Cheap gift ideas for co-workers?

[Pea-n-Me]

We have a "participation optional" Secret Santa at work. What I'm thinking about in some combination: for coffee lovers is either a Dunkin Donuts gift card or DD coffee (2/< $10 now); for wine drinkers a bottle of wine; a box of holiday cookies from a reputable bakery (some people "funny" about eating homemade and these are always a hit).

Also love the Blockbuster package, it's my standard gift for kids' bday parties if I don't know them well, and sometimes even if I do. Borders also has a lof of clearance books which are often priced well under $10 if you know the person likes the subject matter.

 

[Anne34]

I also have some hard people to buy for. What I did this year is go to the Harry & David's sotre and bought the bags (already layered & cute) to make different soups. They had lots of different types and they were on sale for 2 for $12 - so $6.00 per gift. I figure most people like soup on a cold winter day (esp in Chicago)and it is really quick and easy. If they don't like it -- hopefully they will give it to someone who does.

 

[malibuconlee]

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!!

OT, but I just thought I'd share this... A couple of years ago I had TONS of B & BW stuff that I'd gotten as gifts. I'd never use all of them, so I packed them all up and sent them to the local women's shelter. I'm guessing it was really appreciated as some of them show up with the clothing on their backs and nothing else.

 

[Chicago526]

How about some fancy Christmas ornaments (if all the co-workers celebrate X-Mas, that is)? That's what my co-workers and I do every year. We put a limit of $10 and it has to be related to Christmas. Targe has some great ornaments for under $10.

Edit: Opps, just saw the OP's update that X-Mas stuff is out since one of the CW's is Jewish.

How about candy? Everyone likes candy and it's holiday neutral!

 

[DisneyArk]

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.

I like the survival packs. One year a coworker did this for us and we all LOVED it! She put in lots of different kinds of mints and a few treats. She wrote a cute note about these being things to help get us through our day during this busy season. Believe it or not we all loved it much more than the little trinkets that other people gave us. I tend to be very practical, so I love gifts that I can use.

Do you enjoy cooking? If you do then you could make cookies or candy for them. It's funny how some people consider gifts like that to be plain or cheap and other people consider them to be very special because of the time involved in making the gift. I personally think that the presentation makes all the difference when it comes to giving homemade gifts.

Another idea is personalized stationary or note pads.

I hope they are gracious receivers and realize that your gift is just a token of your appreciation!

 

[ttfn3]

I'm making small loafs of bread - either cranberry walnut or pumpkin - wrapping them in colorful paper - and then getting a $5 gift card from Starbucks (they have these really cute little red felt gift tag bags this year for free with a gift card) and attaching them to the bread.

I like the small gift card idea - movie tickets, book stores, ice cream shop, etc. are usually appreciated and can be used.

 

[swilshire]

The thing I miss most about one of my former jobs is the small loaf of banana bread I got every year for Christmas from the secretary. I left the job in 1987, so you can see how long the memory lasted.

Sheila

 

[grlpwrd]

I have this list saved from somewhere I found online (can't recall the site), but some good ideas:

THEME CARE PACKAGE IDEAS

Birthday: Hostess Cupcakes, box of candles, confetti, birthday cards signed by as many people as possible, goodies like candy and books etc wrapped in birthday paper, party hats

Beach Party Luau: Coconut drink holders, leis, Hawaiian music cd, dried pineapples & other tropical fruits, sunglasses, grass skirts, etc (a lot can be bought in the Oriental Trading Company Catalog), beach ball, inflatable pool, floaties, parrot (“ Have a hula good time!”)

Hot & Spicy Extreme Pack: Hot sauce, chili powder, garlic powder, extreme Doritos, extreme cheese sandwich crackers, microwave popcorn (use chili powder on this), Nachos, jar cheese, salsa, Rolaids.

Mexican Fiesta: chips, salsa, maracas, inflatable cactus, sombrero, piñata, music

Picnic Basket: Cheap picnic basket, checkered tablecloth, plastic ants, summer sausage & cheese stuff (from Hickory Farms), Hostess Apple Pies, root beer barrels, Frisbees.

At the Movies: New release movie, or taped sitcoms, microwave popcorn (get empty popcorn tubs from movie theater for putting popcorn in), cups & straws, Koolaid mix, movie candy (good-n-plenty, whoppers, malt balls, etc)

Saturday Morning Cartoons: tapes of cartoons, mini boxes of cereal, poptarts, cereal bars, fun socks or boxers, fun pillow cases

Fun & Games: Nerf balls of all kinds, bubbles, cards, card games, hacky sack, squirt guns, balloons, Frisbees, bubble gum, rice krispy treats, cookies, pez & dispensers, popcorn, koolaid, travel games, jump rope, dominoes, silly string

Casino Night: poker cards & chips, black jack wheel, dice

Foot Care Kit: Foot soak, Peppermint foot lotion, foot file, foot powder/spray, Pumice stone, Dr Scholls Inserts, new socks, put all in plastic tub big enough to soak feet in

Fishing in a Box: Gone fishing sign, Fishing Magazines, goldfish crackers, Swedish fish, gummi worms, fishing games, “go fish” playing cards, fishermans hat, lip balm, sunscreen, and tackle box to pack things in.

Keep in touch kit: writing supplies, journal, pictures, cameras, blank all occasion cards, address book, envelopes

Keep Smiling box: Magic 8 Ball, Mad Libs magazine, Smiley Face Toys, Goofy candy like Sours, Nerds, Laffy Taffy (line box with Smiley face paper), silly string

Lotta Java Pack: teas, cocoa, coffee packs & canned coffees (Starbucks), Milano’s cookies, relaxing magazine to read, etc

Staying Healthy: Aspirin, cold meds, sinus meds, vitamins, Visine, Band-Aids, Neosporin, power bars, soup, Gatorade and other health related things, Men’s Health magazine, dried fruits

Football: info about local teams, posters w/schedules, Nerf football, home team t-shirt, inflatable goal-post (oriental trading), table top football set

Halloween: decorations, bags of candy, wax lips, spiders & spider webs, scary movies

Thanksgiving: decorations, mini pumpkins & gourds, turkey hat, mini pecan pies, sweet potato chips (“We’re so Thankful for you!”)

Winter: headband, gator, stocking caps, hot chocolate mix, hand warmers, heavy socks, UnderArmor, chapstick

Christmas: small tree w/decorations, music, fake snow, window clings, Santa hat, Christmas lights, card shower

Brainiac: Mental Floss magazine, smart trivia books, puzzle books

Nutty: assorted nuts (pecans, pistachios, trail mix, mixed nuts), salted nut rolls, turtles, card that says “I’m nuts about you!”

 

[Grumpy's Gal]

I just got back from TARGET doing my stocking stuffer purchasing.....

This week they have a box of HARRY & DAVID moose munch for $2.33. PERFECT! Three flavors to choose from (dark choc, milk choc, and caramel).

H & D is a very reputable company and not many people buy their own and it makes a great gift. And it's on sale this week!

 

[TiggerDaisy]

I work as a paralegal for a small law firm and I usually give my bosses gifts as well as the staff. We usually have a Christmas party at my boss's house and I don't want anyone to feel left out. I am giving the coolest gift this year. If you can find a store in your area that sells them, they are well worth the price. They are called Tervis Tumblers. Their website is www.tervis.com. They are a plastic tumbler and are virtually indestructable. If one breaks, however, the company replaces it because there is a lifetime guarantee on it. Not only does the Tervis Tumbler hold cold drinks, but also holds hot drinks and keeps them cold and hot for hours. You can microwave them and put them in the dishwasher.

They come in a variety of sizes, but I am giving everyone the 16 oz tumbler. They also have over 150 college teams and hundreds of designs so you can give everyone a different tumbler. I bought one a couple of months ago and love it. I am also giving a friend of mine one. They are great! There is this store down the street from where I work that has hundreds of different designs. It is a great gift, which I know my co-workers will like since they all love coffee and cold beverages so now they will only need one cup. It is a cheap, but great gift idea!

 

[Nickimouse]

How about pretty stationary with matching envelopes and you could even add a nice pen.