis and harding gift set for her. It was reduced from £18 down to £10. I was really chuffed as it it really nice. Anyway opened mine and it's a cheap gift set from superdrug, probably aimed at young teenage girls. Chocolate bubble bath with a picture of a teddy on it. Price still on £5

I know secret santas are normally crap but must admit I feel it's a bit cheeky to not spend the same budget as everyone else. Also maybe should mention I'm not a young teenage girl but a knackered mum who is 51 Sad

Can't even moan at work as don't know who it's from.....but I do have a sneaky idea

Anyway just wanted to vent....

OP posts:
RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 18/12/2013 18:03

Yanbu. Disappointing.

Sparklingbrook · 18/12/2013 18:04

There's another SS thread on here today with someone less thank enamoured with their gift. Sad

If it's a tenner, it's a tenner-very mean to spend half that.

Sparklingbrook · 18/12/2013 18:04

*than

CranberrySaucyJack · 18/12/2013 18:07

Honestly?

You gave a cheap and nasty Baylis and Harding gift set and got a even cheaper and nasty Superdrug one back.

Sounds like a very unsatisfying experience all round.

Rhubarbgarden · 18/12/2013 18:08

I always thought with those things, the idea was 'don't spend more than a tenner'. In any case, it's all supposed to be a bit jokey, isn't it? Since when were SS presents supposed to be 'nice'?

Original poster
Lemonfizz · 18/12/2013 18:21

The reason I bought the baylis set was as I don't know the lady as she has just started. The gift I received was more suitable for a young girl not a grown woman and the price was still on. Everyone was told what the budget was and asked not to buy anything rude (last year some of the ss were really distasteful). No one was forced to do ss. I just think it's unfair to knowingly accept a gift when you have not spent the same as your work colleagues. Hmm Hmm

OP posts:
Bloodyteenagers · 18/12/2013 18:28

What's wrong with chocolate bubble bath?

What's the problem anyway? Just because a price was suggested, it is just that, a suggestion. Don't spend no more than £10. Personally I think that is a ridiculous amount, and I would have at most spent a fiver. No way would I spend a tenner on SS.

Nanny0gg · 18/12/2013 18:30

I like Bayliss and Harding...

And if the amount was agreed, the amount should have been honoured.

YANBU.

Original poster
Lemonfizz · 18/12/2013 18:31

What is right with chocolate bubble bath for a 12 year old when you are in your fifties.

OP posts:
Original poster
Lemonfizz · 18/12/2013 18:32

like others have said £10 was the agreed amount to spend

OP posts:
Bunbaker · 18/12/2013 18:35

"You gave a cheap and nasty Baylis and Harding gift set and got a even cheaper and nasty Superdrug one back."

I don't consider £18 at full price a cheap and nasty toiletry set. And being reduced to £10 makes it a bargain.

"What's wrong with chocolate bubble bath?"

Everything. I loathe toiletries that smell of food. The idea of a chocolate bubble bath is unappealing and sickly beyond extreme.

FetaCheeny · 18/12/2013 18:36

YANBU, if the guideline is tenner you spend a tenner, quite simple really. Even if I found a nice gift for a fiver I would pad it out with £5 worth of lottery tickets or something.

Bloodyteenagers · 18/12/2013 18:37

Would it have been better if it was the body shop version?
£10 is the maximum. Not the agreed price. The person could have gone, spent a fiver on the bubble bath and a fiver in tat from the poundshop, would that have been better?

RobinSparkles · 18/12/2013 18:39

Save it and keep it for next years Secret Santa!

cogitosum · 18/12/2013 18:39

I thought the whole point of ss was rude distasteful presents!

jacks365 · 18/12/2013 18:40

We had a secret santa at work years ago. £5 was the agreed limit, names pulled out of hat etc all sorted and agreed then the organiser sent an email round upping the limit to £10. I've never done a ss since.

RobinSparkles · 18/12/2013 18:41

Maybe the person couldn't afford £10.

£10 is a bit steep for SS, IMO. It's always been a fiver when I've done it.

Most of the time you end up getting someone that you don't even like.

Bunbaker · 18/12/2013 18:48

"Maybe the person couldn't afford £10."

Then they shouldn't have joined in. We always have a £5 limit on ours at work. I think £10 is a bit steep, but if the agreement is £10 you either spend £10 or say you don't want to do it.

MortifiedAnyFuckerAdams · 18/12/2013 18:50

We set an "it.must be fun" rule. With a fiver limit

DHs is brilliant - they have to.buy two things - one useful.and one.useless, and have a £2 limit Grin

MortifiedAnyFuckerAdams · 18/12/2013 18:50

We set an "it.must be fun" rule. With a fiver limit

DHs is brilliant - they have to.buy two things - one useful.and one.useless, and have a £2 limit Grin

wigglesrock · 18/12/2013 18:50

I think £10 is a bit much for Secret Santa. Ours has always been £5 or a bit more of a bran tub/ lucky dip kind of thing. I always thought they were more of a piss takey thing.

Hiya RobinSparkles hope you are all well Smile

MortifiedAnyFuckerAdams · 18/12/2013 18:50

oops

tiggytape · 18/12/2013 18:51

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

AuntieStella · 18/12/2013 18:52

Even if they couldn't afford to spend more, it's free to take the price tag off!

Yes, your Santa got it wrong. By that happens sometimes. And YANBU to be disappointed. But it's unrelated to what you got for someone else, and YWBU to dwell on it.

Original poster
Lemonfizz · 18/12/2013 18:53

Everyone was asked if they wanted to do it. They were asked to buy a gift for £10. I think what has annoyed me is that they accepted the gift from someone else at work knowing that they didn't spend what we had all agreed. I have given mine to my teenage daughter who thinks it's lovelyHmm

OP posts:
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