To think no one ever actually likes their secret Santa present?

[Dumptyhumpty101]

I’ve got two secret Santa’s coming up this week and have no idea what to buy either recipient (one is a 20 year old girl and one is a 30 year old guy).

It got me thinking, I don’t know what I would actually want to receive for £10 and I certainly don’t know what to buy someone else that they would actually love. Of course I can do the usual smelly bits but to me that’s not what gift giving is about. I want the recipient to receive something they would genuinely like.

So AIBU in thinking no one has ever been over the moon with their secret Santa gift.

If you have great ideas, please do feel free to share...

how large is your workplace? talk to the people and find out what their interests are. Once bought unusual teas for someone I knew really liked good tea.
Nice, and subsequently well used gifts have included gloves, a snood, mugs.
Brilliant was a little wooden train, with a letter of my name on each carriage - sat in my office until I left, now out at home.

My SS recipient is a 19 year old girl at work and I've bought her a metallic drinking bottle, glitter 2020 diary and a bottle of Imperial Leather Refreshers shower gel. Wilkos was great!

I'm in a new team at work this year and am doing secret Santa, and I'm sure I'll get something quite rubbish. Probably kindly meant, but unlikely to be something I like. There are very few people in the team who know much about me (most of the team, about 25 of them, are in one big office, and 3 of us are in another little office, and I know neither of them have got me). I would be happy with a bottle of prosecco or wine but I doubt any of them know that. I'm not holding out for anything exciting.

Scrap that, you can’t buy Johnnie Walker for under £10. I have no idea what to get the guy now.

Team at work is huge, it’s done as a whole office so about 60 people. I did ask for some ideas and all I got as a suggestion was cocoa butter (I’m not entirely sure the person wasn’t being racist) and chewing gum.

Ours was all done online (team of 30 people spread across locations) so it made it absolutely random. However, online you could also build your own wish list of three items and most people did that - I put down a DVD and also two books that all fell in the price range.

One of my colleagues (who I had and work in the office with) had put two items that weren't due to be released until 2020, and the third wouldn't arrive in time. I was lucky in that I knew her and what she likes, I got her two wine glasses from Asda Home and some Christmas Yankee Candle set. It came to £13 including the gift bag, but she loved it. I never thought of wine glasses until that morning!

I also loved my present and still have no idea who my Secret Santa was

I think it can be really difficult if you don't know the recipient well, it's really hard.
I had a nice photo frame once. Failing that wine is always good.

I don’t even know if the girl drinks alcohol. I don’t get to go to the pub anymore since having kiddies. She started when I was on maternity leave.

I've seen people be genuinely pleased at their secret santa gifts though I've only done it once and was extremely pissed off with my gift as I'd put a lot of thought into the gift I bought for mine. Funnily enough I found the gift the other day (3 years later, unopened) and ended up putting it in the recycling bin - it's not the kind of thing you'd donate to a charity shop.

I’ve had some good things, mostly memorably a folding mirror for my handbag I still use 12 years on.

Couple of years ago my secret santa was perfect for me (framed vinyl). It wasn’t expensive and it was a charity shop vinyl and a cheapy frame but very well thought out. Hanging in the dining room. Last year I got £10 worth of scratch cards. I was pissed off. Nothing says “I couldn’t give a shit” more like that and it really hurt me tbh.

Oh! Another one. Last year the limit was £10 like this year, but only my immediate team and there’s six of us. I got bought a Parker Pen, which I still have in its box and haven’t used. But that was a lovely thoughtful gift as I love a good pen.

There’s lots of a random things you can get for Secret Santa, a photo frame is an excellent shout. Nobody ever has enough photo frames! Try and steer away from the standard wine and chocolates, that’s what makes SS rubbish as everyone does the same. I’ve noticed on Mumsnet this year people keep saying Le Crueset mugs for some reason?! Or Emma Bridgewater ones?

I hate joining in as whilst I have quite a few things that I wouldn't be able to use do to allergies and hate the thought I'd have to pretend I love something I can't have!

I always seem to get dragged into it, although this year I haven't! Last year was the turning point for me. I asked the arranger ( one of my friends!) if we could find a way to let the buyer know if there's something that wouldn't be appropriate and she refused. I hate the thought of someone wasting their money on me, for me to just bin it . So I put my foot down and said no thanks for this year!

As long as its not chocolate willies you'll be classier than my office, always at least one inappropriate gift every year

@TheTruthAboutLove - there's loads of Le Creusant mugs in TKMaxx at the moment! Maybe that's why?!

Last year I got £10 worth of scratch cards. I was pissed off. Nothing says “I couldn’t give a shit” more like that and it really hurt me tbh.

Trust me, there is - a pack of biros from the pound shop.

I would love a Costa voucher to indulge myself in a nice latte.

I’ve pulled my own name out so I’ve got a lovely new water bottle

I’ve just googled Johnnie Walker and you can get a miniature in a Christmas baubles for £4.99

I got a beautiful Merry Christmas banner / bunting thing years ago. It’s still going strong and looks lovely.

I’ve got a tricky one this year - I don’t know her that well but she’s lovely. She’s from overseas, lives alone (newish divorce), has no family in the UK and has had a really shitty time over the past few years. Not a big drinker although not teetotal.Suggestions welcome!! Budget is £15 (sorrynotsorry for the hijack)

For the second year in a row, we’ve no xmas party or lunch or anything!

I miss office secret Santas

we do it in our home ed group,tenner a time

ive always got lush products bath bombs or chocolate

we are a small group of friends though so we know what we like and dont like

Get them socks - go to Joules, or Crew, or Hollister, or somewhere like that, and get them some nice socks. Everyone likes and wears socks. I’d love it if people got me a few pairs of nice socks.

I loved the sticker of the pope that make him look like a passenger in my car. Apparently someone was hoping they'd get me this year, so they could get the one of the Queen.

I absolutely love sweets, chocolate, smellies, wine and candles .. so on the whole secret santa works well for me!

We did one with out quiz team a few years ago and my friend got me a vibrator .. which was awkward to unwrap in front of everyone!