Secret Santa for under £5!

[hulahoopqueen]

Literally what the title says - I'm a member of a group of women aged roughly 25-65, and we're doing a secret Santa. It's our first one so I can't draw on previous years' ideas unfortunately!
Budget is £5 and I'm honestly stuck. I'd like to get a nice usable gift that will appeal to most, and doesn't feel too much like I've spent £5 for the sake of it.
I would welcome any ideas 😅

Starbucks toffee nut latte sachets and a Christmassy mug (loads in Tesco around the £2-3 mark)

Not for me, I don’t like nuts. Just plain hot chocolate sachets please

Really if these things were brought to a halt there’d be a helluva lot less tat in the world. Less exploitation, less pointless waste of resources.

I bet not one of you needs or particularly wants any ‘gift’ costing less than £5. Why do it? Why not just go out for a drink? Or donate all your £5 notes to a needy family?

(Am honestly not Scrooge - but the proliferation of cheap tat is pretty infuriating.)

Lush bath bubble bar, novelty earrings, diary, cook book, nice pen and pad, candle from TKMaxx! Ooo I could just keep going! Shampoo bars are very popular but also person specific! Coffee voucher as a treat coffee and cake!

We did this at work for a few years but tbh you usually end up with a load of tat for a fiver, we donated a fiver each and did a huge food shop for the local food bank. Maybe an idea for future years.

I was quite tempted to make a donation in someone's name but then charity can be quite a personal thing and I didn't want to make too much of a thing of it if that makes sense?
Avoiding tat is very much going to be my aim here - if it's something they might not like it could at least be regifted! I like the diary and pens idea, not sure about food/drinks as I wouldn't want anyone to be in an uncomfortable position if there are allergies/disordered eating or what have you

How about beeswax wraps? Reusable alternative to cling film or foil and they come in lots of different patterns

Candle, diffuser or a nice hand cream.

The Works sell paperbacks.
Some are £2.50 or 3 for £6 , some are £5 each.
Various authors but some are light hearted Christmasy reads like Sophie Kinsella etc.

I wouldn't want a diary, most people use their phones these days don't they?
Anything scented is difficult, as many people are sensitive to strong scents.
I think a mug is a good idea, or a book which can always go to the charity shop. If not got anything plastic unless you're sure they really want it because there's enough plastic in the world. Chocolates maybe?

I like the beeswax wraps, will add that to my goto list.

A moisturising lip balm or a nice mug.

See we are all different cos a mug would be my most disliked gift

Chocolates would be best for me as I agree on the tat point - I need anything novelty like or stuff that I don’t expressly want

How about you give your (unopened) present, to the person you were supposed to buy for?

That's true of course. It could also go to the charity shop if unwanted though.
I bought a wine glass as my secret Santa gift, it was for someone who drinks wine anyway, and it says at different levels, good day, bad day, don't ask! It is a bit tacky, but again she could take it to the charity shop if she doesn't want it, someone will like it I'm sure.

Books
Festive magazine
Lip balm
Potted amaryllis

The best Secret Santa gift I ever received, and one I still use regularly around 15 years on was a lightweight, folding shopping bag, similar to this one. It lives in my handbag and has saved me from having to pay for a carrier so many times!
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Lightweight-Foldable-Backpack-Scatty-Scotty/dp/B086GWRBJV/ref=sr112sspa?crid=118YMBM8C0ZX8&keywords=folding+shopping+bags&qid=1669288109&sprefix=Folding+sho%2Caps%2C90&sr=8-2-spons&sppcsd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&psc=1&smid=A1H6PX3CV7EQOE

Microwave heated gnome thing. £5 from B&M. I'm in 3 secret Santa's and bought one for each

I take back what I said about the mug, THIS would be my most disliked gift!

Can you get a £5 gift voucher (do they even go that low) for somewhere fairy universally liked? I would love that, rather than another mug, or tat I don't need or want.

a pair of gloves or socks
shopping bag
tub of quality street / celebrations

Some fancy spices?
A 'naice' piece of cheese and a box of crackers (pushing over £5 I'm sure)
Radox £1 muscle bath salts and bar or slightly fancier chocolate
Mini red wine and a face mask
A charity shop book and a pair of socks

😂😂😂
We were all supposed to get something funny 🤷‍♀️

Jokes are free …

Be the grown up in your group.

Tell them it’s tacky and distasteful when so many are suffering. £5 each to a women’s refuge might actually make a difference to someone who needs it.

@TottersBlankly or a Secret Santa gift might be the only gift the reciever gets. For example a single mum whose children are too young to buy a gift and has no other relatives.

In which case I’d much rather spend more on a meaningful or useful present for that person - instead of any number of £5 joke gifts for people who will toss them aside immediately.

Will stop monopolising thread!