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A Festive Fiasco: The go-to’s for office secret santa

Andy Williams once said, “It’s the most wonderful time of the year.” Clearly, this song was written in an era well before the chaotic existence of the office Secret Santa. It’s a tale as old as time – you’ve drawn the name of that guy that you kinda-sorta-don’t-really-know in cubicle four down the hall. His name might be Steve… or is it Allan? Regardless, you have zero idea what to pick up, and you only have a $20 budget.

 

But alas, help is on the way. Here are our top 5 picks for fail-safe office Secret Santa presents:

1. You’re shopping for Donna, the PA.

She’s got a new DIY manicure every 48 hours and is always on the look-out for sales at Priceline. Head to Lush for pamper-perfection treats. Lush explodes at Christmas time with gingerbread-meets-peppermint scents and glittering spectrums of colour. With delicious gift-packs starting at as little as $17.50, it’s hard to go wrong. And if that’s not enough, companies like The Body Shop and Sephora are matching the trend by pumping out gift-sets specifically designed for a secret santa budget.

 

2. You’re shopping for your boss (dear god, not today Satan).

They’re frighteningly clear-cut, and their desk is piled to the ceiling with paper on more paper on even more paper. A spruce of livelihood would do them a world of good - it’s time to bestow them with a mini succulent or desk plant. These can be picked up from local markets, Bunnings or even Ikea. The best part? These little cuties retail roughly for $10-$15, so you still have extra cash to splurge on a matching pot from Kmart!

 

3.   You’ve drawn the vacation work kid.

What do you get the trendy millennial - they’re SO groovy and unrelatable?! Our advice: ditch the fake Christmas snow and reindeers theme, and head on over to the ever so funky Sunnylife. With an entire branch of the website dedicated to ‘gifts under $20’, it’s hard to go wrong. Pick up unique gems like cactus beer coasters, anchor bottle openers, and ice-cream tumblers.

 

4. You’re shopping for the office all-rounder.

They seem to have their life completely together, and never want for anything. Well… they work in an office, right? How could you possibly go wrong with stationary? Top picks of the season are kikki K, Typo, and Pigeonhole for all things office-coteur.

 

5. Or maybe you landed Fussy Philip (or Philippa).

Dear god it seems like they have allergies and intolerances to EVERYTHING. If you thought a foodie gift was completely out of the question, think again. Dolce Organico has you covered with organic vegan meringues that are dairy free, gluten free, cruelty free, fat free, and INCREDIBLY appetising to look at AND eat! You can pick them up at selected locations or order these vegan treats online.

This article was contributed by Bridget Burton; a speech pathology student by day and creative wordsmith by night. When she's not writing for Social Cut or studying her toosh off, she's playing with her adorable puppy, Molly.