Secret Santa

Laurajo_2

I agree, something that can be consumed....

The last year we did it at work (it got stopped because some people took it a bit too seriously and it ended up causing loads of aggro) I got a 62 year old single lady who I didn't really know at all, except by sight. I got her a nice set of biscuits and jams and tea for about eight quid-ish (I think I got it as a three for two) and she really liked it as she doesn't drink and has sensitive skin.

Personally, I wouldn't like anything for the home or clothing - I'd feel obliged to keep it even if it wasn't to my taste! I think if you know she drinks, you can't go wrong with a bottle and something sweet!

Ms_Chocaholic

Thank you to everyone, I'm not sure she drinks so I will have to make tentative enquiries of a colleague (who is not part of our Team but sort of knows her well) to find out if she does drink at all.

craftymummy_2

Does she wear nail varnish coz you could make her one of those Mistle toe bags? Fluffy socks, nail varnish, foot masks or cream in a cello beg with some curly ribbon and a "for your mistletoes" tag. Nice present, bits can easily be picked up from B&M, home bargains, poundshops, tesco etc for well under £5 ( might not be under £5 from tesco...)

motherhen2234

I have a £5 budget at my work too and have gone for a festive survival kits using some primark, B&M, pound land skills.

Mine has to be unisex so I went for:
Scented candle - to set the xmas scene and to cover any bad cooking smells
Xmas Tea Towel - because pots don't clean themselves
Selotape - Because you always run out at the last present
Xmas socks - to keep you cosy warm
Hot chocolate - to relax on xmas eve
Peppermint Tea - to settle your stomach after too much xmas pud
Lottery ticket - to hope you have a fab new year
Chocolate snowman - well you cant guarantee a white xmas

Hope this helps someone

C_J

We always do a White Elephant Secret Santa at work, where you buy a gift which isn't person-specific. All the wrapped gifts are put in a box, and people's names drawn out of a hat - when your name is called, you can either take a new present from the box, or "steal" a previously unwrapped one if you have seen something you really like. The person whose gift is stolen can then choose a new one from the box (or steal someone else's). It always turns out to be loads of fun, plus it takes the pressure off trying to find a gift to suit a particular person.

littlegreenparrot

cox and cox (they have a website) have a photo cube for £5 which I've always thought looks like a great secret santa gift.
Easily transportable and baby proof!

Xaniwoop

You said you don't know whether she drinks or not so this may not be helpful but...

For my secret Santa I'm making 3 mini bottles of Christmassy flavoured liqueurs, mulled spiced, orange and pomegranate.

It's a little over budget at £8 but you could just do 2 flavours for more like a fiver,

If you are interested I'll post recipes. Very easy but I'm too lazy to type them out if you aren't interested :rotfl:

Kevie192

Xaniwoop wrote: »

You said you don't know whether she drinks or not so this may not be helpful but...

For my secret Santa I'm making 3 mini bottles of Christmassy flavoured liqueurs, mulled spiced, orange and pomegranate.

It's a little over budget at £8 but you could just do 2 flavours for more like a fiver,

If you are interested I'll post recipes. Very easy but I'm too lazy to type them out if you aren't interested :rotfl:

I'd love those recipes if you wouldn't mind

Xaniwoop

No problem they are almost embarrassingly easy!

I got Soy sauce from B&M in glass bottles for 49p each and emptied and washed them out to put the finished product in.

They are 150ml each so first I put 150ml of cheap vodka in 3 clean jam jars.

To one I added orange peel, to another pomegranate seeds and to the last a chunk of cinamon stick, a clove, an allspice berry, 2 coriander seeds and a little bit of star anise.

I will leave them as long as possible, at least a week probably two. Then I will make a basic sugar syrup (sugar and water in a pan and boil until syrupy) and add to taste.

Decant into bottles, top up with extra vodka if necessary (depends how much tasting you did!) make pretty labels and give away!

Vickles_2

When we did secret santa last year at my work, one of my colleagues received a really beautiful boxed Christmas decoration. I thought that was a great idea as it's pretty easy to get nice tree decorations for under the £5 limit, but they are something Christmassy and actually a bit useful. I think the one my colleague received was from Selfridges so something "a bit posh" for under a fiver!