Oh god, office Secret Santa

[hyperborea]

I HATE office Secret Santa. The terrible pressure to get something pretty or thoughtful or funny for someone you don't really know, for almost no money. Without further destroying the environment by buying some pointless novelty crap which will go in the bin five minutes later. But if you don't participate, you are officially a Scrooge. So, anyone want to help me out? Middle aged guy, nice chap, got a sense of humour, no real idea what he's interested in out of work. £5 limit. That's it. You have as much to go on as I do . Help!!

[ChimChimeny]

We've used a website called something like Draw Names which gives the option of writing wish lists. It really helps to get something you might actually want & to get ideas if you don't know the recipient

[Latenightreader]

We don't even get names, just bring a £5 present! If you have a Tiger near you, they have some fun things. I've bought a paint your own thing (subject fits my workplace) which most people I work with would find fun.

[royco]

Nanoblocks

[pongopig]

I second Private Eye annual

[SoItWas]

I need to get a secret santa gift (also £5), for a female colleague, early 30'a I don't know very well, personally.

Someone once got me a Lindt chocolate Teddy, and a little word association game, which was lovely, but this woman is dyslexic so I was thinking maybe the chocolate Teddy and a cocktail mix? (As I do know she likes cocktails)

[SoItWas]

I don't know why the limit is £5 though, when we all always end up going over. £10 is easier to work with.

[Benjispruce5]

We’re donating to charity this year instead. Can’t stand SS. Just more tat you don’t need.

[herecomesthsun]

Chocolate florentines,£5 m and S, bit less in Aldi, they will be appreciatively eaten

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

God no to a cheap tie or socks.

A couple of bottles/cans of local beer unless you know he doesn't drink

[DowntonCrabby]

Damn you autocorrect book- it’ll be on Amazon for a few quid.

[hyperborea]

I'd actually prefer a no name gift system, because then it's easier to get generic chocolates without it seeming impersonal. It doesn't help that a colleague was moaning that last year she was disappointed in what she got, because she'd put a lot of thought into hers, and the one she got was a bit crap.

[Amberflames]

I know I sound like a miserable cow but I’ve refused to do mine this year on environmental grounds. So much of the stuff just gets dumped at the venue. I think ours was a £10 limit so I usually got given a bottle of wine which I was fine with.

One of my favourite ones was when someone bought me food items from where they thought I was from, only they didn’t actually know specifically so I got a great mix of random tasty northern foods. Ate most of them pissed on the way home!

[Rainbowqueeen]

I have a similar person and am planning to get either novelty socks or google socks to save animals Barekind is a uk company that sells them but theirs are 8 quid. You may be able to find similar for cheaper though.

[00100001]

I just get called Scrooge, can't be doing with adding to the pressure to buy yet more stuff.

[Benjispruce5]

@Amberflames Totally agree. It just seems so wrong in the current climate. Same goes for Christmas cards. So unnecessary if you’re in touch with people on WhatsApp or social media. Have donated my Secret Santa and Christmas card money to the NSPCC this year. Far better use of my money and time.

[friendlycat]

Two lottery lucky dips in a little gift box.

[fruitpastille]

Secret santa that has to come from a charity shop is the one I have enjoyed most. Win win as if the recipient doesn't like it the gift can be re donated and the charity still gets money. There are loads of books if you want something sensible and if you have an extra pound left in the budget you can add a bar of fair trade chocolate. Maybe suggest it for next year!

[Nearlyshitmypantsthere]

Haven't read the full thread so don't know if this has been suggested. Menkind sell a bar if soap , one side says arse, the other says face. Funny yet practical 🤣, and it's only a fiver!! Sorry but I have no idea how to post a picture or a link ☹I have saw it cheaper before but a quick search showed it from Menkind, HTH.Merry Christmas 🎁

[KateInHappyland]

To avoid this, our team insisted we all wrote ‘ideas’ of what we’d like on a board up to the value of £15, so if our Secret Santa doesn’t have a clue they can consult it.

It did feel very awkward though. I don’t like asking for things!

But like you said, being the only one on the team not participating marks you as a Scrooge or not a team player. It’s hard. I hope you find something!

[Nearlyshitmypantsthere]

*of soap 🙄

[TodaysFishIsTroutALaCreme]

I've just our purchased this for my secret santa

[batmanladybird]

Coffee voucher

[TheLovelinessOfBaublyDemons]

Lush bath bomb is my go to.

[FoxIvy]

Don't understand why books are deemed inherently less wasteful than some of the other gifts suggested. Ones like those Famous Five ones are just tat (funny, but tat nonetheless). Increasingly people are reading things on kindles etc anyway.