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!

Something like this?!

Oh it's only the coaster for under £5!

Look what I found on Etsy: www.etsy.com/uk/listing/1085367975/i-got-this-because-my-secret-santa-knows?ref=share_v4_lx

I hate Secret Santa but we always had to join in. Instead I would donate the money to a charity of my choice but in the persons name and print out the notification of the donation, pop it in a card and wrap up a nice bar of chocolate to go with it. Most people preferred it to the “funny” presents others received. I loathe Secret Santa and all the absolute crap generated by it.

Don't get a candle. I don't know why they always get suggested but I'd be a bit pissed off to get a candle. It'd literally sit gathering dust in my house.

That's a risk with anything anyone buys.

I love this! And I think it chimes perfectly with the recipient’s wish for “it’s the thought that counts”.

True, but it seems to be the generic answer on here. I don't know anyone who has candles in their house.

I do but only posh wanker remortgage organic beeswax tralala ones. A Yankee candle would be straight to the charity shop.

Yes😂

Please don't get scratch cards, nail varnish, smelly anything. As already suggested, stick to chocs, candle or tree ornament.

Ahhh @stuntbubbles we meet again! Still not fighting over how to cook the turkey!

I've just counted and I’ve got 17 candles in my living room at the moment. I would have had 18 but I’ve recently moved my big 3-wick candle* to the dining room. I love the hygge!🕯🕯🕯

All of mine are non-fragrance though. I’m using bay essential oil for fragrance atm and it’s lovely! But I really want to get beeswax candles for my next lot. Any reasonably priced recommendations of where to get them?

On the thread topic, if I were given a Yankee candle from a colleague I’d be genuinely grateful for the thought - the giver would most likely have thought they were giving me a nice candle. It’s not their fault my tastes veer more toward the naice, and it’s not their fault the budget was £10 (or whatever). I’d give it to a charity shop too, and that way someone who does like and appreciate Yankee candles more than me will be able to enjoy it for much less than it would cost to buy new. Seems alright to me.

*Does a 3-wick candle count as three candles, I wonder?

My point was if it effects someones medical condition it can be dangerous. It doesnt matter if I give away a candle the migrane would still have happened and people can die from some allergen exposure.

And no I dont wear socks, they are an utterly pointless invention.

If it affects someones medical condition. Sorry but I thought you might like to know.

'but I don't like that' is not helpful but raising awareness that people can't have something (alleries, skin issues, religeous things) is entirely different.

Awareness is not something people should shoot down and ignore.

Ah good point about the fragranced things and migraine/allergies. I’ve not had to participate in the office gift exchange for several years now so I’d forgotten about that aspect.

I suppose it’s also very different if you work in a small, close-knit team (which tbf
has always been my situation). If you work in a huge office or don’t know the recipient beyond the basics it does make it much more problematic.

Charity donations all round! Or change it to ‘annual gift yourself a much wanted trinket day’!

@TangledWebofMincemeatDeception And as with the turkey, you are far more diplomatic than me.

You: I would graciously receive this and be glad to pass it on to someone who’ll enjoy it!
Me: I would hurl this through the window of the nearest Sue Ryder, how dare you!

Most of my natural candles come from farmers markets and little indie shops of the “handwritten cardboard label” ilk, so quite spendy vs a handle of tapers from Tiger (though I’ll do those too). Occasionally I’ll contemplate selling a kidney for a Diptyque but even with stupid tastes I just can’t do it. Instagram often throws me some good indie sustainable candle recommendations, can’t remember any specific names but I’m a sucker for clicking on an Insta ad in the small hours!

Sorry for the derail, OP. Hope your posh manager enjoys her Bic biros or whatnot.

I would get a bauble for £5

Thanks @stuntbubbles I meant of that ilk but just on the not too ridiculously spendy side...I can’t do it either. Was hoping you might have a link or two to small businesses but thinking about it it would obviously make sense to look out locally!

Sorry for de-rail @Baileysoncereal I hope you’ve had some good ideas.

@TangledWebofMincemeatDeception Definitely markets, little local trinket shops, and for unscented plain stuff – just ordinary white taper and pillar candles with long burning times, church supply shops! You have to buy 100s wholesale but if you have storage space it’s quite a good option, or you can pretend you’re recreating a romantic scene from an American tv drama: charlesfarris.co.uk/

Presumably somebody who would die from an allergy exposure would either a) not join in with SS, or warn their colleagues in advance.

People who are just a bit niche (as in don’t wear socks ?!) could regift.

Thanks! I used to order from Scandinavia but have given up that particular vice (I’m using up my stash but will need to replenish in the new year).

@Floomobal in the real world, absolutely! Meanwhile on MN, posters implode as SS doesn't fall under the common law duty of confidentiality and seek to dictate a Xi style list of very reasonable approved items from which no SS participant must ever deviate😆 .

I do. But they don't cost a fiver.

I don't think a candle is any more offensive than an unwanted notebook, pen, scarf, chocolate.

Some of the replies on here are ridiculous re: migraines/allergies etc. It's just meant to be a bit of fun. If you're likely to be affronted by receiving an unwanted or unsuitable bath bomb, toblerone or pair of socks, it's probably best not to participate. As long as it wasn't something intentionally offensive (crude or sex related etc) I really couldn't get worked up about a £5 gift from a random colleague.

Easy. Home Bargains does socks with a tog rating for 3 or 4 pounds, chocolate orange or one of those little boxes of milk tray that are £1 to make up the difference. You don't need to stress over what's just meant to be a bit of fun for a fiver.

Christmas bauble or follow a current trend for nice houseplants. I bought a lovely small ‘string of pearls’ plant in a tiny coloured pot - all for £4.50.