How do you feel about giving office gifts?

[Lamb]

How do you feel about giving gifts for people in the office?

 

[psalms 91]

Itsd OK I guess, not really sure how to feel about it

 

[Brighten04]

How do you feel about giving gifts for people in the office?

It is fun.

 

[tango]

How do you feel about giving gifts for people in the office?

Not something I personally do. I don't have a problem with the kind of "secret Santa" where you buy something for a randomly selected person for a nominal amount of money but as a rule I don't like to get into gift exchanges with too many people. It seems to be an easy way to spend a lot of money to cause a lot of embarrassment. If you buy them something nice and they buy you something cheap they feel embarrassed, if it's the other way around you feel embarrassed, and for myself I'd rather just give a card (or just seasonal wishes, depending on what festival/s I and they observe around the time) and save the embarrassment.

Even if you can be sure you're not going to have bad mismatches in what you both spend, exchanging $10 gifts with 10 people seems like a good way to spend $100 on a bunch of $10 items I didn't necessarily want. Maybe I'm a bit of a grinch there, but Christmas can be expensive enough dealing with family and friends without adding more expense buying for people I may not even like all that much. Keep the office relationship professional, maybe go for drinks after work instead.

 

[Brighten04]

Oh, we call it pulling names. Put everyone's name in a hat or bowl, then, everyone pulls a name out of the hat/bowl. Nobody tells whose name they have. Set the cost of the gift, say 5 dollars. Set the date for the exchange. Then let the fun begin. Everyone wonders who it is that has their name. It is fun if your co-workers can keep their mouths closed about whose name they have, but most can't and leaks happen, but it is all in fun. Usually you can figure it out because the person who has your name starts to pay attention to your likes and dislikes.

 

[tango]

Oh, we call it pulling names. Put everyone's name in a hat or bowl, then, everyone pulls a name out of the hat/bowl. Nobody tells whose name they have. Set the cost of the gift, say 5 dollars. Set the date for the exchange. Then let the fun begin. Everyone wonders who it is that has their name. It is fun if your co-workers can keep their mouths closed about whose name they have, but most can't and leaks happen, but it is all in fun. Usually you can figure it out because the person who has your name starts to pay attention to your likes and dislikes.

That works. I did that one year at my office and drew the name of someone who I knew by face but knew nothing about her. In a private discussion with my manager about unrelated things I asked if he knew her, and from the look on his face I think he thought I was about to confess to having an affair with her or something. When I asked if he had any idea what she might like within the nominal budget he was visibly relieved.

 

[Tigger]

I think its a nice idea only I hate shopping and never can think of a good gift

I would prefer a communal company office gift. Everyone chips it what they can even if its just pocket change and take it to the local homeless shelter.

 

[Ruth]

I never had the opportunity to participate in Christmas gift giving at an office. But I wouldn't mind doing a secret santa like we have done at other organizations. It would be too expensive for me to buy for everyone.

 

[Josiah]

We don't exchange gifts in my work place.

 

[Lamb]

I received some gifts last year and I didn't bother giving any to anyone there so I felt uncomfortable.

 

[Ruth]

I received some gifts last year and I didn't bother giving any to anyone there so I felt uncomfortable.

I think I would too.

 

[psalms 91]

I received some gifts last year and I didn't bother giving any to anyone there so I felt uncomfortable.

Part of the reason not to, if they want to do that then drawing names and setting an amount of the gift helps

 

[tango]

Part of the reason not to, if they want to do that then drawing names and setting an amount of the gift helps

I always like to set expectations to avoid embarrassment. It feels a bit Scrooge like but avoids bad feelings later.

 

[Lamb]

So...got my first gift from a co-worker. Now what? What sort of non gift card gift can I get to give in return (not a candle, candy, or lotions)?

 

[tango]

Male or female, and what sort of budget?

 

[NewCreation435]

Our office is doing secret Santa but I chose not to participate

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[Lamb]

What do you all think about adult coloring books? The 2 individuals I'll be buying gifts for are female over 50 and I want to keep it around the $15 range so an adult coloring book, gel pens and maybe some colored pencils?

I came back to clarify that the adult coloring books are NOT x-rated! LOL

 

[psalms 91]

Adult coloring books are a good inexpensive gift if they like that

 

[TurtleHare]

What do you all think about adult coloring books? The 2 individuals I'll be buying gifts for are female over 50 and I want to keep it around the $15 range so an adult coloring book, gel pens and maybe some colored pencils?

I came back to clarify that the adult coloring books are NOT x-rated! LOL

Those are all the rage now and I saw some with some adult swear words, not that kids have swear words,but you know what I mean. I saw some snowflake ones I would like to color but I don't have any gel pens and those come out looking much nicer than the colored pencils or crayons which are horrible.

 

[Lamb]

Swear words are not office appropriate, but I do have a few relatives... LOL