It's time for the annual office holiday party, and with all the fun and merriment comes the yearly head-scratcher: what Secret Santa gift should you buy? It's likely you don't know your recipient well and trying to find an appropriate gift that is fun, unoffensive, and cost-effective isn't always easy. Don't stress! Here is a list of gift ideas that are smart, simple and should be received with a smile.
- Gift boxes. Make a grab-bag full of inexpensive items. Use an attractive cookie tin or even a plain white cake box and fill it with amusing and odd things from your local dollar store. Add a few scratch-off lottery tickets for suspense. Then wrap and decorate the box.
- Bake up a treat. Nothing says “the holidays” more than a batch of homemade brownies, cookies or macaroons. If you’re not a good cook, find an easy-to-make mix in your local grocery. Anything homemade has a special value to the recipient.
- Make a mix CD. Creating a personalized music mix, then burning it to a CD, is a wonderful gift. Of course, find out what type of music your recipient prefers; it wouldn’t be good to make a rock n roll mix for a country music fan.
- Chocolate! Everyone loves chocolate, so you know this gift will be popular. Skip the Hershey’s Kisses in favor of Godiva, Valrhona, Callebaut or Scharffen Berger. Go to a local “chocolatier” and select something; though you might want to skip the nuts in case your recipient is allergic. A tiny box of world-class chocolate, just three or four pieces, should be within the Secret Santa price guidelines.
- Personalized pictures. Try taking a picture of your recipient’s best office pals and have it pressed onto the front of a t-shirt. A variation would be to take a candid photo of the recipient and put that on the shirt. Finally, consider using the group picture and putting it into a nice picture frame (always on sale during the holidays).
- Do-it-yourself gift baskets. A pre-made gift basket might exceed your spending limit so use your imagination and create a mixture of cheese, crackers, jams, mustards, cocoa and nuts. Or skip the food completely and make a personal care basket filled with bath oils, unusual soaps (try the carrot or mango), bubble bath and scented candles. Use your imagination to put together a great basket that fits your recipient’s personality.
- Popcorn. Somewhere near you is a shop that makes popcorn in 101 flavors, from butterscotch to blueberry to bubblegum. Small cans or boxes should fit your budget.
- Charitable donations. If you can discover your recipient’s favorite charity or cause, make a small donation in his or her name. As they say, this is the gift that keeps on giving.
The holidays can be a stressful time for everyone with so much to do and so little time. Remember, keeping yourself calm and relaxed is a great way to stay healthy (which keeps your life premiums low). Talk with your life insurance agent about your policy if your health conditions change. If you’re looking for new coverage, NetQuote can connect you with quality local agents who can help you get the policy you need at the price you want.
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