Do you usually give gifts to your coworkers in the office for Christmas?
I work at a bank and usually we give gifts to the people within our own department. This year our department has grown to 8 people. I want to give everyone a gift but I don't want to go broke doing it!! What are some cheap, but nice gifts you have given to fellow co-workers? I work with all women aged from 25 to 60. I also like to give useful gifts, I don't want to give them something they will never use!
@moondrake: I bought them bath and body works last year with those comfy socks!! I love to go in there when they are having sales and I have coupons :)
Bath and Bodyworks routinely has a "buy 3 get 3 free" special, you can get 6 very nice lotions or hand santizers or foaming soaps or whatever for about $30. If you can find a coupon they normally stack coupons with their specials. I used a $10 off coupon last time so I got six $10 lotions for $20. Smelly stuff is popular with the folks in my office, so i usually go with the lotions or scented candles or something like that. When I vacationed in China I had pearl bracelets made for all of the ladies for about $3 each and they were all over the moon for those. Two of my co-workers are diabetic guys, which makes them doubly hard to buy for.
Great ideas everyone, Thank you!
Gifts are for friends. I have coworkers who are friends and some who are not friends but good coworkers. The friends get gifts outside of the job, the coworkers get a Merry Christmas and a handshake at the end of the day before the holiday.
I worked for an airline in 2001. After the events of 9/11/2001, giving a $10 gift to coworkers just felt hollow. So, what I did instead was took the total amount I would have spent and donated to a charity in their names, and presented them each a card explaining it. It was a big hit and others adopted it.
I have done that since through two different companies now. I usually give to either the Red Cross or Toys for Tots depending on what's going on in the world.
I've done Cookies In A Jar gifts. It's basically all the dry ingredients one needs to make a batch of cookies, layered in a large canning jar with a decorated top & attached recipe card. Similar to this: http://www.bakerella.com/mix-things-up/ Fun to give, and if you buy your ingredients in bulk, less expensive.
I do! :)
This, being my first year working in China, I'm excited to get gifts for all of my Chinese colleagues, even though they don't celebrate the holiday, haha. Should be fun :)
We generally don't exchange gifts formally, as we haven't had a departmental holiday party in about ten years (I work in IT at a college and there are many departments of varying size). The college as a whole has a holiday party, but the gifts there are all donated to needy children.
@jandk113: That's what I try to tell everyone!
@theoneill555: I love gadgets too! After all, you can never have too many flashlights or monkeys!!
@thumperchick: I do this for my nieces. They love all the different goodies I find for them online. They are usually just cheap items, but they are not things that can be found in stores around here.
@wisenekt: I think that is a great idea. I might run that by everyone tomorrow. Thanks!
I would make little goody buckets for my old team - there were 4 of them. Take a cup/bucket from the dollar store and fill with whatever you can afford/make/etc.
The growth of the department is what lead to the "Secret Santa" being started at my office. Set a $10 dollar limit and then you only have to buy for one person. You can still by for more if you want, but are only obligated to buy for one person.
I am a gadget geek. I love giving funky little items like LED keychain flashlights, little screwdriver sets, woot monkeys, USB toys, etc. but I work in a shop and not an office.
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