Work Christmas Present Exchange Vent

[ehellion]

I'm going to have to invest in a boxfull of miscellaneous gifts, lol.

[Twik]

Picture frame - box of chocolates - small scarf. Those are easily obtainable at your local drugstore, and impersonal enough to be safe for office giving.

Oh, and candles. Mustn't forget them.

[melodrama]

What is a wine sampler?

Fancy way of saying box full o'cheap wine (not Boone's or anything, but inexpensive stuff)  It was quite a popular item in the "steal a present" stage of the exchange, but in my opinion not "White Elephant"-ish exactly.

The good thing at my office is the bosses do spring for good alcohol and food at all our functions, so I could drown my plastic locket sorrows! 

[kckgirl]

How well does he know this co-worker? Is there a price limit? We on the board here might be able to offer some suggestions to make it easier for your husband.

Can you believe the price limit is $20!? I thought that was a bit steep, but maybe I'm just frugal, lol. I figured maybe $10 tops. I usually spend $5 on my coworker here in my little office.

I agree with the Starbucks suggestion. Either a gift card for coffee or a gift pack would be nice, and should fit the price range request. They have them in all the stores. The CD is also a good idea. It's a bit difficult to buy gifts for people you don't know well outside of work.

[kingsrings]

What is a wine sampler?

Fancy way of saying box full o'cheap wine (not Boone's or anything, but inexpensive stuff)  It was quite a popular item in the "steal a present" stage of the exchange, but in my opinion not "White Elephant"-ish exactly.

The good thing at my office is the bosses do spring for good alcohol and food at all our functions, so I could drown my plastic locket sorrows! 

How is it not White Elephant? I thought that WE was any item in good condition that one didn't want anymore. As I don't like wine at all, that present would be a nightmare to me. That's my #1 fear at these gift exchanges-that I'll end up with a bottle of wine!

[Adah]

How about an assortment of those little liquor bottles, the kind you get on an airplane? We can get them at our state liquor store. DH gave that once for a Yankee Swap and it was the most stolen item.

[ehellion]

I agree with the Starbucks suggestion. Either a gift card for coffee or a gift pack would be nice, and should fit the price range request. They have them in all the stores. The CD is also a good idea. It's a bit difficult to buy gifts for people you don't know well outside of work.
[/quote]


I just put together a Christmas Tin of goodies. DH didn't want to brave shopping, lol. I put a cd, some chocolates, almond rochas, homemade chocolates in a Christmas Tin and baked my yummy Pumpkin Bread. Coworker is well taken care of I think.

[mddg4]

This is where having a box of miscellaneous gifts comes in really handy.

I thought I was the only one who did this! DH and I live on a fixed budget,so we do our christmas shopping throughout the year and always have bought a few too many (or too few) gifts. So we have a gift box and if we need something in a hurry, we can always find something good to give someone from the box.

Running amok & causing mayhem

[Venus193]

I actually wish that companies didn't do this.  Not that I expect a repeat of what happened three years ago, but it just seems to just add more pressure and cause people to spend more money they don't need to.

My current company's limit is $25.  OK, I can afford that, but it was actually more interesting to be limited to $10.  The year of that (different company) I got a tape of Goldfinger, a martini glass, and an airline bottle of Smirnoff for the recipient.  Wrapped them in gold paper and put them in a gold tote bag.  He actually liked that!

[kingsrings]

I think that putting the limit at anything more than $10 is too much money for a lot of people. I would not be able to participate in any gift exchange that did that due to finances. Besides, a lot of people just don't want to spend that much money on a gift exchange present. They would rather put that money to use buying a gift for a friend or family member.

[Venus193]

True.  I certainly would prefer to spend that money on a friend.

[freakyfemme]

Don't bother shopping, bake cookies instead.

[ehellion]

Don't bother shopping, bake cookies instead.

I baked pumpkin bread He liked his tin full of goodies very much.

[Hawkwatcher]

How well does he know this co-worker? Is there a price limit? We on the board here might be able to offer some suggestions to make it easier for your husband.

I agree with the Starbucks suggestion. Either a gift card for coffee or a gift pack would be nice, and should fit the price range request. They have them in all the stores. The CD is also a good idea. It's a bit difficult to buy gifts for people you don't know well outside of work.

I think that a gift card is a good idea.  Grocery stores now carry gift cards for many restaurants and other businesses.  The OP's husband could pick one up next time he is at the grocery store and avoid the malls.

[heathert]

Sorry, posted in wrong thread!   

Heather