Secret Santa at work

[Carol52]

We are having a secret Santa at work. I have no idea what the person I have to buy for likes.
we work in a school and are all business support / first ciders etc,
the lady is around fifty (I don’t know) for sure.
The limit is £10.00. I thought a mug or something . Any ideas please .

Box of chocs or some fluffy socks.

A candle or a photo frame. TKMax have good ones.

Hot water bottle with a cozy cover

Gin

Chocolates, wine, gin, scarf, socks, candles, oil burner, nice note pad?

Just go chocolate. Worst case she can regift it. If you don’t wanna do that then cosy socks or consumable type products, like a good or nice M&S hand soap gift set. Everyone is (hopefully) washing their hands so at least it’ll be used rather than binned

Bottle of wine and some chocolate . Not a mug- that's a crap present

A mug is a shite present….nice candle….nice bottle of wine

A tenner in a card. Job done

Contigo travel mug and some nice teabags

I usually try to figure out which colleague knows my Secret Santee best and ask them, very briefly, for a little help - or a second opinion if I have a gift in mind. In a very formal/impersonal workplace and/or if she's very new maybe her boss or whoever trained her or sits closest to her, otherwise whoever she hangs out with or has the most contact with. They may know some salient details like - she doesn't drink, is on a diet, is planning a trip to Turkey, loves cats, always loses x item and needs to buy a replacement, etc. Might not help, but can't really hurt. IME the people I've asked have (apparently) never minded giving their view and keeping it private, knowing the Secret Santa context.

I'd always go for chocolate/nice Christmas food. If she doesn't want it she can share with family or regift. It's very rare that someone doesn't eat chocolate or know a single person that does.

Anything else is too much of a risk for someone you don't know.

fun stationary, small Lego sets, or puzzles.

I always go with a voucher or cash or lottery tickets. I hate second guessing or buying more crap for people. I would HATE a puzzle, stationery, mug, a candle, lego, a scarf, booze, chocs...I'd MUCH rather choose my own. It feels like an actual treat then.

I'd hate a candle. I don't drink. Agree mug is shite.

Hyacinths or other bulbs planted in a pot. M&S sell them.

This^
go to the big Tesco near you or M&S and get the nicest box of chocolates you can get for £10 or a bottle of wine. At least it will come handy at this festive period.

don’t do fluffy socks or a candle.

Yeah i’d go with a voucher actually. Or chocolates failing that.

I’ve had so many pairs of fluffy socks for xmas and i never ever wear them.

Gloves? Nice coffee? Even something you don't really want but is a decent quality item is fine for a £10 secret Santa. The thing you reslly don't want to receive at work is anything that is obviously way under budget (e.g. a freddo), or clearly already used/old/dirty because it makes you wonder if they hate you! Anything you can open and breathe a sigh of relief is all good for secret Santa, whether that's chocolates, a candle, socks, a fancy soap etc. Just make whatever you get the best for that budget.

Voucher for the coffee shop / cafe near work?

• If you arent already an anthropologie perks member you could sign up to it. Need to sign up to both parts. They then send a £20 off voucher. I used mine for handcream and only paid delivery then

A voucher for Starbucks, Costa etc and chocolate, nice stationary, a plant or nice hand wash.
Don't do alcohol, candle, mug, socks - I would not want any of these from a colleague .

As a woman in her early 50s I’d be disappointed with most of the suggestions so far. What about nice pens if she works in a school.
UIXJODO Japanese Gel Ink Pen 0.5mm Fine Point Smooth Tip Gel Pen with Silicone Handle, Premium Series Retractable with Metal Clip (5 Pcs, Vintage) https://amzn.eu/d/aM2KDwq

Something generic that she can donate to a food bank after Christmas. Biscuits, jam or pickles gift set, chocolates.
Definitely not mug, socks, photo frame as you have no idea of her taste, although these items could go to a charity shop…..

Have a look at m & s gifts @ 10.00 or TK maxx? You should find something nice.An older female, Quality Chocolates/ Quality Shower cream usually appreciated.