A good Secret Santa (or Kris Kringle, as most Australian offices call it) gift is small, useful and easy to like. You often draw someone you don't know well, the budget is fixed, and the gift is opened in front of everyone, so the safe choice is something most people would be glad to take home: a treat, something for the desk, or something the group can enjoy together.
What a Secret Santa really wants
Most people in a workplace draw want something they will actually use, not a joke that goes in the bin by January. Stay inside the agreed limit, and if you don't know the person, lean towards things that don't depend on taste or size: food, a mug they'll reach for, a small comfort for the end of the day.
If you do know a little about them, use it. The tea drinker, the person who is always cold at their desk, the one who organises the team games night: one detail is enough to turn a generic gift into one that feels chosen. Check for allergies before choosing food, and skip anything too personal for a colleague.
Before you choose, ask yourself
- Do you know what they drink or snack on?
- Do they work at a desk, or on their feet?
- Is it an office draw or a family exchange?
Secret Santa gift ideas
Something to eat or drink
Food is the easiest gift to get right when you barely know someone. A suits almost anyone, a tea gift set suits the one who always has a cup going, and a is a good pick for the colleague who adds chilli to everything.
For the desk
A gift for the desk gets used every working day. A good or an insulated tumbler keeps the morning drink warm through the first meeting, and a helps the one who reads on the commute or late at night.
Something to share
Some gifts are better with other people. A board game suits a team that already stays late for a games night, and a jigsaw puzzle is a quiet project for the holidays that the whole family can join.
A small treat
A little comfort goes a long way in December. A is a safe choice for most people, and a or is small, useful and easy to fit inside a modest budget.
Frequently asked questions
What's a good Kris Kringle gift under $20?
Something small they can use or share: a hand cream set, a good pen, a card game or a box of chocolates. Tell Pisto it's for a colleague and set $20 as the budget, and every idea stays under it.
What if I barely know the person?
Pick something most people like and nobody has to explain: a treat, something for the desk, or something for a hot drink. Skip clothes, perfume and anything personal.