Christmas gifts for staff...ideas?

[gracie1]

I would lean more towards doing a luncheon for them. and if you like to cook, you can do a pasta lunch (spaghetti, meatballs, salads, garlic bread) and have a variety of desserts.
I personally am not a fan at all of $5 giftcards, but that is just me personally.

 

[daisyduck123]

I would say no to the candles for the same reason the OP said she doesn't get much from Bath and Body Works, the scents can really mess with some peoples allergies/asthma.

I would also say "no" to the candles. I never use candles in my home (have two cats).

I think a $5.00 gift card would be most appreciated (gas, bookstore, Target, etc).

I think $5.00 scratch-off lottery tickets would also be good. Whenever I get those, I give them to my kids to scratch....they love 'em!!

 

[laliwalden]

I would enjoy a giftcard to Starbucks.

Also, we have a local chocolate place and they do giftcards for desserts. Maybe see if there is something like that local to you.

I made these a couple years ago and will make them again this year. They were really well received.

http://karlise-mylife.blogspot.com/2008/11/cupcake-ornaments.html

I think mine turned out better than the ones pictured, but you get the idea!!

 

[snowy76]

Agree with the giftcards or the stainless steel water bottles. Our school's student govt gave us water bottles for a teacher appreciation event and you'd have thought we were each given $100 cash For some reason we just all really loved them!

 

[daisyduck123]

Agree with the giftcards or the stainless steel water bottles. Our school's student govt gave us water bottles for a teacher appreciation event and you'd have thought we were each given $100 cash For some reason we just all really loved them!

Our school staff received stainless steel water bottles during Teacher Appreciation Week. We were also thrilled...until we actually went to use them. Whoever was in charge of ordering must've gotten them cheap somewhere because these water bottles have the most ridiculous lids to open. A real pain. I used it once, and then never again!!

 

[quentina]

As someone who also has supervised large groups, I say...skip the thrifty gifts. I started doing a lunch/dessert day. I have it catered, it is usually only around $150 with cleanup done by me (although many will stay and help).

Doing this is actually cheaper for me than buying a small token and they love it....last year, I had a friend make chocolate covered strawberries to add to the offerings................they were a HUGE hit.

Then we just hang out and have a relaxing hour or two.

 

[timzagain]

I would enjoy a giftcard to Starbucks.

Also, we have a local chocolate place and they do giftcards for desserts. Maybe see if there is something like that local to you.

I made these a couple years ago and will make them again this year. They were really well received.

http://karlise-mylife.blogspot.com/2008/11/cupcake-ornaments.html

I think mine turned out better than the ones pictured, but you get the idea!!

I love these cupcake ornaments - I think I'll make some this year!

 

[dreamin_disney]

I love abth and body work antibac soap-lol!

$5 giftcard would be good but not everyone loves startbuck(I do-lol)
I like the various giftcards.
Starbucks and food places around your work area.

 

[ctinct]

Too late for this year but after Christmas you can pick up some pretty ornaments for next year.

Another suggestion is to check the Lakeside catalog. I bought packages of twelve magnetic memo pads, one for each month of the year. I think they were about $5 each, and just the other day a co-worker mentioned how much he enjoys them. They have lots of inexpensive items, and I am pretty sure you can browse online, too.

Ah, just thought of another one. If you have a Michael's or something similar near you, I have bought boxes of all-occassion gift cards for $5. I forget if that was the sale price or the price I paid with a coupon, but I remember buying these as gifts one year not too long ago. Everyone seemed to love them.

 

[badblackpug]

Too late for this year but after Christmas you can pick up some pretty ornaments for next year.

I might avoid anything overly "christmas-y" everyone may not be christian.

It takes a little more work, but is cheap. "cookie jars". Layer the dry ingredients for cookies or brownies in mason jars. (think sand art) decorate the jar by trimming a square of fabric to the size of the little metal disk thing that goes in the top. Type out the full recipe for the cookies/brownies and print it on a decorated card. Punch a hole in the corner of the card and tie it on the jar with a pretty ribbon. The recipient just has to add the "wet" ingredients and bake.

 

[lovinpoohbear]

I would honestly try to do a secret santa or "secret pal" thing with a group of people. My co workers used to exchange the usaul "junk" and last year one of the girls organized secret pal, you put all peoples names in a hat and each person picks one name. Then she had put a $10 limit on the gift.
Most people bought $10 gift cards, example I am the coffee lover of the group which everyone kids me about and thus, my gift card was to Dunkin Donuts.
On the day that we exchanged the secret pal gifts at work, we had a potluck lunch and it was really nice!!!

 

[FoundMyPrince]

I vote for a nice lunch.

 

[Grumpy's Gal]

This is what I wish my boss would do. A person who gives shoulder rubs to come in and each of us rotate in and out of the conference room and everyone get a 10-15 minute shoulder rub. If that wouldn't make my holidays brighter, I don't know what would in that stressful time of year.

 

[Grumpy's Gal]

Oh, I don't know if you are allowed to do this.....but one AMAZING thing our boss did once was call us all in and we thought we were all going to have a meeting. Then he gave everyone the afternoon off.

It was the best day ever!

 

[TLuvsD]

I love the water bottle idea, I may go pick up a bunch for D's teacher gifts. I'd do thator the $5 gift cards. Lunch is a good idea, if everyone can go to lunch at the same time...otherwise, it's not so fun for someone.

 

[teacup princess]

I just got a bunch of cute lunchbox sized totes from LLBean on clearance for around $5.00. I've been filling them with cookies/baked goods, books, or a bottle of wine and using them as hostess gifts. People love them.

**Just checked the ones I got are gone now but I bet if you keep an eye-out you could find some cute lunchbags on clearance after school starts. Then fill them with whatever, add a bow, and they'd make a cute practical gift. Everyone at an office could probably use a lunchbag.

 

[sorul82?]

I used to be a temp employee, so I have been at many different businesses during the holidays. At one place I was in charge of the holiday event so I hung various $10 gift cards from a tree and the employees picked. The gas cards were the most popular. I kept a lookout for the places that had free gc offers.

Another place would draw names. Each person would make a list of practical items that they needed/wanted like post it notes, gum, onion salt, 2 ltr soft drink, etc. It was actually quite fun.

 

[NeedaVacation03]

For about 6 years I have done a lunch for my husbands office. They love it. Now it is to the point where the employees bring additional side dishes and they have a great afternoon. We have always done salad, Italian chicken, green beans with tomatoes,a different vegetable, rolls and several desserts. I start buying the chicken breasts when they are on sale and freezing them. Then we just do red plates etc. so that it is easy to match. It has been pretty inexpensive through the years. The employees love it.

 

[mjbaby]

Last year for babysitters and the like, I wrapped up packages of the microwave popcorn from Boy Scouts with $5 Blockbuster gift cards and then wrote a note about taking a night to hang out with friends, on me. This would be slightly above $5, of course, with the popcorn.