How to Choose Secret Santa Gift Ideas for Coworkers

Wrap your Secret Santa gifts in festive Christmas paper.

Skip the typical coffee mug and candy gifts this year as you show appreciation for your coworker with a Secret Santa gift. Secret Santa gifts are given anonymously to another person, usually randomly assigned by drawing names out of a hat or box. The Secret Santa practice is a common gift-giving tradition in the workplace, allowing coworkers to exchange presents in a cost-effective way as you only buy gift for one person. Below are suggested gift selections that are tasteful, office-appropriate and with a price range of $5 to $25.

Instructions

1. Choose a travel gift for your coworker if she likes to travel. Wrap up leather luggage tags for luggage identification, a leather passport holder to keep her passport safe from wear and tear, or a leather travel clock so she never misses a flight. Buy an "instant flight upgrade" for him, which consists of a travel pillow for the plane, a set of earplugs to block out the noise, and an eye shade mask to darken the light.

2. Select items that can be used by your coworker in her office, such as a picture frame for her family photo, a daily appointment book to schedule her appointments, or a plant container to hold a desk plant. Purchase a gravity pen set for him, which tells the time and date and has an alarm function. Consider a leather business card holder for his cards.

3. Choose Christmas-themed gifts for your coworker, such as a Christmas-inspired photo frame or photo key chain. How about a clock that "sings" holiday songs on the hour, a kitchen or bath towel set in Christmas colors, or wine glasses with holiday designs etched on them. Other ideas include a small holiday ornament for a tree, a Christmas votive for the home, or candy-cane striped tea lights for a display.

4. Shop the sales to increase the number of gifts you can buy within your Secret Santa price range. Consider electronic gifts for your coworker, such as a LED desk clock, a USB-charged LED computer light, or a LED battery-operated candle that changes colors. Purchase a USB key chain flash drive, a memory disk for a camera, a web cam, or a wireless optical mouse.

5. Choose a generic gift that fits both sexes. Give a CD of holiday music, a DVD of a Christmas classic movie, or a blank pack of CDs or DVDs so your coworker can do the recording on her own. Wrap up a box of scented gel candles, a coffee cup warmer or a movie certificate.

Tips & Warnings

• Wrap the gift in festive paper with a bow as the presentation counts in the selection.

• Avoid gifts that are too personal as these are inappropriate for workplace setting.

References

• MSN Lifestyle: Fun Office Gifts for $10 and Under
• CNN Living: 10 Fun, Affordable Gifts for Co-workers