Ugh, coworker gifts- help?

charlottesmom0626

Hey all- I'm behind on my holiday shopping (weird since it's not thanksgiving yet, but still) and once again I'm at a loss for coworker gifts.

I know, I know: why?! Why do you need to get your coworkers gifts!?
It's a small department, and I've tried suggesting we should skip it, or go to a nice dinner instead but every year my idea gets pushed aside and we all get eachother small ($10 and under) gifts.

I've tried being creative in the past.
We work outside so one year I made everyone hand warmers.
Last year I made a hand salve/butter.
Anyone have ideas?

ETA: paragraphs.

dolewhipper

Sugar/salt scrubs, hand or lip moisturizer, cookies/baked goods, cheap bottle of wine, coffee mugs...hard to say because we have no idea what your coworkers like or if you want to personalize it for each person or just do a generic gift for everyone. 

esstee33

Lush has a lip scrub that would be awesome if you guys get wind-chapped lips. I use it all the time, and I've been catching FI dipping into it, too. 

http://www.lushusa.com/Mint-Julips/03057,en_US,pd.html

charlottesmom0626

Thanks ladies!

@dolewhipper I like the idea of personalizing gifts but it's hard when I don't know a whole lot about their personal interests outside of work, and a 10 dollar budget is pretty lame. There's 10 of us in total, (3 guys/6 girls/me). The girls are usually eaiser (cute candle, socks + nail polish, etc).

novella1186

I'd say if you know they drink coffee, a really nice gourmet coffee. Maybe with a cute mug. 

I also like the idea PP suggested of lip balm and scrub 

A fancy box of chocolates/candy (FI had a $10 limit last year for his office gift exchange so we picked out a fancy box of chocolates and people actually fought over them lol) 

If you know they celebrate Christmas and put up a tree, then a pretty ornament? 

Toe warmers that you put in your boots 

A little gift basket with pasta, a nice bottle of olive oil, and maybe a little bottle of Italian seasoning (if they like to cook and don't have gluten issues)? 

Baked goods 

theartistformerlyknownas

Wait so you're spending $90 on your coworkers?! That's crazy. To me, 10 people isn't a small department/team. My team is 3 people including me. I'd really be trying to put my foot down on that. 

All I've ever gotten at work (which was from my boss, never from my coworkers) was a little goodie bag of cheap candy.

charlottesmom0626

lolo883 said:

Wait so you're spending $90 on your coworkers?! That's crazy. To me, 10 people isn't a small department/team. My team is 3 people including me. I'd really be trying to put my foot down on that. 

All I've ever gotten at work (which was from my boss, never from my coworkers) was a little goodie bag of cheap candy.

girl tell me about it. This is why I've been trying to get out of it for two years!! But if I'm the only one who gives cards or doesn't participate I feel like an asshole.

When I started there were 6 of us, but the department keeps growing. I guess I think of it as small when really I should say "close" we don't have desk jobs, and we work together all day (lifting crates, performing shows, etc) there's a lot of team work involved

I personally think it's stupid: I'd rather have a nice dinner together, a secret santa, or just exchange cards than get 8 pairs of socks or a bunch of baked goods (since I'm trying to eat healthy through the holidays).

lovegood90

My go-to gift for female coworkers (well, the ones who I know are into that sort of thing) is to hit up bath and body works during a sale and get a bunch of those mini candles- I think sometimes they have a sale of 5 for $18 or something?

I usually get the 3 wick ones if I'm spending a bit more $ on them; if it's the 2 for $25 sale I keep one for myself

They also have a lot of cheap mini lotions, hand sanitizers and fuzzy socks!

theartistformerlyknownas

charlottesmom0626 said:

lolo883 said:

Wait so you're spending $90 on your coworkers?! That's crazy. To me, 10 people isn't a small department/team. My team is 3 people including me. I'd really be trying to put my foot down on that. 

All I've ever gotten at work (which was from my boss, never from my coworkers) was a little goodie bag of cheap candy.

girl tell me about it. This is why I've been trying to get out of it for two years!! But if I'm the only one who gives cards or doesn't participate I feel like an asshole.

When I started there were 6 of us, but the department keeps growing. I guess I think of it as small when really I should say "close" we don't have desk jobs, and we work together all day (lifting crates, performing shows, etc) there's a lot of team work involved

I personally think it's stupid: I'd rather have a nice dinner together, a secret santa, or just exchange cards than get 8 pairs of socks or a bunch of baked goods (since I'm trying to eat healthy through the holidays).

Maybe you could suggest spending the money on adopting a child/family in need instead of buying gifts for each other... then if they resist, they look selfish, and you get to help someone who needs it more than you need another scented candle. 

Sugargirl1019

I think your company should start secret Santa, so you only buy for one person. 10 people is ridiculous!

I'm not buying gifts for my coworkers..

chibiyui

Miniature bottles of booze? Big bottles of Vlad because fuck them?

charlottesmom0626

Sugargirl1019 said:

I think your company should start secret Santa, so you only buy for one person. 10 people is ridiculous! I'm not buying gifts for my coworkers..

WE DO! at the all-staff Christmas party (approx 150 people attend). That's yet another reason why this is cray

peachy13

Last year I gave mugs and put little knick knacks inside (lip balm, mini hand sanitizer from Bath and Body Works, and chocolate). 

Another coworker gave out little bottles of Kiehl's hand lotion which I really liked. I've also received desk plants which are cool.

wandajune6

Would you go with insulated coffee cups? Maybe with a small homemade hot cocoa mix?

I also love homemade cookies. Hot cocoa mixes are nice too.

I'm also a fan of giving wine.

southernbelle0915

$10 starbucks gift cards - for every person. 

If they hate it, they can re-gift. Or maybe if they hate it, they'll start getting on board with the idea that mandatory gift buying for every co-worker is stupid. 

loveislouder

I would be SO mad if there were 10 of us and we spent 10 on everyone.  There are 4 people in my office that I buy for, and they literally get a card and a 3 sampler of chocolates from Russel Stover that cost me a buck. Then we also do a 20 dollar gift exchange, which is always booze which makes for a VERY happy Christmas party

MobKaz

I would take that $90 and surprise the staff with a great catered breakfast or lunch!  A yummy soup and sandwich bar compliments of Panera would make me feel great after working outdoors all morning!

charlottesmom0626

Love these ideas!! Thanks ladies