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Original poster

To ask what Secret Santa tat you've been given/seen someone get?

95 replies

keepingmypeaches · 15/12/2018 20:41

Best yet... My MIL received a bright pink beanie hat (100% Polyester), that says 'Babe' across the front Grin

My own Secret Santa gift was fairly mild and nice - A mug with my initial on and a pair of Christmas socks. My husband received a beer glass and a pint to go with it last year. That went down well. This year, he got a crappy 'Santa lol jokes' booklet and a party popper. He was most displeased after forking out for a nice chutney range set and international tea assortment set.

What horrors have you received/seen someone receive?

OP posts:
MyGastIsFlabbered · 15/12/2018 23:10

I one got a bottle of fairy liquid, a pair of rubber gloves and a brush for washing dishes Shock

Yutes · 15/12/2018 23:39

A hot chocolate gift set.
Or a ten pound note. I refuse to participate in Secret Santa. It just ends up being really disappointing.

Noodledoodlesandspud · 15/12/2018 23:43

One year I got a bottle of white chocolate vodka, which isn't my thing but would have been OK except I was pregnant so I couldn't drink it.

WhirlAndTwirl · 16/12/2018 01:02

Pin the Mellon’s on the babe game 🤣🤣🤣
www.amazon.co.uk/d/Outlet/Pipedream-Products-inc-820300-Boob/B001GR5EHA?tag=mumsnetforum-21

HaveAWeeNap · 16/12/2018 01:56

We once had a fiver limit and a 'home made' theme.
I received a home made shit.
An actual, lovingly crafted, papier mache, painted brown, turd.
Thanks.

Oysterbabe · 16/12/2018 03:56

Omg what if they saw you throw it

I'm certain they did. It was someone on my team and I didn't do It subtly. They all know that I don't wear jewellery and if I did it wouldn't be a large plastic ring and a butterfly necklace. I worked out in the end who bought it and we were never keen on each other. She didn't want to do secret Santa at all but forgot to opt out in time. So her solution was to buy me landfill and only spend £2 of the £10 budget.

CarrieBlu · 16/12/2018 04:07

Edible pants.

floribunda18 · 16/12/2018 04:58

I put in a nice spa set of toiletries which was originally worth £15, then knocked down to half price so was within the £8 budget.

I got some pot pourri which looks quite festive in the basket I've now put it in but I haven't even seen pot pourri in a shop for years and do wonder whether it had been sitting at the back of someone's cupboard for a long time. The box didn't look new.

BuffyTheMLMHunter · 16/12/2018 05:55

We have a generic SS (you pick from a sack of gifts), £10 limit. Everyone else for gorgeous glass baubles, tea sets, luxury edible sets, pretty scarves etc. I got 2 face flannels with a Santa head on it. One of the others quipped that someone owes me £9!

Mailfuckoff · 16/12/2018 06:22

This year I got something I wanted. However I know they only spent half the 10 limit. Its only a small thing but someone in my team is tight!

Aridane · 16/12/2018 06:32

I was once given a shoebox. I had put loads of thought and effort into the gift for my person, but whoever drew me got me a shoebox. It was patterned, and was being marketed as a "photo memory box", but when all was said in done, it was nothing but an empty shoebox.

So - not a shoe box!

Pinkprincess1978 · 16/12/2018 06:42

My worst ever was a little reed wooden sign. Painted pink with the phrase 'It's got to be.... Pink!' It had a little metal hanger with a bit of material (that had been cut out with pinking shears) tided at the top. I hated it and was sure it couldn't have cost £5. My DH ended up throwing it away before new year as every time I saw it I got angry 😂

Another year I got a naff plastic elastic bracelet with a plastic love heart sweet charm. I was a 30 year old women! Again, no way they spent £5 on it.

Generally I've been lucky in SS though. My current job everyone seems to get beautiful gifts so I'm looking forward to seeing what I get next week.

We also do an advent angel where you are to do something nice for someone in secret within a week and not spend more than £3. One of my colleagues got a cheap £1 selection box! She was not at all happy as she had gone to a very fancy bakery to buy her recipient something nice.

Last year for my advent Angel I snuck homemade baked goods and little sweets into his office each morning then on the last day a bottle of beer. He really appreciated it.

Ethel36 · 16/12/2018 06:50

Only opted in a ss once, I got a handbag holder. It clips to any table and you hang your bag on it! I thought it was tat so opted out since then. Love seeing people's face opening them up though!

kmmr · 16/12/2018 06:58

I hate directed secret Santa. I think the ones where you just buy something for $20 and there are games to distribute them in a fun way.
People use it to be mean to each other! I sat next to neighbour on the bus last year telling how funny it was that he was buying a comb for someone who was losing his hair and was sensitive about it. And he had a list of the 'funny' things he had done in the past. Twat...

I got a Bluetooth speaker this year! I'm very pleased

kmmr · 16/12/2018 06:59

*in a fun way are better.

ouchyoubiteybugger · 16/12/2018 07:02

A stop smoking CD it was free with that weeks paper and I'd stopped smoking a year before !
The year before I got nicotine gum and breathe mints !
It hurts as I always try to get something nice for my ss this will be my last year doing it.

namastayinbed · 16/12/2018 07:05

Out of date sweets.

CaptainMarvelDanvers · 16/12/2018 07:10

I hate doing Secret Santa. I struggle thinking of gifts for family I know very well, never mind colleagues.

Imalittleelf · 16/12/2018 07:12

Blonde hair dye because I am ginger ( I love my hair) I took it as bullying as the guy was sniggering.

Porn DVD and a revolting book (person had sen and had to be spoken to)

This year 2 children's books ( I have a child) and some chocolates. Happy with that.

Last year my person couldn't come and my gift wasn't there. I was on maternity so had gone with my 3 month old to join in. I was upset but a colleague dropped my gift to me after.

Honestly don't remember many of them but my team are pretty thoughtful and get nice things. I got someone a new mug as I didn't like making tea in their one and had made this quite known lol. She took it in good humour and it was a nice Cath kidston mug.

ShizeItsWeegie · 16/12/2018 07:14

I got a mug that said, 'I don't suffer from stress but I am a carrier'.

I presume someone was saying I was the cause of all the problems in the office? Confused

LemonMousse · 16/12/2018 07:17

I think I've always been fortunate with SS gifts - don't think I've ever had one I didn't like (hope I haven't tempted fate with that statement and end up with a monstrosity this week!)

A colleague once got a 'tree lamp' - sort of light up twiggy thing which she managed a polite 'Oh how pretty' on the day. After Christmas she checked with me that I hadn't had her name and confided that it didn't even have a UK plug on it!

FluffyMcCloud · 16/12/2018 07:19

We did one with DHs friends one year and bought two really nice gifts for others, then DH got an inflatable willy ring toss set. (An inflatable “willy” you strap on round your middle, and rings to throw on it). Everyone else was sat with their lovely gifts and DH had a piece of tat which he knew would go straight in the bin. What annoyed me the most is our young son was supposed to be coming with us - which everyone knew as there was a gift for him - and it was such a horrible gift for a child to see. DH has some horrible friends (or HAD I should say...!)

Nquartz · 16/12/2018 07:30

I've had all sorts of crap from fake tattoos to salt & pepper shakers. The best though was a book about serial killers & a double decker, that person knew me very well!
This year we bought a present for a child in care instead, a much better use of £10

Allyg1185 · 16/12/2018 07:32

I think I am very easy to buy for and happy with most gifts. One year my ss told me it was herself that had got me and asked what I would like to give her ideas and save me getting crap. So i said smelly bath sets, books, candles etc

She handed over my gift looking triumphant saying she had used her own initiative. She had bought me an adult colouring book and gel pens despite us having a converstion not long before that about how I don't have the paitence to sit and colour in all the tiny little parts. Don't think they were new either some of the pens were dry and the book looked bashed round the edges Hmm

EnglishRose13 · 16/12/2018 07:41

A generic bath set that the giver admitted came from his daughter as he didn't know what to get.

The next year, another generic bath set from the other male in our team!

I've seen someone get a very expensive bottle of wine (far exceeding the £10 budget!), grabbed from someone's own collection on the morning of the present exchange because the giver forgot.

Also, one year a colleague was handed £5 as their giver forgot too.

This year, I was involved in something different, where we all just bought in a gift for £2 and they were allocated randomly. I purchased a book on serial killers as most people in the group love that stuff and we talk about it often. The recipient was one of the few that never got involved in the talks and did not look impressed 😂

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