To announce

[hmmmmm]

If my secret Santa is going to buy me tat I'd rather they gave the money to charity?

There was hushed silence. Might be because some have already bought their tat. One has bought a single employee a Grow your own boyfriend. Another some kinky gear for an employee going through marital troubles.

I'll probably get a bottle of milk and a saucer

One has bought a single employee a Grow your own boyfriend. Another some kinky gear for an employee going through marital troubles.

It actually sounds more fun than any Secret Santa I've ever been part of.

I have a workmate like you, OP. Last year I had to buy something for her in the Secret Santa so I spent £4 on multi packs of the chocolate bars she buys daily from the vending machine and just for fun (and the chance of a win) a £1 lottery scratch card. She still managed to be unhappy with it as the scratch card wasn't a winner, hence a quid wasted

OP I agree to a certain extent, it seems such a waste of money and jokey presents like that will be headed for landfill within days.

I wouldn't announce anything though as I wouldn't want that kind of attention.

I'm a bit jaded generally with office organised fun. We've recently had odd sock day, a cake bake thing, there's Christmas jumper day coming up (with associated cake baking and fund raising), and yep secret Santa on its way too.

Don't be a douche. Either participate and accept that a £5 budget or whatever may not get you something to your taste, especially from a work colleague you may not know well, or don't take part.

I'm with you OP. Someone has to take a stand. How many Secret Santa pressies are bought that are purely plastic tat, made for pennies, shipped half way round the world to end up in landfill for the sake of a few moments amusement?

I hate 'joke' presents. They are basically landfill or charity shop fodder which only further delays the landfill by a few months.
So getting a 'grow your own boyfriend' wouldn't make me happy.

BUT if you agree to a secret santa you do it knowing your gift may be a bit of tat. You don't say you will do it and then act like a tit and issue decrees.

I don't think it was a 'hushed silence'. I think it was a collective biting of tongues.

I think someone should buy me this

I actually agree with you all. I'm too vocal at times. I'm actually popular at work believe it or not. Thankfully I have some redeeming features to make up for my gob.

Where I used to work we had to buy gifts relating to our initials. It was hard sometimes but fun.

who told you you're popular?

To be fair, if I had you as a SS and had heard you, I’d certainly follow your request. I’d frame a donation to the local donkey sanctuary and give you that. Or donate it towards a worthy cause, like my personal chocolate supply. I’m a passive aggressive arsehole though .

I get that you don't want tat but it's just a it of fun and you've gone a bit holier than thou. Could you have decided to not participate and donate the money you would have spent rather than act all high and mighty?

I like the way my team are doing it.

We have a £15 budget and the name generator we've used asks you for suggestions, and then provides Amazon suggestions based on your selections. I'm sure every one will get something they want.

Additionally, a Costa gift card never goes far wrong.....

I don't think you're BU in your sentiment. Just perhaps your timing and the way you vocalised it.

You were very unreasonable and damn right rude. Most people know what sort of things to expect with Secret Santa if you didn't want a present you shouldn't of agreed to join in in the first place!

LovingLola, that's awful. Were you able to complain to HR or to your manager? That's just licenced bullying and the two gifts the OP mentions are of the same ilk.

As for the idea of spending £15 on a colleague's gift ....! Are you all very well paid? I wouldn't spend much more than that on a gift for a close relative.

Are you sure you're popular OP? Or are you just one of those women people are afraid of?

YABU.

They sound awfully "jolly" types buying those sorts of secret santas.
I'd definitely prefer a charitable donation in my name. Why is it funny to belittle your colleagues?

We are above NMW. By a couple of pound.

We discussed the budget and it was agreed as a team. So I assume everyone is happy with it. And anyone that wasn't would feel more than comfortable to let someone know and the rest would downsize to accommodate happily.

Let me guess, you'll get a saucer and milk because you struggle with human relationships and own several cats?

BTW, you aren't their DM, you're their owner.

Why is it still ok for people to give kinky gear in SS?

@DJBaggySmalls

Why isn't it?

zipTies
The giver has no idea if the recipient will find it hilarious, or sexual harassment.

Yes they do. They're colleagues.

YABU

How rude.

Rather than being rude why didn’t you say say you didn’t want to do secret Santa?

It was rude but I guess every workplace needs a fun sponge

Yes they do. They're colleagues.

It's quite clear from numerous Secret Santa threads every year that often colleagues don't know anything about each other.