How do you make your Secret Santa gift look so much more?

Former_MSE_Molly

It divides offices around the country every December. Yes, it's the dreaded Secret Santa. :eek:

Bob stands there rubbing his hands with glee because his best mate Mo got him in the draw, while poor Kim has no idea who Sarah is and has to discreetly find out from the rest of her team what she likes...*

But that's not where it ends, oh no.

Someone from marketing ends up crying in the loos because they were given an unscented candle YET AGAIN, while the finance team have all told each other who they've got despite the explicitly clear rules on the email marked 'high importance' NOT to do so - but it doesn't matter, because they've all swapped around anyway so they get the best gifts.**

What's more, to make things harder, there's a budget! And while here at MSE we LOVE budgeting all year round, sometimes, even for the best MoneySavers, that £1 or even £5 limit can feel restricting and just a waste when you don't know where to start.

But that's where you come in Forumites. Because we can always rely on your knowledge and help!

We want you to share your most creative Secret Santa gifts, for the least amount of money.

Laziness is not allowed! We want you to think outside the box - we're talking homemade, funny and genuinely thoughtful presents for the smallest number of pennies possible.

How do you make your money go further, to make it a gift others will be envious of?

We can't wait to hear your suggestions!

- MSE Molly

*No employees named Bob, Mo, Kim or Sarah were harmed in the making of this thread.
**All scenarios portrayed in this forum thread are entirely fictitious and by no means representative of any Secret Santa debacles that may have happened at MSE Towers.

[purplesignup][/purplesignup]

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Pollycat

This might be 'Bah Humbug' but I really can't see the point of Secret Santa.
Here's a thread from last year:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5935045/secret-santa-don-t-want-to-do-it

Pollycat wrote: »

They don't need to get rid of it.
You just have to opt out.

I've been retired for 15 years but we used to do Secret Santa.
You could put a note on saying what you really didn't want.
I said I didn't want make-up.
I was bought a palette of cheap eye-shadows.
It went to the charity shop before Christmas.

My personal opinion is that Secret Santa is just a waste of money.

I've been shopping with a friend when she's run both of us ragged trying to find something nice within the budget.

Katiehound

Luckily I don't need to do Secret Santa.
I buy items for specific people, some as cheap as possible! well, that is mutual.

With one of my friends we have a £5 challenge- you can buy from anywhere and if you don't like you can give away too.
This year she has : a microfibre coat (£1) a 100% cotton blouse (£1) a jacket type cardigan (£1) - all charity shop buys. A wind-up torch - new £2. I reckon that's £5 well spent.

Other friends have a very beautiful coffee table book. Publishers cost £35, seen it advertised this week at £12.99. I paid euros 4!!- brand new, still shrink wrapped.

Moral of the story: keep your eyes open all year. But sadly that doesn't work for Secret Santa.

Owain_Moneysaver

A nice Baylis & Harding gift set from a charity shop is easily less than a fiver.

Or five items from Poundshop - pens, chocolate, santa hat, smelly, calendar/diary.

Sea_Shell

Reminds me why I'm so glad I left work and don't have to get involved in this office "tradition" any more!!

The cliques tell each other who's got who, you get the naff (sometimes offensive) tat, or you get the person you don't know from Adam!

Pollycat

Owain_Moneysaver wrote: »

A nice Baylis & Harding gift set from a charity shop is easily less than a fiver.

Or five items from Poundshop - pens, chocolate, santa hat, smelly, calendar/diary.

Hmmm.
Yes.
That's because people who received B&H gift sets as their Secret Santa gift last year donate it to the nearest charity shop as soon as they are opened after Christmas. :whistle:


And the 5 items from Poundshop are just cheap tat and a waste of £5.00.

Sea_Shell

You could always just put £5 in an envelope!!!

To be honest, I'd have appreciated that more than some of the completely pointless/useless gifts I've received over the years, which have gone straight in the bin when I got home. Not even worthy of re-gifting or donating!

Owain_Moneysaver

Pollycat wrote: »

Hmmm.
Yes.
That's because people who received B&H gift sets as their Secret Santa gift last year donate it to the nearest charity shop as soon as they are opened after Christmas. :whistle:

But that one B&H gift set has probably been re-sold for Valentine's Day, Mother's/Father's Day, and a couple of birthdays before Christmas comes round again.

It's raised far more for charity than its original selling price.

Pollycat

Owain_Moneysaver wrote: »

But that one B&H gift set has probably been re-sold for Valentine's Day, Mother's/Father's Day, and a couple of birthdays before Christmas comes round again.

It's raised far more for charity than its original selling price.

I didn't think - but do correct me if I'm wrong - Secret Santa was about raising money for charity...


Am I the only one who thinks buying cheap tat for a Secret Santa gift is wrong?

Owain_Moneysaver

Pollycat wrote: »

Am I the only one who thinks buying cheap tat for a Secret Santa gift is wrong?

What else do you get for a fiver for someone you barely know and possibly don't like?

Pollycat

Owain_Moneysaver wrote: »

What else do you get for a fiver for

someone you barely know and possibly don't like?

:TThat's my point.

If you can't commit to buying something other than 5 items of tat from Poundland, then opt out.
And maybe this waste of time and money will die a death.

I'm not an anti-gift giver.
But the gifts I buy are carefully thought about and sourced.
Even during the season of goodwill t'wards all men (and women) I would not want to buy tat for anyone (even someone I didn't like) and would not want to receive tat - or even a half-heartedly considered gift.