It’s that time of year again! Mulled wine, carol services and… dodgy Secret Santa gifts.

We’ve all been there; the enthusiastic Christmas lover announces at the start of October that the team will once again be taking part in an office Secret Santa in December. Great, you think. If only you ended up with a decent gift each time. (And who can do that under a fiver these days?)

Hands up if it’s always you who makes a solid effort as well? We’ve put together a list of the worst types of gifts to receive at an office Secret Santa. Don’t be that person…

1. The Used Gift – Picture the moment, everyone passes their gifts round (and it’s great if your office managed to keep it all anonymous) but the anonymity of it means that there’s always someone who cuts corners. You open your small gift to find a nice bath set; a classic Secret Santa gift. But it’s only when you see the lid has been unscrewed slightly that steam starts coming out of your ears and not the bathtub.

2. Opened Food –  It’s hard to imagine that there are people who actually do this, but they exist and are expanding by the minute. An opened jar of chutney, a pack of biscuits that are soft. A very rare type of Secret Santa but one that is out there. There’s low and there’s lower.

3. The Regift – Maybe you’ve opened your gift and genuinely like it. Perhaps the person has really thought about you when wrapping it. ‘Yes,’ you think. ‘I love books!’ But it’s only when you open the first page and see the ‘love Mum 2008’ note that your skin starts to crawl…

4. The Obvious Gift – It’s time for the office Secret Santa, but your gift giver has completely forgotten about it. No need to fear, you love stationery. Everyone office worker does, right? Unfortunately, it’s the third year in a row that you’ve unwrapped a stapler.

5. The Awkward Picture – We all love a picture on our desk. But is a picture of someone else’s new turtle or baby really a good gift to receive? Yes, she was sweet when they brought her in, but you don’t need her face on your desk all day.

6. The Random Gift – The gift that screams you have no idea who ‘Joe’ is in Accounts. Everyone loves a magazine subscription, right? Or a cookery book? Don’t take the risk; stick with chocolates. (Just don’t open them first.)

7. The Smellies – It’s okay for a family member and it’s certainly okay for a friend. But giving your colleague a three pack of deodorant/ body spray just says ‘wash a little more.’ They’ll be sitting away from everyone in the New Year and won’t even know who gave it to them …

8. Homemade Gifts – Sometimes there are people who can knit really nice scarves. Or people who can bake amazingly. But a lot of the time there are people who think they can do these things. Save the quirky jumpers for your unassuming family members, folks. The accountant really doesn’t want to wear it just to make you happy.

9. Gift Cards – Gift cards can be great. Particularly for someone who already has everything but loves a certain shop. But don’t be buying gift cards for people you don’t know too well. Otherwise, they’ll be stuck with £10 to spend at a garden centre for 24 months and it’ll turn up again in next year’s Secret Santa.

10. Clothes – This is just a huge no for the office Secret Santa. You might think you know what that person likes and you may even know their size. But what if they’ve lied about their size and their love of culottes? Worst of all, they’ll feel obliged to wear their new item of clothing. Save the embarrassment.

 

In these cases, is it really the thought that counts? (That’s if there was any thought at all…)