Secret Santa based on initial

[lamad]

Hi all

I just went back to work today after having 2 weeks off and they did secret Santa hat .. as i was off my work friend chose one for me and handled a piece of paper with the persons name.

Now ... apparently this year it's a little different you have to buy a gift that starts with either of the persons initials..

For example if their initials are C M you could maybe buy a Candle or Mug .... hope that makes sense.

I think it's extremely silly!!! but I don't want to be the one to go against the flow

Can someone please help me with any ideas?
The persons initials are A G - any secret Santa gifts that you can think of that start with either .. A or G 🙈 I'm finding this really stressful and unnecessary on top of my workload and stress
Please help

TIA xx

Madness! We don't spend more than £30 on our family gifts!

God, it sounds tedious. So many people wasting fifty quid on some random shite nobody actually wants, because some idiot decided it had to have a theme 🙄

£50 🫨

Where do you work? If you can afford that for a secret Santa, I'd like a job there please.

But £50 that you can spend on just about anything you can think of in the next 10 years is a whole lot better than a £50 thing that's not to your taste.

An Amazon Gift card is perfect in these circumstances.

I'm jealous 😂

Not if you never shop at amazon.

Well, you wouldn't be. Someone else would have already shopped at Amazon.
Junking a £50 voucher which has already been paid for by someone else isn't being true to your principles, it's sheer idiocy.

I am not sat wondering what people would buy for me.

Imagine if you worked with Zoe Quinton 🤣

Someone has already given them £50 so you are doing Amazon a favour by not spending the card.

Creating an amazon account and having an amazon delivery is shopping with amazon and not something people would do just because someone else is too lazy to think of a proper present - why even bother? It just highlights the utter ridiculousness of secret santa. The only winner is amazon.

Now that's genius!

I thought the same! Maybe £10 maximum!

£50?! For a work secret santa? Are you in investment banking? That's absolutely bonkers.

We did the initial thing, and it was fun for £5. Laura got a Lotto ticket and some liquorice (I knew she was a fan) from me, and was very happy.

Find out if she likes gin. It's an easy conversation to engineer. If she does, you can get a nice bottle. If not then the gloves suggestion is a good one. Some neutral coloured gloves which are well made would be easily doable in budget.

I just can't imagine working somewhere where everyone can afford £50 on a random workmate though.

Absolute bollocks. £20-£30 max is what I usually spend on best/close friends.

Er... even without the cost of living crisis that is a ridiculous amount to spend on what is meant to be a novelty light heartedly gift.

Antique Gold?

Speak up!

Argos Giftcard then

I can think of a few things but nothing that would be £50. Does it have to cost that much?
A =
Anything apple themed (the fruit not the phone) - drink, tree decoration, bubble bath....
G =
Some of the Grinch themed socks from Primark
But that comes to about £7 worth of present.

£50!?! I don’t spend that much on my own Mother at Xmas!

I was going to suggest apple gin but you’ve still got about £30 left over 😟

A lovely dressing GOWN: https://www.thewhitecompany.com/uk/Snuggle-Robe/p/A06507?swatch=Pale%20Pink (over budget but I imagine you can find a discount code if you Google it).

G is great because it means you can get a gift card or a gift set.

I’d be tempted to get a John Lewis or M&S gift card because £50 is a lot of money to spend when you don’t know what she likes and at least this provides plenty of options. I can see that it’s not really getting into the spirit of the game though.

Gift sets could include:
Chocolate https://www.chococo.co.uk/assorted-festive-giftbag-2023.html

Nice toiletries:
https://www.cultbeauty.co.uk/l-occitane-smooth-and-firm-almond-collection/14882144.html

Although it’s so much to spend and nothing is going to please everyone (I think a £5-10 spend is fine to just buy something inoffensive and generic that they can just give away if they don’t like, I’d hate to spend £50 on something like that). Does she have anyone at work that she’s close to that you could ask what her hobbies/interests are?
Or could you have a conversation with her where you chat about Christmas and ask what she’s hoping to get (it might be a bit obvious but better than getting something she hates). At least then you can tailor the gift card/gift set to her tastes!

A for Anything. Buy whatever you want.

I'm another one who doesn't even spend £50 on my own mother 😂
I like the fun of Secret Santa (I know a lot of Mumsnet folks seem to hate it) but it really shouldn't be more than a fiver.

Judging by the number of posters who report rubbish tat or nonexistent gifts in their secret Santa there's the potential her for carnage at this price point.
Unbelievable

Ding ding 🛎️ We have a winner!!! 😂😂😂😂😂

Also remember that it’s a budget of £50. You can spend up to that but not over it.
If you find something that works and it only comes to £20, then go with that.

My train of thought was a fruit basket with Apples and Grapes! Or find some bottle of apple schnapps and a bottle of Gin or alcoholic grape juice (wine) 😉😉