How much do you spend on Co-workers gifts?

[pppiglet]

I have quite a few I work with and it gets so expensive!

 

[chloelovesdisney]

I have quite a few I work with and it gets so expensive!

I spend zero on coworkers. I have two good friends through work that I exchange gifts with but I have known them both well outside of work for a long time. I will spend about $50 on each of them.

 

[clh2]

I spend zero on coworkers.

I spend the same. Absolutely nothing. And, I'm glad I work at a place where gift giving is not the norm.

 

[mamacatnv]

Nothing on my co-workers, its not something we do.
For DS's office, I make a huge batch of caramel corn, put it in a pretty gift bag with a note that says Merry Christmas from DH and he puts it somewhere where his work pals have access to it.

 

[Belle Ella]

Not a whole lot. I just include the people in my direct department in the "brownie in a jar" mixes that I make. I do have one co-worker who is a good friend so she and I are doing bigger gift exchanges but that didn't have a limit on it. I just saw Belle stuff I had to buy for her and it worked out, lol.

 

[golfgal]

Nothing. DH's old job we would get his direct reports something (there were 20 of them ) but in this job they don't exchange Christmas gifts in the office .

 

[MarkBarbieri]

Co-worker's gifts? It never occurred to me to buy them anything. Personally, when I think of Christmas gifts, I usually thing of kids. I generally only buy token gifts for my wife and parents and nothing for any other adults.

 

[maslex]

I'm only close to 2 of my co-workers and we usually exchange a little something. In years past, it's been Yankee candles, frames, lottery scratch offs (LOL). This year I wanted to get them each a Hallmark ornament that "suits" them but couldn't find any. And they both have "everything", neither of them "needs" anything so I ended up getting them each a stuffed snowman to decorate their home. I believe they were both around $15???

 

[The Mystery Machine]

In the old days, dh would get/give gifts. It was nice. Wine, decorations, candy, etc....

These days? Forget it.

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

zero, zip, nada. And nothing is given in return. I like that system.

I have one friend that we will go to lunch together. But that's it. I like our system here at the office.

 

[Darcy03231]

I don't do co-worker gifts either. I do bring in a big tray of Christmas cookies and leave them in the break room and send out an email - - you can almost hear the stampede!

 

[Kimberle]

I work in a big "gift giving" office. This year, I've 7 gifts. I spend $78. I bought each a nice cup set w/ coaster & tray, plus a bag of fancy cookies.

None of my other companies did this. I wish we'd stop as well, or at least draw names.

 

[Ephany]

We do a secret Santa, under $20 and no one's required to participate. Last year the most envied gift was a giant chocolate penguin. It's a lot of fun, but I'm glad it's not the norm to buy something for everyone.

 

[Jeniferdwn]

This is the first year I'm not participating and they really talked trash to me. And I got the feeling they weren't all joking. Last year, I spent $75 in my office, they wanted $25/person. Secret Santa which was supposed to be a small/dollar type gift ended up being ridiculous. People were buying gifts for 5 and 6 dollars everyday plus the $25 gift on the last day. Several people brought me a little gift, so I had made several mugs with candy and a candy cane pen just in case. I ended up spending almost $150 last year. And they wonder why I didn't want to do it this year.

 

[Toad_Passenger]

Where I currently work, $0.

I used to be a retail manager and there we used to just get everyone $20 gift cards (it was a small staff). It was funny, though, we used to think, "Why don't we just go and buy something for $X.XX by ourselves, and say it's from everyone else." Because, when you think about it, everyone was spending the same amount, so it was just like trading money.

 

[LuvCuteBoys]

Nothing. It's entirely possible that some of them will get me some small token gift, but hopefully that the lack of return on my part will stop it. They're my coworkers. They're not my friends. And I don't mean that in a nasty way, but it is what it is.

They wanted everyone to chip in $25 for both bosses. I said no way. I might get them both a card with some lottery tix or something, but that's it.

Christmas is about my family and my friends. It's not about my job.

 

[Toad_Passenger]

If anyone is looking to save money on "Co-worker" gifts, just hand out small certificates that say that you've made a donation in their name to "The Human Fund." It's a George Costanza approved charity!

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

My group used to do secret santa. There were 7 of us. We drew a name and for 3 days, you would get something 5.00 or less for that person per day.

We had fun trying to guess who our secret santa was. On the 4th day, we went to lunch together in a conference room, had a potluck lunch and revealed. It was a nice way to celebrate and not expensive.

I no longer work in an office and I'm glad. After talking with my friend who still works in one, it's more about how much you get than the fun of it.

 

[pppiglet]

Wow..thanks for the answers. I wish we didn't exchange gifts either. I'm already up to $75 and still have 8 more to get for. I really thought lots of people exchanged at work, but seems most of you don't. I wish HR would send an email to everyone saying it's not allowed at work. So many people would be relieved!

 

[Pumbaa_]

I hate this too. Luckily, it is just a gift for the boss. Who works in another state, have been reporting to for just a few months. There are 3 of us and I thought $10 each for a $30 dunkin donuts gift card was good. They think it should be $50. Granted it is only $6 or so more, I just thinkj $30 would be appropriate.

Losing battle