With the Christmas season upon us, office employees everywhere are about to experience their annual nightmare: Secret Santa. The spirit of giving is certainly there, but you also need to worry about an affordable, somewhat personal gift that won’t make your recipient roll their eyes once they tear the paper. But when you don’t know someone very well, what exactly do you grab them?
As with anything in life, gift-giving falls on a scale—our ultimate goal is to gift an enjoyable, albeit generic present, without tipping into our savings or accidental offense. Forget about the scented candles, and don’t even think about novelty socks; we have your guide on the best and worst items to buy someone you don’t know very well.
The Nice List
Alright, let’s start with the good stuff, and we mean the really good stuff! You can’t go wrong with a festive box of Christmas desserts. Keep away from any common allergies, like nuts, and stick with your everyday fare: milk chocolate, gourmet cookies, and even fancy Advent calendars can score you brownie points with your recipient (pun intended). Try to steer clear of the basic stuff, too—Turtles and Pot of Gold are pretty boring.
If you really want to recapture Christmas nostalgia, you can always cater to someone’s childish side as well. Contrary to popular belief, there’s nothing wrong with LEGO sets, jigsaw puzzles, or an awesome board game. The best part about these is that they don’t take up much space, so even if your recipient doesn’t break out Sequence every weekend, they can at least stash it away until guests come by. (Don’t forget the magic of adult coloring books, either!)
Everyday winter accessories are another big hit with people; an adorable pair of mittens, a cute blanket scarf, or even a stunning tote bag gives your recipient something to smile about. When it comes to Secret Santa, practical gifts are usually the way to go, and it doesn’t get any better than a stylish accessory that will actually carry them through the winter. Just make sure you stick with muted tones and unisex patterns.
The Naughty List
In our mad dash for affordable gifts, we often grab the cheapest gift set at the drugstore or a gimmicky pair of novelty socks. While most people will appreciate the gesture, they also won’t be thrilled at the sight of those presents. Most people won't use everything from a random gift set. Personality is also best reserved for those you know; the last thing you want is to wrap a silly mug for Mr. Serious in the office.
You also want to keep away from anything too smelly. We’re talking about candles, perfumes, and air fresheners—unless you know your recipient’s scent, you’re likely gifting them a stinky item that will only serve to irritate them. Funnily enough, even small products like hand sanitizer are also off the table.
Booze is another big no-no! We know a bottle of wine seems customary, but you never know who drinks and who doesn’t. You don’t know if people prefer red or white. You might not know if someone’s in recovery. Do yourself a favor and ditch the party juice altogether; Christmas is about holiday spirit, not the other kind!
Don’t Go Overboard With Personality
Whether you toss in a dash of personality is up to you, but you don’t want to go too crazy with “funny” gifts. Pet rocks don’t have the same novelty they used to. Crude ornaments might not fly with everyone. Even gag books can make someone groan. Secret Santa isn’t really the place for silly items, especially since they’ll likely just get thrown away anyway.
You can, however, toss in a bit of flair without any of the embarrassment! Pun Christmas cards are more than fine; just don’t grab anything with curse words or inappropriate drawings of Santa. Keychains and enamel pins also pay homage to classic fandoms, so don’t be afraid to experiment with those.
There’s no harm in a cute gift, so long as it serves some purpose and isn’t offensive! Even if you think it’s funny, don’t grab finger puppets, Whoopee cushions, or overly silly t-shirts. That kind of stuff is okay with friends, but you want to ensure your recipient can actually use (and enjoy) what you give them. You also don’t want to waste money just for the sake of it!
Secret Santa is pretty much tradition at this point, and there’s no reason to turn your back on the fun. However, if you’re going to participate, make sure you stick with the kind of gestures people enjoy. Remember: you’re going to have to see these coworkers once the Santa hats come off, so you want to remain on their nice list!
