Secret Santa Gift Ideas

Updated on December 02, 2011
S.J. asks from Cherryville, MO
15 answers

I am looking for your best gift ideas for Secret Santa! Is there something you have received that you loved? Ideas need to be under $10. I have never done secret santa before! The person I am buying for is a single mom of two teen boys. Thanks!

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So What Happened?

To answer a few questions: I know NOTHING about this person, she is brand new here in the office, I simply know she is a single mama. The gifts for the first week need to be about $2-$5, then the final gift will be $10. Thanks mamas!

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K.P.

answers from New York on

Last year I got a "Ice cream sundae" bag and it was great! The "Santa" put a small thing of fudge sauce, small can of crushed nuts, small box of waffle bowls and small thing of sprinkles. It was great and much appreciated!

5 moms found this helpful

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T.K.

answers from Dallas on

Last year my secret santa found a great deal at Kohls. She got me a very flattering shirt with a matching earrings and necklace set. I'm actually wearing the shirt today. :)
Single mom of 2 teens probably never treats herself to anything new, so I'm sure she will be greatly appreciative of whatever you give her. You could do a very nice scarf or pashmina. A glittery handbag she can use for holiday parties and New Years.
A nice bottle of wine would be nice and if she doesn't drink she could re-gift it.

2 moms found this helpful
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B.K.

answers from Boston on

If she likes to bake -- Covered baking tins
I've seen baking tins that double as food-carrying cases. You can find them at Walmart for $5-10. Make some brownies/cupcakes, etc. to go in it and then she can keep it.

2 moms found this helpful

G.M.

answers from Phoenix on

You get snow in MO right? Well, for me, if I lived there, a nice Scarf would be great! Or, Gloves. I love Kohls and they always have great deals going on. I personally love Scented Candles too. :-) Kohls also has cooking utensil sets, pretty Christmas Frames, etc. There's a few ideas for ya. Hope this helps. :-)

2 moms found this helpful

M.M.

answers from Detroit on

How about the 2 for $20 candles at Bath and Body…one for her and one for you ;)

$10 towards a manicure…a lot of places charge $12 for one, so for $5 of her own she can play the balance, tip and have a dollar to spare.

$10 pizza gift certificate to have Friday Night pizza with her boys?

2 moms found this helpful

V.W.

answers from Jacksonville on

Fluffy fun socks or a beautiful fluffy scarf!!
ETA: after your added-- a Starbuck's card, a pair of lotto tickets, etc for the first weeks. Finish up with the scarf. :)

Please avoid the "scented candles" routine. I don't really know ANYbody that REALLY likes them. They just sit and collect dust.

2 moms found this helpful
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C.C.

answers from St. Louis on

With two choldren of my own, working full time and activities.. I would love a soup in a jar, or a maybe a homemade entree to take home. I would make all occasion cards and tie them with pretty ribbon. Or some of my homemade bath bombs, salts and soap in a cute basket with a really good washcloth. A gift card to rent a movie, soda and popcorn in a basket, or maybe a nail kit, clear polish, nail file, buffer...I really love snowmen and collect them.....hope this helps

1 mom found this helpful
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T.H.

answers from Kansas City on

Hmmm, next year you should tell who ever is in charge to make each person fill out an info sheet. Have on it things like favorite candy, favorite scent, favorite TV show, restaurant, store, etc., etc. This will make everyone's experience a lot easier! ;)

Other than that, I'd go with socks, gloves or hat, an ice scraper for her car (which sounds weird but I got that once and actually loved it!), Starbuck's card or just buy her a latte or tea or something on your way into work and have someone give it to her, a book or magazine, nail polish, Christmas ornament (Target has super cute ones that are cheap), chapstick, hand lotion, stuff for her desk, hair accessories, a picture frame, lipgloss or lipstick, crossword puzzle or Soduku type book, a tube of wrapping paper (weird but practical!), a reusable shopping bag, funny or colorful pens for her to use at work...okay, that's about all I got I guess! Just have fun with it!

1 mom found this helpful
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R.K.

answers from Appleton on

A nice bath gel/body lotion set. A manicure/pedicure set. A pair of fluffy slippers or slipper socks.

1 mom found this helpful

J.✰.

answers from San Antonio on

Fun colored nail polish, gift card to the local drive-thru for $5 meal, a nice ornament, cute frame, wallet, winter scarf, cute tote bag, a pair of earrings (if you notice pierced ears), a book of stamps (who can't use that?), a calendar, a nice notepad with nice pen, movie night basket with a movie popcorn and candy - movie perhaps a good Christmas flick like ELF or A Christmas Story or National Lampoons Christmas, a new coffee mug, a bottle of her favorite soda and favorite bag of chips... (you're gonna have to walk past this gals desk a time or two to see if she drinks coffee or soda).

1 mom found this helpful
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J.S.

answers from San Francisco on

I agree with checking out Etsy OR I have been having fun and getting some GREAT ideas from SkinnyScoop..they have a gift list section and I think I am about half way done with my shopping because I have been loving the ideas > http://www.skinnyscoop.com/category/gifts

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D.S.

answers from Dallas on

Bath & Body Works is having a "buy one, get one" deal today on all of their holiday scents. In the winter time my skin just drinks up lotion. If you get her a fragrance she doesn't like she can always re-gift it too.

J.S.

answers from Jacksonville on

My favorite thing was a Tigger and Pooh Hot chocolate cup set! I am a Disney weirdo. It's really funny that I loved it so much considering I drink no hot drinks whatsoever. LOL

The best gift I ever gave was a huge pack of flavored coffee. I drew my bosses name and she went nuts over it. So if you see her with a cup of coffee, that might be a good idea.

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D.W.

answers from St. Louis on

Being the mom of a teenager..........something simple and just for her would do the trick. What about a gift card to Starbucks (if she is a coffee drinker), or a gift card to Bath & Body Works so that she can buy some bubble bath or lotion just for her......with a sweet message to remind her to papmer herself this holiday season? Good luck!

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J.K.

answers from Milwaukee on

Hmmm...how about a cool hat from etsy? When all other ideas fail.......starbucks gift card it is. :D Can you do gift cards? If not, then check out etsy. I've personally never bought anything off of Etsy but I crochet hats and sell them for about $10 and people of all ages adore them. Good luck!!

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