More secret Santa advice please!

daisiegg

I know there have been quite a few secret Santa threads but please help me with this one!

Secret Santa for a work mate. £5 limit. She is 31, a media and film studies teacher. She is quite 'punky' and quirky. I know she is really into world's strongest man stuff (strange!) and she loves marmite stuff (she is in the special secret gold marmite club thing) but she probably has lots of marmite merchandise already. She is a very sunny and cheery person, no kids, likes going out drinking, etc. Last year I think she received a Mr Men little miss sunshine mug or something like that for the secret Santa.

I am struggling with £5 as a limit - it is so tiny!

Any suggestions? Thanks in advance!

polkadot90

daisiegg wrote: »

I know there have been quite a few secret Santa threads but please help me with this one!

Secret Santa for a work mate. £5 limit. She is 31, a media and film studies teacher. She is quite 'punky' and quirky. I know she is really into world's strongest man stuff (strange!) and she loves marmite stuff (she is in the special secret gold marmite club thing) but she probably has lots of marmite merchandise already. She is a very sunny and cheery person, no kids, likes going out drinking, etc. Last year I think she received a Mr Men little miss sunshine mug or something like that for the secret Santa.

I am struggling with £5 as a limit - it is so tiny!

Any suggestions? Thanks in advance!

Maybe you could get her some alcohol? A pack of wkd or if you know if she likes wine get her some of that. At least you'll know then it'll get used if she goes out drinking, failing that a gift card for £5 from a supermarket then she can choose whatever she pleases.

daisiegg

chessiex wrote: »

Maybe you could get her some alcohol? A pack of wkd or if you know if she likes wine get her some of that. At least you'll know then it'll get used if she goes out drinking, failing that a gift card for £5 from a supermarket then she can choose whatever she pleases.

Thanks - I did think of that but there seems to be a culture of avoiding edible/drinkable presents as well as anything toiletries related in this department secret Santa. I don't really know why!

Meadows

Depends if you want practical or novelty.
You could look around the cheaper shops (or charity shops) and pick many things up, then there are toiletries or novelties on sites like Amazon & eBay.

£2.99
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Millionaire-Funny-Secret-Santa-Gift/dp/B001B8YMWM/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1354012988&sr=8-6

£4.99
http://www.amazon.co.uk/LUPO-USB-Warmer-Integral-Port/dp/B000Q4TO98/ref=pd_sim_kh_7

springdreams

I know you've said she probably has loads of Marmite related items, but last year Robert Dyas sold Marmite slabs of chocolate ... if she had any of those, surely they have been eaten by now, so you can get her another?

fannyadams

what about a book with her name in the title.
I bought my workmate Louise a book called Louise the Lily Fairy (she's quite girlie though), it was only £3 something so I got her some free gift things from Lush (they'll give you a bit of soap and a bit of bath jelly for free to try) as well.

rozmister

daisiegg wrote: »

Thanks - I did think of that but there seems to be a culture of avoiding edible/drinkable presents as well as anything toiletries related in this department secret Santa. I don't really know why!

In my office we don't give alcohol to each other (unless you are close and know the person well) and we aren't allowed to accept it from customers as a gift (we can accept chocolate/biscuits). This is because alcohol for some people is a sensitive area or an issue and no one wants to upset anyone or cause anyone distress. Obviously if the person is also a good friend of yours it's different but generally secret santa doesn't seem to work that way so alcohol may not be appropriate.

And it's hard to know people's tastes. That could be another reason they don't give food or drink. They might have had gifts given that were unwanted because people were on a diet/allergic/etc.

daisiegg

rozmister wrote: »

In my office we don't give alcohol to each other (unless you are close and know the person well) and we aren't allowed to accept it from customers as a gift (we can accept chocolate/biscuits). This is because alcohol for some people is a sensitive area or an issue and no one wants to upset anyone or cause anyone distress. Obviously if the person is also a good friend of yours it's different but generally secret santa doesn't seem to work that way so alcohol may not be appropriate.

And it's hard to know people's tastes. That could be another reason they don't give food or drink. They might have had gifts given that were unwanted because people were on a diet/allergic/etc.

My department is pretty small and we are all quite close, so we know who does/doesn't drink and who is allergic to what. But I think it's more that giving generic food or drink presents is seen as a bit of a 'cop out'! You have to come up with something wonderful!

PixieDust

stripey/funky socks?
fluffy socks/slipper socks?
solar powered dancing flower?
magic tree and a bag of sweeties? http://www.amazon.co.uk/Tobar-5038728010938-Magic-Tree/dp/B000H6W53W/ref=sr_1_43?ie=UTF8&qid=1354115715&sr=8-43

shegha

what about hair chalk? temp colour for hair that you seal with straighteners and washes out with next shampoo
a pair of funky false eyelashes?
or wash out a marmite jar and use it as a gift jar and fill with a scratch card or lottery ticket.
vasjazzle if your brave:eek:

sisbod

shegha wrote: »

what about hair chalk? temp colour for hair that you seal with straighteners and washes out with next shampoo
a pair of funky false eyelashes?
or wash out a marmite jar and use it as a gift jar and fill with a scratch card or lottery ticket.
vasjazzle if your brave:eek:

Thanks for this bright idea - got a daughter and grand daughter who would love this!!!! :j and it will be a total surprise!