£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?

A stress toy - sounds like you need it

As it's secret, just buy something you'd love and then, if it doesn't go down well, you can swap for it back.

I think it sounds utterly joyless!

A few people have said scratch cards but they may be on a par with booze if someone struggles with gambling or is Muslim (my Muslim colleague does the lottery bit isnt really allowed to apparently so what she’ll do if she wins big I don’t know!).

A tenner in an envelope.

I got that once (I am a massive Office fan, so they knew I would get the “joke”, but it was more welcome than some random crap).

My friends office do this, one year an old chap close to retirement pulled out a DIY vajazzling kit.

@FollowSpot I am pretty sure the bees have been exploited, I’m ok with the last drop being squeezed out of their tiny selves.

I agree.

Its such a waste of time and money Picking up any old thing that nobody really wants. It would be much better for everyone to just contribute ten quid to a charity that would actually benefit from it.

Or as the above poster said, for management to buy a couple of cakes and coffees, and let everyone chat for half an hour.

Amaryllis or herb growing pot/kit

Travel alarm clock

A teapot

Fluffy Aberdeen Angus cuddly toy

What a great way to generate loads of plastic tat...

So pointless! (An anonymous secret Santa, not your post).

https://www.notonthehighstreet.com/giftrepublic/product/boogie-bath-duck-disco-bath-light

Really?!? I might agree on the scarf, but mugs, candles, plants and pens literally fit all.

A voucher is safe though or one of those "universal" gift cards that can be used in almost any shop/cafe/cinema.

I agree - I am simply not participating in these sorts of things anymore. Money I don’t want to spend on thing nobody wants. This year I have baked a few Christmas’s biscuits for my three closest colleagues in case any of them buy me a Yankee candle or other generic gift and wrapped them up in cellophane with a bow - they actually look like I have made an effort but they were an easy recipe, cheap as chips and I already had ribbon!

I will be repeating with my school friends in a few weeks where Yankee candles or other tat are also exchanged.

Nice biscuits could work? Just need to look out for soya but it’s possible to get them without

The Traitors card game. Its £7.99. Bag of chocolate coins. Done.

I’d wrap a ten pound note up - use gift packaging you already have - gift box or bag and bow and tissue paper and a note nestled inside.

what another poster said about trying please everyone and pleasing no one was very true.

I'm sure she'd opt out if she didn't want to participate. As it is a Christian celebration, you're absolutely fine giving traditional Christmas gifts.

Someone said to gift ten scratch cards and I'm sure someone will come along to say that encourages gambling.

You can't win. If someone WANTS to be offended, they will be offended.

Existential Crisis Duck lamp. I have one. It was supposed to be a Secret Santa, but I'm keeping him! 🤣. Lamp. You can use his legs as a phone prop.

Gift card, either M&S or for a coffee shop if you have a coffee shop nearby. Or possibly a pair of black/navy blue gloves? Very tricky conundrum.

We’ve got a nice little deli café locally that has a lot of vegan Christmas produce at the moment, panettone, crackers, chutney. Do you have anything similar locally? We might just get a couple of nice bits from the supermarket and present it like a little hamper. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Massive bag of nuts and pretend you didnt see that rule.

Definitely socks.

Yes, pretty joyless and pointless.

I just need one of those now.

I love this lamp so much I'm going to order one too 😂