AIBU to ask for ideas on what to buy line manager in Secret Santa draw?

[HopefulCivilServant]

My team at work is organising a Secret Santa, and we’ve got a £5 limit for the present.

I’ve been given my line manager, who’s new to the team and who I really get on with (just to give a bit of background).

I’ve absolutely no idea what to buy her though! The last time I did Secret Santa was at school, and I’m not very creative

Any ideas on something lovely and thoughtful that I could buy for my LM on a £5 budget, please?

Thanks!

Arty postcards ? Fancy tea ? Posh chocolate bar ? Three cans of M&S cocktails ? A packet of willy straws ?

It’s impossible to say unless you can give us some more info about your workplace, the general vibe and your impressions of her.

Sorry, yes, that’s a good point Jenny!

She comes across as being extremely focussed and professional, and I’d rather keep it professional and thoughtful rather than give her light-hearted or joke present, as I would say we’re colleagues who get on well but not friends.

I know she likes tea, so posh tea is a good shout! Maybe posh tea and nice chocolate (aka ‘naice’ tea and ‘naice’ chocolate).

Thanks :)

A nice notebook or stationery item from Paperchase. Good quality tea.

Stationary

Oooh good idea, Doris! :)

And molinski :)

If you go with stationary, as a manager, I like those “to do” list pads or larger a4/6 notes pads with mon, tue, wed etc

Mugs are always a winner.

I have a Mumsnet mug with “YABU / YANBU” one each side which I turn it around and face it to people secretly during meetings when they’re being knobs

The have those mini sticky things like post its in Paperchase which say: urgent, today, tomorrow etc on them which are quite good

Lovely consumables are never a bad idea. Organic fair trade posh tea wrapped in biodegradable non-glitter paper.

I would go for a lovely notebook too.

For your manager I'd definitely keep it professional and not go down the 'novelty' route. A lovely mug for work maybe, or a nice pen / other stationary from paperchase or similar?

It's stationery, with an e (for envelope).

#youarewelcome

I got my line manager and got one of those new famous five books 'five go on a strategy away day' went down a treat!

A Pukka Pad A5 project book.

If she wears nail varnish, a manicure set or varnish and emery boards.

If it were me, I'd hate to receive ANOTHER SODDING NOTEBOOK!

I ended up with a little tower of them that I could send to charity as soon as the woman who got them for my work birthday gift left.

In the same way that some people thinka gift that stays at Grandma's isn't a gift for a child, I am strongly anti getting basic office supplies as a present.

Jam. Honey. Fancy anything-edible except wine and chocolates basically, which says "fuck knows, but I had to buy you something".

Some nice pens?

Posh tea. Posh biscuits

Fancy hand cream. Or tea. And I agree about no stationery - I don’t much prefer to choose my own - and definitely not a mug.

Does she use a particular coffee shop - Nero/Costa etc? A gift card for there so she can get a few coffees on you.

Go to Poundland and buy a stocking for £1, fill it with naice things, tea, chocolate. If you have time do her name in sequins. I did this for one of my bosses first Secret Santa we did. Went down very well.

Otherwise go down the kitsch route. Flying Tiger are selling small tinsel Christmas trees, think they are about £6. What could be nicer for her desk?

Lovely tea would be a perfect secret santa present .

ECoffee mug?

Fairy lights to plug into her laptop?
Desk calendar

Sorry but just to reiterate, it’s definitely stationEry.
Stationary means something that isn’t moving.