Presents at the Office Christmas Party...best/worst

[olive bleu]

About $15 each...

I say Chocolate. But make sure it's fabulous handmade chocolate.Not necessarily made by you of course.

 

[Josephine]

A melon baller.

I'll leave you with that. A Melon baller......I mean......:eusa_doh: why????

Well those darn melons ain't gonna ball themselves...

 

[Mike in Seattle]

One year, the boss decided this new recipe his wife had made was absolutely THE best thing ever...so for Christmas, he gave everyone a box of six Cornish game hens with a couple little bottles of Jack Daniels (part of the marinading & basting part), wild rice and the recipe for the birds. And while I admit it was a creative gift...

The thing was...he'd defrosted all the birds (leaving them just cool enough for us all to rush home to our refrigerators safely when he brought them in from the storage room mid-afternoon), and here we were on Christmas Eve with birds that HAD to be cooked in pretty short order since you're not supposed to refreeze defrosted poultry. Since the marinating took a day, he was pretty much forcing everyone to make them Christmas Day along with whatever else they'd planned on, or toss the stupid birds.

I had to run from the office to Mom's house (halfway between the office and my house) to stick them in her fridge so I could then go back to the mall (five miles from the office) to grab a couple last minute gifts, then then back to Mom's to pick up the birds and continue onward.

And I realize his heart was in the right place, but his mind was out to lunch. His wife called each of us to beg forgiveness and apologize profusely that evening.

So at my house, it was our traditional Christmas prime rib on one platter and a second platter of game hens, as if we didn't have enough food...and of course, everyone who cooks knows how welcome yet something else to be baked & basted is on Thanksgiving or Christmas...

 

[Vintage Betty]

My boss is lovely and at our luncheons he and his wife always give all of us a small gift. Last year it was a barnes and noble gift card for 10 or 15 dollars (considering he has 100 employees, thats really quite something to do out of pocket). They also give us all something small, like a bag of Sees candy as well.

My team lead and team (5 of us) always exchange little gifts...again nothing bad.....

So I have no worsts...and only bests...

It's really nice you appreciate their efforts, even if it's a small gift.

VB

 

[Vintage Betty]

About $15 each...

Depending if you have these stores where you live:

Trader Joe's = Pound of chocolate bar = $10 each
Cost Plus Imports = mini bar soaps and toilietries or food - make your own basket (you will be able to get 3-5 items plus the basket for $15)
Christmas plant plus a small stuffed toy from a local store = $10 or more
Gift certificate = Amazon, local shop etc
Manicure gift certificate = about $15 each
Hire a massage therapist for one hour and give each lady a 10-15 minute massage. Total cost will be about $45-60 for an office visit, depending on where you live (it would be great if you can tip the person too)
Local drug store - Buy a mug, fill it with a mini plant and buy some candy or something seasonal.

Any of those work?

VB

 

[Mike in Seattle]

About $15 each...

As others mentioned - a nice box of chocolates, or a gift card (I know See's & I think Godiva have those). I've also given those snowball or ice type glass votive candle holders...but since you did a candle box last year that might be a little too similar. Mikasa usually has glass holiday plates or small platters in that price range. Barnes & Noble or Borders or Starbucks or iTune gift cards always seem pretty safe. A nice bottle of wine, which you can write on with a gold marker and put in a gift bag's usually a good choice if they drink wine or have parties.

And beware of some mall gift cards. I got one as a thank you for a speaking engagement I did and forgot I had it for several months. Little did I know that AmEx (gift card issuer for that mall) was dinging the card a $5 a month service charge for carrying the balance. Even though they've changed the terms slightly (now only $2.50 or $3.50 a month) some of the stores in the mall won't take them and/or they require you to buy at least the remaining balance on the card in one purchase. And you have to go to the mall kiosk to find out how much is remaining on the card since the stores can't find out how much is remaining. I've gotten a couple since finding this out and I now go to the mall kiosk & throw a small tantrum till they fork over the cash on the card. When you start warning the people behind you in line about the service charge rip-off, mall staff suddenly want to get you on your way in a big hurry. "Don't get that mall card - go get one for Macy's or Penney's because there's no monthly service charge."

 

[Miss Crisplock]

If the budget can strech to 19.95, you can get them a each a sterling and diamond circle necklace from Amazon. It is discounted 84%, and as of midnight will be selling for 125.00 again.

I got one for as of our Christmas gifts. Keep an eye on those Amazon specials.

BTW, look at their ears. You might get a deal on pearl earrings. In my opinion, pearls are always the perfect gift.

 

[Miss Crisplock]

If the budget can strech to 19.95, you can get them a each a sterling and diamond circle necklace from Amazon.

It is currently discounted 84%. As of midnight will be back to selling for 125.00 again.

I got one for as of our Christmas gifts. Keep an eye on those Amazon specials.

BTW, look at their ears. You might get a deal on pearl earrings. In my opinion, pearls are always the perfect gift.

Since I am an aesthetician/manicurist/in other countries massage therapist, I feel odd giving spa products to people. Anything I can formulate myself, or get wholesale doesn't seem like much of a present. Is that weird?

 

[Vintage Betty]

If the budget can strech to 19.95, you can get them a each a sterling and diamond circle necklace from Amazon. It is discounted 84%, and as of midnight will be selling for 125.00 again.

I got one for as of our Christmas gifts. Keep an eye on those Amazon specials.

BTW, look at their ears. You might get a deal on pearl earrings. In my opinion, pearls are always the perfect gift.

Good catch Miss Crisplock!

I think that's better than what I suggested. There is also another for $10, but not sure if that pendant includes the chain.

VB

 

[Miss 1929]

Best ever

one year my Secret Santa gave me red lipstick! I guess that was an easy one for them.
I haven't had any really bad ones, but there have been a lot of non-existent ones. Which is bad.

 

[hepkitten]

If the budget can strech to 19.95, you can get them a each a sterling and diamond circle necklace from Amazon.

I like!:eusa_clap

At our Christmas party, the gifts are a combination of white elephants and really cool stuff. All placed in a pile, attendees draw numbers and pick at random. (Well -- not exactly random -- a lot of box-shaking goes on.) Gift-stealing is allowed and encouraged. The worst gift ever is an absolutely hideous mantle clock with 3 disturbingly lifelike gilded monkeys hanging over it. That one keeps coming back year after year.

The best is the separate gift that the entire staff gets for our boss and his wife. One year it was a donation to an organization that provides prosthetic limbs to those with no insurance ("We raised enough for two arms and a leg!" was that year's Christmas party announcement.) Some years we adopt a family. From the boss, we always get gift cards and a note of appreciation. Plus every spring, he pays for a staff retreat -- 40 people at the beach. He and his wife are the best -- very cool, upstanding folks.

 

[Fleur De Guerre]

The day I started my job last year was the day of my department's Christmas dinner. I was told in advance we'd be doing Secret Santa, and the budget was £1!

I forgot all about it and on the morning, I made a batch of chocolate brownies and estimated £1's worth of them. They were a bit squished together as they weren't fully cooled but they went down well! I got a sprig of mistletoe which was quite funny. Some people got lottery scratch cards and one guy got a £1 bet on a horse. I can't remember the rest, except for one thing I shan't name on a family forum, but it was shaped like Santa and was very rude.