Secret Santa ideas

welshbookworm

I went round the 'posh' make up shops and asked for samples to put into crackers for ladies I worked with one year. They all seemed happy with them.

DWhite

I must say I'm quite surprised with the bah humbug ness of some of the replies!
I *will* put at least some thought into what I get as I want someone to feel like someone gave it some thought. I've been on the receiving end of some bad Xmases over the years and something small like someone thinking about what they give you can give you a little boost.
I like the idea of Whittards, I forgot we have a Whittards shop in my town. I'll have a look in there
As for my other idea, I'm not imposing any pressure on anyone to do anything they don't want to! I'll start with a small cheap gift for someone and encourage them to do the same for someone else. We're talking a bar of chocolate or something like that. To start with I've bought a pair of Xmas slipper socks and some mini reindeer Maltesers. Cost me £5 and will spread a little bit of generosity.

Christmas to me is about the magic and making people happy.
We work in the hospitality industry, which at Christmas is one of the most stressful times. So I look for ways to make my team feel a little bit better at work when it can be hard and the restaurant gets filled with stressed people who've had enough and want everything perfect!

Thanks to the people who didn't poo poo my idea and helped. Some good ideas there!

Nomoonatall

DWhite wrote: »

I must say I'm quite surprised with the bah humbug ness of some of the replies!
I *will* put at least some thought into what I get as I want someone to feel like someone gave it some thought. I've been on the receiving end of some bad Xmases over the years and something small like someone thinking about what they give you can give you a little boost.
I like the idea of Whittards, I forgot we have a Whittards shop in my town. I'll have a look in there
As for my other idea, I'm not imposing any pressure on anyone to do anything they don't want to! I'll start with a small cheap gift for someone and encourage them to do the same for someone else. We're talking a bar of chocolate or something like that. To start with I've bought a pair of Xmas slipper socks and some mini reindeer Maltesers. Cost me £5 and will spread a little bit of generosity.

Christmas to me is about the magic and making people happy.
We work in the hospitality industry, which at Christmas is one of the most stressful times. So I look for ways to make my team feel a little bit better at work when it can be hard and the restaurant gets filled with stressed people who've had enough and want everything perfect!

Thanks to the people who didn't poo poo my idea and helped. Some good ideas there!

My ideas were great! And I didn't bah humbug for the first time ever!

Put the chocs in the socks! x

Pollycat

DWhite wrote: »

I must say I'm quite surprised with the bah humbug ness of some of the replies!
I *will* put at least some thought into what I get as I want someone to feel like someone gave it some thought. I've been on the receiving end of some bad Xmases over the years and something small like someone thinking about what they give you can give you a little boost.
I like the idea of Whittards, I forgot we have a Whittards shop in my town. I'll have a look in there
As for my other idea, I'm not imposing any pressure on anyone to do anything they don't want to! I'll start with a small cheap gift for someone and encourage them to do the same for someone else. We're talking a bar of chocolate or something like that. To start with I've bought a pair of Xmas slipper socks and some mini reindeer Maltesers. Cost me £5 and will spread a little bit of generosity.

Christmas to me is about the magic and making people happy.
We work in the hospitality industry, which at Christmas is one of the most stressful times. So I look for ways to make my team feel a little bit better at work when it can be hard and the restaurant gets filled with stressed people who've had enough and want everything perfect!

Thanks to the people who didn't poo poo my idea and helped. Some good ideas there!

Being the sort if person who does put a lot of thought and effort into buying gifts, it really is disappointing to receive something that you've specially asked not to buy.

Something small that's had no thought given to it really doesn't give you any kind of boost.
And it's not the thought that counts.

Having said that, I always took my small team out for lunch before Christmas, the only one in our area who did. It was my way if thanking them for their work throughout the year and they appreciated it.
So it's not about the money

I just remember the tat that went under the name of 'Secret Santa' & imho, it's a waste of money that I'd rather spend on people who mean something to me.

karcher

Pollycat wrote: »

Not wishing to sound too 'Bah! Humbug! but I tend to agree with vfm4meplse.

I hated Secret Santa when I was at work.
One year, I put 'no make-up' and got.......make-up 'cos it's easy to buy cheap crap make-up.

Re your idea above, I think this will just put more pressure on people to scurry round the shops trying to buy yet another present for someone they hardly know, spending money they could put to better use at this expensive time.

I agree.

Sorry OP but I think it is a bad idea to coerce people into spending money, they may well be unable to afford, on gifts for co workers.

Not bah humbug in my world, just reality.

DWhite

I will say that I'm not enforcing the secret Santa, I'm not organising it nor did I put the idea out there. The team wanted it and the team organised it, only people who want to take part are, I've merely drawn a name and wanted ideas for something to get. If someone doesn't want to put thought into what I'm given then that's up to them and I won't take it personally, I appreciate whatever anyone gives me because they've gone out and bought something. *I* want to put thought into what *I* buy and that's my prerogative.
The team have also decided to make it an event and we will have food and drinks when we do the swaps, no one is feeling bad about it.

Primrose

How about an amusing money box for her swear words, 5p pieces, whatever. You can arouse her curiosity by outing an anonymous coin in it !

SpekySquarehead

In typical MSE and O/S Style, I plan on making tablet and wrapping it in clear plastic and tying a bow round it. Cost effective, easy and if she doesn't like it then I'm sure she'll share it round the office.

Our limit was £10, so I've bought a Molton Brown gift set from Amazon which cost £5 but looks lovely.

If you don't know the person very well, keep it generic. It's the thought that counts.

Nomoonatall

Primrose wrote: »

How about an amusing money box for her swear words, 5p pieces, whatever. You can arouse her curiosity by outing an anonymous coin in it !

Bad idea! Cost me a fortune a few £$%*ng years ago! x

LameWolf

If you're going to give chocolate, make sure the recipient can eat the stuff; the one year I got coerced into the SS thing at work, I was NOT eating choc at all, (and this was known to my colleagues) because I suffered terrible migraines, and my GP had told me to eliminate choc.
What did I get given.... a box of chocs!