Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not understand why some people like Secret Santa?

88 replies

FortunesFave · 05/12/2021 22:19

I've managed to escape the things until this year...I now work part time in a place and my colleague has organised a SS.

She's arranged the gift exchange to happen on the drinks night...I hate drinks nights and was planning to avoid by saying I had a prior engagement but when I told her this and I said "Oh I can't participate as I don't think I can make it that night" she said, "Oh we'll put you down anyway and you can just pick up your gift when you come in a day later"

I can't get out of it! I don't mind spending the bit of money but I'll probably pick a shit gift...I've got a guy who is hard to buy for because he likes everything luxurious...he's known for always bringing his own "good" wine to events etc.

The budget won't extend to that!

I am going in today and will be alone and I'm going to swap him for someone else!

I don't give a bugger. I want an easy pick.

I'm wondering why people enjoy spending money on tat or on things which might not go down well? If you like them, can you say why?

OP posts:
phoenixrosehere · 06/12/2021 21:04

Some people have wrapped and some have done gift bags.

PinkAndPurpleClouds · 06/12/2021 21:30

I don't know anyone who likes it tbh.

Purpleberet · 06/12/2021 21:41

I love it if I know the people well enough. But my workplace do a voluntary company wide one, and there’s too many people I don’t know so I don’t join in. I just can’t be arsed buying tat and getting tat, it’s so wasteful just buying crap for the sake of it

Fomofo · 06/12/2021 21:44

Ah it's a bit of fun

sayanythingelse · 06/12/2021 21:55

I want to enjoy it but I participated 3 years in a row and I got proper crap gifts each time. I opt out now.

One year I got a Barry M eyebrow pencil (which I don't use) and a plastic pen that another colleague had broken by the end of the day.

nordica · 06/12/2021 22:04

It seems pointless buying something the recipient won't want - I'd rather spend the money buying something nice for myself Grin, or would prefer to do a charity or foodbank collection.

I think my worst experience was on a counselling course in the final year. As I'd been in the group for a few years, I thought they knew me quite well (given it was a counselling course and we shared a lot, and met each other twice a week). Someone got me an awful cheap looking bling style bracelet that was absolutely nothing like the style of clothes and jewellery I wear. It was not given as a joke gift either. I donated it to the charity shop...

Ladywinesalot · 06/12/2021 22:32

SS gifts tend to be a bit shit, but the anticipation is fun

Scatterlingsofafrica · 06/12/2021 23:21

I also don’t understand why people like it and trying to decide whether to participate this year. I really don’t see the point of spending time in the crowded shops looking for something for someone I don’t really know ; then spending money that I would rather spend on my family; then receiving something in return that I do not really like.I would rather take the $20 and buy something for myself that I do like. I have also been unlucky in the past, spending ages choosing something nice , then receiving some chocolates in return, which obviously had had no thought put in.

ThinWomansBrain · 07/12/2021 00:55

It's the anticipation that you may receive a lovely gift surprise Grin

A no-cost secret santa at work this year - you prepare something you think the recipient would like and send (via an intermediary whose role I don't envy) by email - so poem, recipe, etc.
Someone is getting a video of my cat as a kitten playing with my christmas tree - and a poem.

ThinWomansBrain · 07/12/2021 00:57

I've got some really nice gloves somewhere from a SS about ten years ago. WIth cats on.

Original poster
FortunesFave · 07/12/2021 01:03

@ThinWomansBrain

It's the anticipation that you may receive a lovely gift surprise Grin

A no-cost secret santa at work this year - you prepare something you think the recipient would like and send (via an intermediary whose role I don't envy) by email - so poem, recipe, etc.
Someone is getting a video of my cat as a kitten playing with my christmas tree - and a poem.

But...it's twenty quid or less! People can just buy themselves a lovely thing for that much!
OP posts:
Original poster
FortunesFave · 07/12/2021 01:04

The only thing I can find in it that might be a good thing is that some people don't receive any gifts at all....no family etc. So those people at least have something to open.

OP posts:
fabricfanatic · 07/12/2021 01:32

I hate Secret Santa. The few times I've had to participate, there are always stupid prank gifts (without a "real" gift to go along with it), gifts that are clearly worth less than the suggested budget, and in the worst cases, too few gifts to go around because someone didn't remember or bother.

With a group of people I like, I suppose they could be okay, but among mere acquaintances, they're awful!

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread