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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

89 replies

Dumptyhumpty101 · 08/12/2019 19:02

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...

OP posts:
ILoveEvie · 08/12/2019 23:12

We've got secret Santa this year but instead of being allocated a specific person, we've been told to buy for 'a woman' or 'a man'- which I hate because you can't even personalise the gift!!!

My gift to 'a woman' this year is a small hanging glass bauble which is open to one side (approx £2.50 from Amazon) and I've bought a little succulent (£2 from a local florist) and put some succulent soil (which I already had) in with some moss and voila, I'm done! Just need to find a small box and wrap it carefully!

Who doesn't love a pretty little succulent?!

At least when it dies the hanging bauble can be reused and if it survives then great! No plastic tat for 'a woman' to transfer from the office straight into her own bin!!!

MT2017 · 08/12/2019 23:13

I do a charity donation then just print out a page with the charity's logo and write "Thank you for donating Christmas dinner for a homeless young person" or whatever is appropriate.

Really?? Hmm Bet your recipient was delighted NOT

DontLettuceBrexitLettuceRomain · 08/12/2019 23:18

I've only ever had good ones - a book, some nice stationery, some bath salts, and chocolate!

Wearywithteens · 08/12/2019 23:31

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn at the poster's request.

Damnthatonestaken1 · 08/12/2019 23:40

Where I work now my first SS was a lovely mug which I use for my morning coffee every day. 2nd year was a gorgeous scarf, very me colours (with a meaningful message as to its purpose) and I wear it on the job every winter. Last year I got candles which, whilst I'm not a particularly candley person, were beautiful. This year remains to be seen but I hope my luck continues!

cherish123 · 08/12/2019 23:43

Mixed. I've had lovely stationery. I have also had boring plain stationery. Last year I got a really cheap looking scarf. It's best if you have a wish list.

OctopusNow · 08/12/2019 23:47

How about one of these?

To think no one ever actually likes their secret Santa present?
To think no one ever actually likes their secret Santa present?
GunpowderGelatine · 08/12/2019 23:49

This is why I don't take part but instead I spend a tenner on myself

Lulu1919 · 09/12/2019 06:41

Coffee voucher....Costa Starbucks etc etc

ToffeePennie · 09/12/2019 09:24

Well I hope my secret Santa’s this year like their homemade harry potter baubles! (Theme is homemade Harry Potter) and keyrings and letters!
I also hope I like mine!
My husband has an awesome at work SS, where they spend £20. He’s so far had an amazing set of cufflinks with our kids pictures on them, a full on Porsche rc car (and it’s really good), a drone and some other really great things. We love it.

GhostEmoji · 09/12/2019 09:33

I fucking hate secret Santa at work. We used to be able to opt out but this year it was mandatory and when I protested very mildly, I was met with lots of attitude and sulking, with someone storming off in tears. Confused I shrugged and threw myself into it, bought a beautiful, tasteful (expensive) gift which I hoped the person would love, as she is a nice colleague. She seemed distinctly underwhelmed by it and I was a bit gutted to be honest. Next year it's one of those mugs for sure.

BeanTownNancy · 09/12/2019 11:07

We had a £5 limit at work last year. One of the younger guys (who is a bit cheeky, but well liked) bought a photo frame for one of the older ladies, but he put a posed and signed photograph of himself in it for a laugh. It was so unexpected it was really funny, and she's actually still got the photo of him in the frame on display in her house.

I got given chocolate... I couldn't eat it because I had gestational diabetes. Someone clearly gave my present no thought at all (everybody knew because we are all close and I'd bemoaned my inability to eat sugar every time there was cake).

So it's good fun if people put some effort in, either to be thoughtful or funny.

4DrivetPrive · 09/12/2019 15:00

I've had some lovely ones, but the most recent was four tiny sachets of toiletries that all said Free Sample on the front. Really embarrassing and upsetting when everyone else has had thoughtful gifts. Sad

Wearywithteens · 09/12/2019 22:30

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn at the poster's request.

YellowSubmarine94 · 11/12/2019 02:45

Secret Santa needs to be banned. Causes far too many problems. Nothing like this should be expected from people year after year. It makes me sick to my stomach that even people who are JUST getting by by the skin of their teeth are being guilt tripped expected to participate.

If anybody would like to make a petition, I would be falling over myself to sign it!

Redcherries · 11/12/2019 07:00

I like the sound of the home made baubles, even if they were shockingly made the time and thought from a coworker would be appreciated.

The last one I did I got a mug with an insulting text on it, it would be outing to say what and maybe some would have been amused but it was after months of this person trying to use my juniors to do day to day paperwork he couldn’t be bothered to do himself and we’d butted heads a few times.

GoodCheer · 11/12/2019 07:03

I always seem to get toiletries - things like hand cream, body lotion, soap. I’m quite happy with that. It’s useful and often something I wouldn’t spend £10 on myself, so makes a change from my usual £2 Nivea from Savers Grin.

DrWAnker · 11/12/2019 07:07

Secret Santa is supposed to be funny and therefore only works with colleagues who know each other well, have a dark sense of humour and can stand having the piss taken out of them. Otherwise it's shit candles that nobody wants, which is pointless.
This is what ours is like and it's usually brilliant. I've had very thoughtful home.made gifts but I guess that isn't what you can do.

Alte · 11/12/2019 07:19

I don't do secret Santa, but DD does it with her friends every year. Last year it was a close friend, she got a set of perfumes. This year it's someone she doesn't know well, he got a box of chocolates. Both of them liked the gifts.

cricketmum84 · 11/12/2019 07:27

Secret Santa is stressful!

This year I've got to buy for an accountant I don't really know. I stalked his Facebook which is 99% photos of his dog with how much he loves him so I've bought a "me and my dog" photo frame plus a joke book for accountants. DH says they are rubbish presents but I actually think he will appreciate them!

phoenixrosehere · 11/12/2019 08:02

Depends on who you get.

I got my team lead and due to us sitting near each other and chatting away before she stepped down it was easy. I knew she had a thing for Hello Kitty and bought something along those lines. She looked and sounded like a kid on Christmas when she opened it. She hadn’t expected it.

No idea who mine was but they bought me a snood. I’m not from the U.K. and had never had one. I loved it and still have it after five years.

GingleJangleScarecrow · 11/12/2019 08:33

Just all put a £10 note in the middle of the office and set fire to them.
Maybe toast some marshmallows.

Grinch, grinch, grinch Crown Angry

ForalltheSaints · 11/12/2019 08:44

I agree with the sentiment of the OP.

Too late for this year, but I am going to suggest next year the idea that one train company staff have done, of giving £10 to a charity. We could ask everyone to nominate one and draw one out of a hat on the day we would normally have opened such presents.

fromthefloorboardsup · 11/12/2019 08:46

I've had some really nice ones - Lush bath bombs (that I love), a mug that was actually personal, some nice chocolates etc

20viona · 11/12/2019 08:48

I had a lovely one last year it was a set with mini Prosecco and glitter to put in it with a Yankee candle. Right up my street