£10 secret santa for random colleague (we don't draw names) - could be male or female, needs to be vegan, nut free, soya free and not alcoholic

[HelenHywater]

So in my new office the secret santa is completely random - you just pull a present out of the sack. So I need to buy something that would suit everyone in the team - men, women, old young, muslim (so no alcohol), vegan, nut free, soya free. So not hard then! £10 limit. What do you think?

Coffee shop voucher

I would much much rather have that than notebooks, pens, mugs or similar stuff I don’t need

Or possibly could go with a nice shower gel in a unisex fragrance- everyone washes so would get used at least!

What a stupid secret santa.

Why? It just means no food. There are plenty of other things to buy.
My SS contribution this year will be a calendar with artwork by a living artist who is currently popular. I plan to buy one for myself, so am not just giving tat.

Perfect opportunity to deploy one of these calendars surely? 😜

https://amzn.eu/d/hFl8lM8

The smash leak free insulated mug
It really doesn't leak. I just chuck mine in my bag.

https://www.argos.co.uk/product/5024892?storeID=5489&utm_custom6=LIA&deeplink=true&gclsrc=aw.ds&&cmpid=GS001&_$ja=tsid:59157|acid:804-872-0397|cid:20335849817|agid:|tid:|crid:|nw:x|rnd:3495332319169176796|dvc:m|adp:|mt:|loc:9196433&utm_source=Google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=20335849817&utm_term=5024892&utm_content=shopping&utm_custom1=&utm_custom2=804-872-0397&GPDP=true&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=19663906200&gbraid=0AAAAAD9II9lX6XMnfUs4qlsJc61EvX26d&gclid=Cj0KCQiArt_JBhCTARIsADQZaynQH3C9PYq45hx31ajyChxN2JY3RH0OQGlJsaWX73I6Y8ok0MA30G4aAhB7EALw_wcB

What about a small game, basically one of the things you’d find by the tills in Waterstones or similar.

https://www.frenchsoaps.co.uk/products/aleppo-soap-with-olive-laurel-oils-on-a-rope-for-normal-skin-170g

Now, I'd actually find that useful. How long does it keep the coffee hot for?

How about a charity donation? This one is for a Christmas present for the dog of a homeless person, but there are loads available.

shop.shp.org.uk/products/dogs?srsltid=AfmBOoovkP4PfCs_c0rpj_ngaxXW5AsUnim_H5V6bKjdn8rFKrLida3c

Vouchers are a good idea but if you want to give something a bit work-ish and a bit fun, they have a lot of lovely notebooks on Ohh Deer. Since you get 20% off with your first order, these would be just under £10. This is a nice unisex design but there are a lot of others:

https://ohhdeer.com/products/set-no-5-3-pack-stitched-a5-notebooks

Or you get two of their lovely fabric hardcover small notebooks with fun sayings, but maybe others think these are cringe:
https://ohhdeer.com/products/next-week-has-been-exhausting-fabric-hardback-notebook

Well then she is one less to have to think about! So halal not necessary!

I'm of the very opposite view, as someone who has been invited to join in other cultures I would NEVER label a gift celebrating that culture at that event as 'an arsehole move'.

What the actual fuck kind of rude and small minded person would do that to someone else culture when you opted to join in to it.

If your co-work invited you to an EID event and gave you a gift they bought of a traditional EID light would you call them an arsehole?

I have received several items I don't personally need/use from traditional clothing to a prayer mat as gift celebrating cultural events and never been 'offended' just happy to be included in their happy celebrations.

A Christmas item at a Christmas event that people have opted to take part in is not 'offensive' on any planet. Different religions/cultures can join in each others traditions without getting offended and call each other names like 'arsehole'.

No one is forcing conversion, you don't need to segregate things out or ban things from people. The world is a better place if we embrace and share each other.

This:

Funtime Gifts DECISION MAKER PENDULUM DESK TOY – Fun Executive Desk Accessory for Quick Decisions – Swinging Pendulum Office Game – Magnetic Desk Toy : Amazon.co.uk: Toys & Games

It's <£11, a bit of fun, won't offend anyone, work-related as can have it on their desk.

You can swap the present afterwards. But I think that will be really stressful! I'll be worried that no one wants my present.

(I suppose the voucher idea is safe, but I quite like the calendar (I think I can guess who @HonoriaBulstrode ) or houseplant idea.

Hot water bottle, slipper socks, mug, soothing eye mask, big retail voucher. I’d steer away from anything edible.

A good jar of honey ( oh god, is that vegan?? Maple Syrup, then)
Good olive oil
Really nice fridge magnets or magnet board magnets

https://www.marksandspencer.com/food/merry-berry-cherry-jam/p/fdp60290773#intid=pid_pg1pip96g6r1c1 + https://www.amazon.co.uk/QNCIGER-7-Inch-Stirring-Espresso-Dessert/dp/B0B53GZPTL/ref=sxin_15_pa_sp_search_thematic_sspa?content-id=amzn1.sym.0a6bbb1a-ed2d-4392-adfc-40ed1cfcd8e2%3Aamzn1.sym.0a6bbb1a-ed2d-4392-adfc-40ed1cfcd8e2&crid=3A6YQVDHYGUIO&cv_ct_cx=jam+spoon&keywords=jam+spoon&pd_rd_i=B0B53GZPTL&pd_rd_r=1da82554-65a8-48fc-8972-46796e321d14&pd_rd_w=daaMR&pd_rd_wg=RcWJT&pf_rd_p=0a6bbb1a-ed2d-4392-adfc-40ed1cfcd8e2&pf_rd_r=RSSTA213R6GXDZ8BV9RK&qid=1765293877&sbo=RZvfv%2F%2FHxDF%2BO5021pAnSA%3D%3D&sprefix=jam+spoon%2Caps%2C101&sr=1-2-ad3222ed-9545-4dc8-8dd8-6b2cb5278509-spons&aref=d5fRXU5NCb&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9zZWFyY2hfdGhlbWF0aWM&psc=1

https://www.marksandspencer.com/food/merry-berry-cherry-jam/p/fdp60290773#intid=pid_pg1pip96g6r1c1 + https://www.amazon.co.uk/QNCIGER-7-Inch-Stirring-Espresso-Dessert/dp/B0B53GZPTL/ref=sxin_15_pa_sp_search_thematic_sspa?content-id=amzn1.sym.0a6bbb1a-ed2d-4392-adfc-40ed1cfcd8e2%3Aamzn1.sym.0a6bbb1a-ed2d-4392-adfc-40ed1cfcd8e2&crid=3A6YQVDHYGUIO&cv_ct_cx=jam+spoon&keywords=jam+spoon&pd_rd_i=B0B53GZPTL&pd_rd_r=1da82554-65a8-48fc-8972-46796e321d14&pd_rd_w=daaMR&pd_rd_wg=RcWJT&pf_rd_p=0a6bbb1a-ed2d-4392-adfc-40ed1cfcd8e2&pf_rd_r=RSSTA213R6GXDZ8BV9RK&qid=1765293877&sbo=RZvfv%2F%2FHxDF%2BO5021pAnSA%3D%3D&sprefix=jam+spoon%2Caps%2C101&sr=1-2-ad3222ed-9545-4dc8-8dd8-6b2cb5278509-spons&aref=d5fRXU5NCb&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9zZWFyY2hfdGhlbWF0aWM&psc=1

Hand Warmers

I vote Hand Warmers! (Just because I want some)

What's the average age? Do most of the team have kids or not? Is there anything they all have in common?

What tough rules, I’d go for something I’d like to receive as that’s my normal rule. (And incase I picked my own gift out of the sack)

so the best thing I can think of is a posh hardback copy of an Agatha Christie. One of the winter stories. If you buy from harper Collins directly they do massive discounts. I’ve treat myself to one recently and it was half price from them so £7.50. https://harpercollins.co.uk/collections/books-by-agatha-christie-1067?refinementList%5Bmeta.hc-defined.format%5D%5B0%5D=Hardback

I would buy a gift card and wrap it in a few layers of wrapping paper with a layer of bubble wrap in between to make it bigger.

Scarf.
I saw some at a shop recently that were about that price and made from recycled wool.

It's not bad but I usually make it for my train journey so only an hour between making and drinking and it's a good temperature. I've taken a second cup for longer journeys and it was ok after 3 hours but I add a little of cold milk.
But more importantly it really doesn't leak so no issues with the work laptop being in the same bag.

Some of these suggestions are nuts. I think voucher or game are the best suggestions. Mugs, plants, pens, candles, scarves - no such thing as a one fits all.

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