Cheap gift ideas for co-workers?

[can'twait]

I'm wracking my brains trying to think of something between $5-$8 for four female co-workers. I've done desk calendars and Bath & Body Works up the ying yang and am trying to come up with something different. I've seen the silver jewelry thread but I have sworn off credit cards, so it must be cash only. Please help! Please don't think I'm cheap, but I have a million people to buy for. I don't think these people will buy for me, so I don't want to spend a lot or make them feel bad that they didn't get me anything. I just want to get a small token to show I appreciate what they've done to help me out all year. Any ideas?

 

[coinkc]

How about scratch-off lottery tickets?

That's what I decided to get for people in my $5 range. something fun to do and who knows...maybe they'll win something

 

[Grumpy's Gal]

lottery tickets
xmas mugs
tea
cocoa
candy

 

[BeccaGrace]

They had really nice snowflake plates and mugs at our Dollar Tree (solid green, red or cobalt with white painted snowflakes)...I am putting the mug in the center of the plates and putting a cocoa packet inside it and filling the plate around the mug with all my homemade christmas treats that I love to bake--(less for me to eat!!!). They also had food safe clear wrap with snowflakes on it that matches the plates so perfectly! They look so nice put together--and everything, including the baked goods, is coming out to less than $5 a person! Works perfectly since my kids have 3 teachers, 2 aides and 2 speech therapists between them, and I have 13 people at the office to buy for!

 

[swilshire]

If you don't expect to receive individual gifts from these folks, it might be more comfortable for all if you just brought in an "office gift". We have a kitchenette where people bring in treats such as cookies, cakes, breakfast sweets. If all the sweet stuff is too much, bring a cheese ball or veggie tray.

Or let them know you'll bring lunch one day and bring a pot of chili or a crockpot full of something yummy. Free lunch is always appreciated and usually inspires others to do the same.

JMHO.

Sheila

 

[lovemygoofy]

I guess I'm still suprised about all these threads about Christmas presents in the workplace because I haven't work at many places yet.

What we do here in the office is have a potluck and the manger provides the big thing like turkey and everyone brings a wrapped ornament not to exceed $10. We are draw numbers and play dirty santa. For those that don't know what it is, the first person goes up and picks out a wrapped ornament and unwraps it. The second person can either take the first person's ornament or get somthing off the table and so on until the last person. Everyone gets something and most people like ornaments. Our staff is about 40 people and I couldn't imagine trying to exchange real gifts with them. This works great for us and you don't have to think about boy or girl gifts.

 

[Grumpy's Gal]

home made fudge? home made mini-loaves of bread? a small plate of home-made cookies?

At my work, we all hang a stocking and we just put stuff in each others stockings. (small things) Lip gloss, hand cream, gum, etc.

 

[fran99999]

I just went through this same thing. I was lucky enough to go to a local asian market and they had mugs with covers ( they look like teapot covers). I bought one for each coworker @ 2.89 plus tax and then bought a few boxes of those specialty cocoa mixes and some cute bags. Small ones at $tree were 5 for $1. I now have 15 presents for about $5 each. Yes I did buy myself a mug for my desk at work and let me tell you they will all love this as they all wanted to know where I bought it. I now have to give these gifts early as they are all trying to give me $$ to purchase one for each of them.

 

[Lorikr65]

I was thinking about this for my kids' bus drivers/teachers. There was a thread here about someone who was getting plastic popcorn containers from Target (I couldn't find them so I got the hot dog baskets), got 2 movie size candy bars (I bought 6 bags of halloween candy at 75% off), a bag or 2 of microwave popcorn, and a $5 gift card to blockbuster/hollywood video. You could probably do it for $7 or so.

I find that people have plenty of lotions/sprays/mugs/etc. and I feel like it's a waste of money. I know I've thrown out my share of mugs and lotions!!

 

[tinksmygal]

$5 gift cards to Starbucks, Blockbuster or local book store or fast food place.
Put it in a card and tie with a fancy ribbon like a package. You can even add something like an Avon holiday chapstick (less than $1) cause who doesn't need chapstick this time of the year.

One year I made work survival packs- put in a granola bar, fruits snacks, hot cocoa/tea/coffee, few little chocolates, gum, ect (you get the idea). Everyone loved them.

 

[Kimberly815]

I was at Target yesterday poking around in thier dollar sections. I found little Chrismas chinese food boxes that you could fill with their $1 hand lotion, and $1 christmas post-it's and other stuff. I think this is what I am going to do. Easy, simple, and everying is $1!

 

[pearlieq]

Movie baskets can be really inexpensive. You just get those microwave popcorn tubs from Blockbuster ($2 each), a gc for a free rental, and fill the rest with candy and extra microwave popcorn. They can be easily be done in the price range you're considering.

 

[crisi]

I don't do office gifts either (or understand them). But my husband does for his staff. He tends to get the group of them a cow....

http://www.heifer.org/

Prices start at $20 for chickens. I've given my bookclub chickens.

 

[Jsme]

I would go to Target and go wild in the dollae section. You can buy lots of things for baskets. And you would not have but about $10 per basket.

They have all kind of goodies for a spa basket, movie basket and a cooking basket.

Also AC Moore has some very nice looking "silk" scarves for $2. That is an awesome price. They also have some nice ornaments for a dollar that you can put on the front of your package or basket.

Eckerd drugs had some really nice Christmas wine toppers for .59 and I also snagged a little cheese spreader of .99. I am making a wine basket for my boss.

 

[can'twait]

Thanks guys. I checked out Target's dollar section today but most of the stuff looked cheesy, like I would give it as stocking stuffers for my kids, but not to adults. Note, this is a high end office! And one girl is Jewish, so ornaments and "Christmasy" stuff are out. I'd like to get the same thing for everyone, so nobody thinks I got someone else a better/more expensive gift. You know how it is, they're like children! I'm going to do the movie baskets for the kids' afterschool program teachers with $10 gift cards, so I do like that idea, but I would feel silly giving a $5 gift card. I did see the mugs for $1, so I might get those and fill them with candy. I'm hoping I come across something else that I like better. Keep the ideas coming!

 

[It's A Happy Day]

Small bag of Lindt Chocolate Truffles...my husband does this (medium bag)every year for his workers and they seem to like them.

 

[java]

Candles? I always end up buying a set from QVC(I know you are off the credit cards...) but with shipping last year I got 6 candles- with cute gift box and tag for $5 each. They have another set I am getting this year same price because I always forget someone at the last minute- and I think most people like candles. (I hope anyway)

 

[powellrj]

I found cute little baskets and got some little Yankee Candle votives and am make small baskets using the christmas votives.

Bath and Body works has some coupons in the store for $10 off $35. What about an assortment of small hand creams in a little basket or little sliky gift bag.

Even something homemade like a small loaf of bread or christmas cookies nicely packaged would be thoughtful.

 

[crisi]

I'm wracking my brains trying to think of something between $5-$8 for four female co-workers. I've done desk calendars and Bath & Body Works up the ying yang and am trying to come up with something different. I've seen the silver jewelry thread but I have sworn off credit cards, so it must be cash only. Please help! Please don't think I'm cheap, but I have a million people to buy for. I don't think these people will buy for me, so I don't want to spend a lot or make them feel bad that they didn't get me anything. I just want to get a small token to show I appreciate what they've done to help me out all year. Any ideas?

I'm going to give you a different perspective here completely....save your money.

If this is a high end office, and these woman can afford their own stuff (maybe they can, maybe they can't), they may have really specific taste. As I said, I'm not a gift person, but things you'd be throwing away money on if you gave them to me: Candles (don't use them), Bath and Body Works stuff (can't stand it), Christmas stuff (have very specific collectables in my house for Christmas), Candy (specific taste - particularly chocolate), jewelry (wear the same necklace, earrings and wedding ring every day of my life). And its literally throwing money away. I don't regift. I don't return. I don't donate it. All that is too burdensome in effort for me for a token. It goes into the trash.

On the other hand, if my coworkers give me something, particularly if I know or suspect they've had money issues (which I'm gathering from you having sworn off the credit cards), what I do receive is guilt. Even if there are no money issues, to me, gifts carry obligation, and if I didn't get you something, I now have a burden on me. When I say "gee, you didn't have to do this." I mean "gee, you REALLY didn't have to do this." Even with a token gift you do manage to make me feel bad. I know that isn't your intention, and I'll never let you catch on. But it isn't what you want to accomplish.

If you want to show your appreciation, get some nice paper and write each of them a handwritten thank you note. Make them personal, telling each woman what you especially like about her and sharing something you remember from the previous year. Way more meaningful to me than a token. I have thank you notes from my coworkers going back years that I do treasure. I keep them in a file in my desk and when I'm having a bad day on the job, I bring them out and read them. Bring them in with a plate of Christmas cookies if you must bring something.

 

[can'twait]

crisi,

I agree completely, but I'm supervisor (barely) and I think I should show my appreciation. I do include a note of thanks with the gift. They have no idea what my financial situation is. We are all admins, so none of us is wealthy, but the atmosphere here is. I also feel guilty when I get "gifty" stuff that I have no use for, which is why I'm trying to come up with something different. I think most of us don't need or want half the stuff we get for the holidays, but the stores make us think we have to buy everything. But that's another thread!

Thanks for everybody's input.