Ridiculous £5 secret Santa

[Baileysoncereal]

I’m new at work and they’re doing a secret Santa. I didn’t want to do it but everyone else was very excited and I wasn’t going to be a big Scrooge and refuse to join in, especially when I’m so new. It’s £5 limit which is ridiculous too and we are telling people after they open the gift who got what (again, not my idea) so I don’t want to buy something shit and then have to confess

i honestly don’t have the time to be going to the shops hunting around so it needs to be something I can buy online.
any ideas?

ive never even met the person I’ve got, it’s a woman in her 20s-30s, no idea if she has dietary restrictions, allergies etc. So I’m worried about just buying food gifts.

Please help me!

Socks? No Odor-Eaters, (and swap the name label with another gift)

If she’s a manager and has specifically said “it’s the thought that counts” she’s not going to shriek with horror or pull a face at whatever you get – I think that’s code for “don’t overthink it”.

£5 gift card for Greggs or somewhere ?

Chocolates or a book - mini cook books went down well at our secret Santa one year although I think that may have been £10…

Don’t try and be funny as it can backfire.

Just stick to a box of chocolates or travel mug or something.

If she doesn’t like it then she can always regift it.

You don’t have to overthink it. If she said it’s the thought that counts then she means that.

My favourite secret santa present ever was a lovely pair of fluffy reindeer socks - just the cheap and cheerful ones you get from a supermarket or some such; ok so I wouldn’t have bought them myself (I don’t really do the cutesy Christmas clothing thing) but they were actually really comfy and I felt cosy and happy in a sort of ironic way whilst wearing them. I kept them for several years to wear throughout December and they used to bring a smile to my face every time I brought them out of storage. They lasted well too. Not bad for a £5 limit!

Another one I really liked was a foot scrub and lotion set - I was known for my shoe collection and usually wore heels to work so the person had thought about something that was personal to me. I appreciated that.

I’ve always gone by the rule that as long as things only cost the limit at time of purchase, it’s okay if they’re reduced. That way I’ve not spent any extra and messed up the fairness of the exchange, but I’ve managed to get the person more value for my money. So for example something one person really liked was a nice set of lip balms in pretty cases - it’s not exciting, but very useful in winter, and if you get a £7.50 or £10 branded one at a good deal it makes a good little present. I think I got a Joules set at half price. Another one that seemed to go over well was one of those little soft toys that have the sucker feet/hands to stick onto the car window - she’s just passed her driving test and the character was one I knew she liked.

Or perhaps a good quality single Christmas bauble.

Even a mini bottle of wine (if you know she drinks alcohol!) and a little box of truffles.

However it does really bother me when Secret Santa isn’t secret...that’s the whole point of it! THE CLUE IS IN THE NAME!! It’s supposed to take away the stress of the exercise.

I agree. Don’t do a funny one unless the person is an absolute joker or unless that’s been decided as a theme. Some people get very hurt by ‘jokey’ presents if they’re not pitched right.

Mince Pie Caramels from Selfridge's for £4.99?

www.selfridges.com/GB/en/cat/selfridges-selection-mince-pie-caramels-150g_R03780844/

Though you would have to stump up for P&P unless you're near a Selfridges.

Secret Santa's should always be funny, imho. Especially with a £5 limit. It does help if the team know each other really well, then the more insulting the better but trying to buy a 'nice' present for £5 is pointless.

I recently bought myself some christmas candles from H&M. They smell lovely and the packaging was very pretty and hard to tell that they're from H&M.

Nice hand cream?
Sparkly Emery boards
Cosy socks (xmas themed)
Giant forrero rocher
Lip balm.

Boots has a secret Santa section on their website.
Stop being a grinch & stick a smile on your face

Everyone knows the limit is £5 - no one is expecting a Fortnum and Mason Hamper or a bottle of champagne!

Something easily regiftable or something that could be used in a group get together - a tin of quality street or a nice box of M&S biscuits

I'd probably go with a book - maybe something like Girl, Woman, Other or some other prize winner/vaguely intellectual book, as at least she'd be flattered!

Failing that I think a nice looking notebook and pen might be your best bet, at least she can use it at work. The thing about mugs, umbrellas etc is that they don't get used up so people end up with about a million of them, but pens and notebooks do need replacing so it'd probably get used in the end. I'd avoid chocolate just because you can't get anything nice for a fiver, ditto gloves etc.

I think the amaryllis idea is really good. Failing that I’d go for a book, or small box of nice chocolates.

Stationery is handy since it can be used at work, not really controversial. Or how about a reusable cup? Some nice ones from various charities at the minute, so you're supporting a good cause (yes, I know it will only be a percentage, but still).

If you can find out if she has a garden, there are also grow your own Christmas tree sets that are the right price for your budget.

Get yourself to B&M. I had a similar thread on here a few months ago (which went down in flames) and everyone seemed to think you could only get "tat" for a fiver. It's not true if you put your mind to it. I got a nice wooden serving board for my DSIL.

If people at your workplace use their own mugs/glasses in the office get her a pretty mug/glass or a personalised mug/glass, just try and see what she uses first.

A pretty or personalised pen would be a decent idea too. Even if most people just use a normal biro.

If you work in the same office check her desk, what she wears/uses/drinks/etc for hints. Alternatively ask someone in her team or her secretary for a few hints. Research is allowed.

There are always people who totally miss the point of a £5 Secret Santa.

As pp said it’s not about getting a F&M hamper or a gift of the quality you might choose for yourself. It’s just a small token gesture. It can still be thoughtful and doesn’t have to be tat. Mind you I do agree that in sustainability terms it might be better not to bother, but on the other hand it’s nice to have a little bit of Christmas cheer.

For chocolates, sure you’re not going to be able to get luxury handcrafted truffles, but I’d say a small box of Ferrero Rocher, one of Lindor and a mini bottle of wine would be absolutely fine in my book - I’d happily have that as a supper and make a toast to whoever gave it to me! 🍷 It’s all about the peace and goodwill!

A plain black umbrella from Home Bargains! I really hope I never get you as my SS. It maybe useful, but imagine having to exclaim joy over that!

Are you sure it's safe for you to take part in SS?
I don't think it's Secret Santa to take away stress from anything, it's just a silly social Christmas thing. I presume you lead a rather sheltered life if this sort of thing winds you up so much.

You might if it was pissing it down on secret Santa day.

How about a small tin with tea bags that she can keep in the office.