Presents ideas for my team at work

[cyclingwife]

I tend to buy a token Christmas present for each of my team members, there's 10 of them, including a vegan, vegetarian and non-drinker. Our organisation doesn't do Christmas bonuses, we have to pay for our own Christmas lunch and so as team leader I like to buy them a little token gift to say thanks for all their hard work.

In the past I have bought chocolates, small wine bottles, miniature gin bottles but now I have someone in my team who doesn't drink alcohol and vegan chocolates are quite pricey. I like to keep the presents similar so there's no comparisons, and between £5 and £10.
Any suggestions?

cyclingwife I guess my badly made point was you will never please everyone. Stuff we didnt want was readily snapped up by people who did want it.

Love that idea Makesmiling I hate ebay with a passion but I'm sure I could look for them elsewhere

RainorSun actually your post was appropriate - the whole point of my post was I want to say thanks to my team members but I don't want to buy something for the sake of it/ something that is wasted/ or even sold on. With 10 of them I know it will be difficult to find something to suit everyone.

I hate the commercialism of Christmas (perhaps I shouldn't mention that on the Christmas board ) but if I am going to buy something I want it to be appropriate to each person.

Check Ebay and amazon for personalised mugs etc- am sure I've had ones for around £5 before. Then put inside the mug a £1 Christmas scratchcard (unless the gamble is frowned upon?). I LOVE things with my name or initials on them.

What about a nice chilly style water bottle or nice thermos / travel mug??

Very useful thread as I do something similar. Things I have done in previous years that have gone down well:

• personalised coaster for drink at desk
• mug for drinks
• little recipe book (the mug cake one was fun for work microwave!)
• Xmas dec

I also contribute to the Xmas meal out which typically bridges the gap between what the company allows as a budget and what the meal actually costs. My own boss tends to cover the alcohol for the wider team.

Think I am going to use the dr botanicals soap which might also do nicely for DC's teachers.

I’d love a nice pot plant - maybe a succulent as they need so little looking after?

SophieTurner thanks for all your ideas, I really like the idea of personalised coasters for desks. Where on earth did you find them?
I do like the idea of mugs but they all have their own ones already.

Yes 8by8 I'd love a succulent for myself so very tempted with a plant for everyone (including myself)

I bought my team a notebook each which was personalised with the team name and their initials

Willow have their own version of the chilly bottles but for £5 and they're great, keep drinks cold for hours. And they have loads and loads of funky designs!

I meant Wilko!

I would go with the voucher.
Seeds and succulents etc would be my worst gift

@cyclingwife I found them in a pop up in the local shopping centre. It was alphabetical but each letter was in a totally different style, so it felt much more individual than just a coaster with their name letter on it.

Thanks @Sophieturnerseyebrows I think I know somewhere that does alphabetical ones. Was trying to be organised this year so if I have to order online I have plenty of time.

worriedandannoyed most of the team already have the chilly style bottles. We're all trying to reduce our single use plastics. But good call as most have bought them through the year

@wizzler where did you get them from? I'm now tempted by something personalised or at least initials

Mugs are a good idea, or maybe something like a plastic-free water bottle or a reusable coffee cup.

Little succulent potted plants are also a good idea, I think better than seeds as they don’t rely on having a garden with space and tools for planting.

Otherwise maybe go for a sort of selection of small gifts. I tend to do this for my team - I’ll put together a gift bag each containing something like a pen, a notebook, some post-it’s or stickers, chocolate coins (co-op sells vegan ones), a fidget toy or mini tunic cube or similar - I tend to look for deals where you can buy 1 or 2 and get one free and look in the stocking filler areas of shops. I find if the gifts are broadly the same you can get away with substituting the odd thing if necessary for someone’s tastes.

How about giving them something at the start of December, an advent calendar each. You can get them for everything now.

@cyclingwife I will root out the info for you tomorrow

I know Amazon do personalised coasters- I've bought ones for drinkers and non-drinkers alike with their names and drink of choice on them. Most popular being red/white wine, gin and coffee - also v cheap at around £2 each

Next do a lovely embossed soup mug with microwaveable lid for £7. I ordered mine online and they come in decent size boxes www.next.co.uk/style/st383567

Or a pointsetta plant each - they look big but are reasonably priced.

Cinema voucher each. If you have a local Vue, they do most films at 4.99 so a tenner voucher would mean they and a friend/partner could go see a movie.

Matalan have a lot of initial items at the moment, some is on sale. Mugs, coasters and lots of other stuff.

What about one of these & a little box of chocs - it's on my x wish list this Christmas

www.beecycle.co.uk/product-page/personalised-mini-terrarium-cactus-keychain