Secret Santa

[Mumwithbaggage]

Personally I loathe Secret Santa because I never know what to buy, get embarrassed opening something I may not like in front of others and have enough stuff in my life - my ideal is we all chuck in £10, name picked out of a hat and winner picks the charity. Did this with a couple of groups last year.

However, seems I'm the bah humbug one. With one small group of friends I absolutely get why one friend in particular loves it. She's on her own and all three children are living abroad.

Our limit is £10 (ish). Can't be chocolates or biscuits. We're all 60 ish and used to buying nice things if we want them. I'm trusting you festive lot to find me the holy grail - something luxurious but cheap... Friend loves beauty/skincare but uses brands that are out of the £10 limit.

Thanks in anticipation!

Why not chocolate or biscuits? Chocolate is a great gift!

Could you buy a £10 M and S voucher, so that the recipient can choose something to their taste?

@Pandasnacks I agree but that was the agreement.

@TheSquareMile couldn't agree more but it's not in the spirit of the group!

This is why I'm stuck!

She doesn't get much spoiling and I think really appreciates something for herself. She's incredibly generous and giving so I'd like to find something. I get it. She's on her own here. I have lots of family etc here to spoil me.

Does she like bath bombs? “Lush” do lovely bath bombs. Or a book and a lovely bookmark?

One of the latest paperbacks, and a mini bottle of wine.
Candle with a scent that will make her smile. For example, I took a Yankee Candle to a baby shower raffle that was called Baby's Breath and somehow seemed appropriate.
Something from Molton Brown. I love their shower gel but I bet it costs more than £10!
Bottle of wine/prosecco/port.
Jigsaw.
Couple of cheese slices, biscuits, a chutney and a port miniature.
Fresh fruit selection.

A manicure set? That's one of my favorite and best used secret Santa's.

I think on a £10 budget the best you can hope for is naff but useful. The best one I’ve been given was a pair of Kate’ middletoes’ socks (I love her ha) and the best I’ve given was a pack of playing cards of inspirational women, for a very feminist colleague. I added in a homemade card with her picture and all the reasons she was on my list of inspirational women. Naff, cheesy but thoughtful and went down great and ultimately everyone needs a set of playing cards. So figure out something personal to her and Google till you find something 😜

A journal (& pen)
a drawing book (and set of pencils)
a set of bulbs to grow (saw lovely ones in National trust shop)
a coffee mug/speciality coffee
a jigsaw

What about a glass Christmas decoration or a Christmas mug. TK Maxx always have lots to choose from.

Does she read? Because £10 is perfect for a paperback book surely? It's a shot in the dark, but if you know vaguely the sort of genre she would like just go to Waterstones and pick something that looks interesting.

If there is a pound or something left over than a nice little bar of Money's chocolate, or some kind of little treat like that?

These are beautiful @Mumwithbaggage - the lady that hand paints them was on TV (Kirsty’s Christmas). Definitely handpainted. They are glass and so lovely.

There is a reduced one (£10.99 rather than £25.00) and a 10% code ( corner of photo)

Forgot to add, the glass baubles above from Dancing Colours Art, are sold via Etsy.

A box of 100 William Morris postcards. Comes in the most wonderful storage box, 100 beautiful high quality postcards. Just over your budget at £14 on Amazon. Everyone I’ve bought these for have loved them. Would be a useful gift for your friend considering she has three children overseas.

60 ish?
GLOVES!
You can't go wrong with gloves.
With enough forward planning you can even knit them yourself.

Actually, I should have said MITTENS, to be honest gloves are a bit of a bugger to knit with all those finger things.

I'd buy some bulbs and plant up in a nice ceramic planter. It might be slightly over £10 but no one will know and if she's alone at Xmas she would probably like it.

www.homebase.co.uk/delta-glazed-blue-cone-planter-20cm/15023196.html?switchcurrency=GBP&shippingcountry=GB&affil=thggps&affil=thgppc&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwvKi4BhABEiwAH2gcw7LOU9fML2X93T6m8ZbUQGAzWccffjVSNkwldSAll6s1LN-j75OOqxoCvWoQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

You can also get 10 percent discount from signing up to an online order if you don't have a home base.

Initial
Mug?

www.anthropologie.com/en-gb/shop/lou-rota-for-anthropologie-nature-table-monogram-mug?category=sale-home&color=910&type=REGULAR&size=One+Size&quantity=1

It would look lovely with 'Cheerfulness' narcissi.

Like these. www.google.co.uk/shopping/product/2511944204694241489?lsf=seller:525993940,store:17370382636102231020,lsfqd:0&prds=oid:16913826896856341651&q=flower+seeds&hl=en-GB&ei=t8gKZ-y6Lem9xc8Pva-s0A0&sts=14&lsft=gclid:CjwKCAjwvKi4BhABEiwAH2gcw0MBHKO4s_LZzIr8qVAelSSXTXshHG3kScXkU2bBIHKw9qL8OLXcRRoCvp8QAvD_BwE

White Company essential oil? Nice jigsaw puzzle on a Black Friday sale? Niche, but nice ink for fountain pen? £10 really isn't a big budget.

Is there a book you love (from years ago) that you know your friends would enjoy? You could buy it second hand online (if you Google practically any book either Amazon or Magpie will have it second hand) and you could put a nice bookmark from Waterstones inside.

I'd look out in the boots £10 Tuesday, you can get some really nice sets in there that are sometimes more than half price.

Lots of lovely ideas! Thank you. She's actually abroad for Christmas so will avoid food.

@TwoLeftSocksWithHoles don't think anyone would want gloves I'd knitted! 😂Thank goodness for shops!

@Mumwithbaggage

Would these be suitable for a Secret Santa?

https://shop.mariecurie.org.uk/products/marie-curie-daffodil-20-bulbs-bag

https://shop.mariecurie.org.uk/products/marie-curie-seedballs-gift-set-of-3-bee-butterfly-and-meadow