So, I have been in my current position for 4 years now. We are an all-female office, and one of the ladies organises a Secret Santa yearly. The way it works is that obviously there is a budget, but she also organises a spreadsheet on the shared drive where people can put what sort of stuff they are into. It's not meant to be a prescriptive wishlist as in- please get me product A, but a general thing like- I'm into running, I don't need shower gels please, and usually people are quite reasonable. So last year I got someone a nice running armband etc. The problem with it is that some people go over the spending limit yearly, and buy relatively pricey stuff, while some stick to the budget and then you have the "Oh, your present looks so much nicer than me" chatter.
Person I'm buying for has put big fat nothing on the spreadsheet until last week. The problem is, seeing how there was nothing, I already got a few bits and bobs I think she may like, and knowing we exchange gift next week, didn't want to wait last minute.
She now put some really expensive face cream as the only item, over the spending limit, and I heard her moan how she usually spends a lot of time and money on gifts but always gets something sh!t in return and how disappointing it is (she is one of the people going over the budget). She is also one of the people when we go out for work meals (which we usually share the bill for) to want an expensive restaurant or to order a few bottles of expensive wine that then everyone has to pay for.
Well anyway, I'm not getting an expensive cream, and can't exactly afford to get anything else as my budget it tight this year, but not really looking forward to seeing her face when she opens her gift...