More gift advice

[pawsplus]

The co-worker I drew for Secret Santa is fairly new, tends not to be talkative so no one knows much about him, young (late 20s), and male. I have ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA what to get him!! Everyone else is easy--tree ornaments, mugs, cute stuff, whatever. I am at a total loss.

$15 is the limit. Suggestions?? He has never mentioned hobbies, is not married, has no kids or pets, etc. Scarf???

[Minz]

Consumables!! Men love to eat, and if it isn't his thing, consumable are always useful as hostess gifts etc. For KK gifts when I don't know the person, I always buy something I would appreciate as a hostess gift, so I know if they don't like it, it can easily be regifted. Bottle of wine, liquor (if appropriate at your office) but by usual KK gift buying plan is that I like to support local artisan food makers. I pick up a couple of little things that fit into the KK budget, and then compile them into a cute basket or box from the dollar store. Some of the products I have used include: local handmade chocolates, cheese, crackers, shortbread cookies, sauces, seasonings, jams. Not all, at once but I can usually find 1-3 yummy things and then go nuts with dollar store decorations.

[pawsplus]

I don't like giving food. No one needs that crap and since I don't buy it for myself, I prefer not buying it for others, especially my staff. Sorry--should have mentioned that food was out. I don't know if he drinks or not.

[KathyK]

I would give him a $15 Amazon gift card. I'm not ordinarily a fan of gift cards, but since you don't know this person well enough to pick out something you think he will like, in this case I think it's acceptable.

[piedmontfields]

Poor Paws.

That is all the advice I can offer.

[scruffy the cat]

SmartWool socks.

[no.stirrups]

Better hone your investigative skills! Engage him in a conversation. Ferret out some clues.

[angela9823]

Does he have any pictures in his office? Does he like any sports that you know about? Golf? Is he a gaming person? Know any friends that you can call of his? Or family? What about those with whom he works directly? Do they ever talk to him?

[bascar]

Interesting. I always go for a food option precisely because it gets consumed and isn't a useless piece of crap. But moving on

Smartwool socks - lovely option. Scarf less so, but a wooly cap/beanie is still terribly fashionable with the young folk of today.

Booze is always acceptable unless he doesn't drink. Those large festive bottles of ale (bombers? Anyway) eg Arrogant Bastard or Olde Grumbler etc etc

Festive themed thumb drives - always useful

Sunglass chains/cords - eg croakies

Or eminently practical - a gas gift card

[orono]

If gift cards are ok I'd go with gas, groceries, coffee or something like itunes/amazon.

[pawsplus]

Gift card is a great idea. That covers everything. I stalked him on FB (not his FB friend but he seems to have no privacy protections), and other than gospel music, which he sings at church and with a group, I turned up nothing! We've all tried to get to know him but he's really cagey.

I might get him a nice scarf and a gift card. I'm his supervisor so I can get away with going over the limit, I think. It's not really cold enough around here for wool sox if you're a city person. I mean, I need them, but he's not doing chores in 20F--just walking 200 feet from his car.

Maybe itunes--since I know he's into gospel.

The food thing--I'm vegan and into healthy eating. I'm also the only person in the office who is not always sick. This includes this guy. So I don't want to buy foods containing animal products, or give someone food I consider unhealthy, esp as IMO that just contributes to me dealing with my staff calling in sick yet again! There is enough food available around the hols without my adding to it. And while I would love to get some really nice fruit, I find that is not true of many people.

[Chisamba]

Most of my friends, self included, love a nice fruit basket. However, asking for advice does not always equal being willing consider any opinion other than your own, so I am sure you will do as you see fit under the circumstances.

[hoopoe]

when you mentioned gospel music what flashed through my mind is a winter scarf with the black and white pattern of a keyboard.

there it is, no explanation as to why that popped out

http://www.amazon.com/Gift-House-Music- ... B008O73K30

[pawsplus]

Oh, that is a good idea! Thanks!

[pawsplus]

Most of my friends, self included, love a nice fruit basket. However, asking for advice does not always equal being willing consider any opinion other than your own, so I am sure you will do as you see fit under the circumstances.

Not sure what your problem is. I have a right to not want to spend my I money on food I consider crap, and generally speaking, most men would not welcome a fruit basket. I've gotten some good ideas on this thread, but that doesn't mean that all are ones I will use. I think most people asking for advice accept some and discard others. That's kinda the point of asking, isn't it???

[DD2]

I think the point is that Minz wrote a thoughtful and I'm sure what she thought was a helpful post. To respond with "no one needs that crap" is a bit harsh and perhaps better to just disregard the advice without being demeaning,

[Rhianon]

I think the point is that Minz wrote a thoughtful and I'm sure what she thought was a helpful post. To respond with "no one needs that crap" is a bit harsh and perhaps better to just disregard the advice without being demeaning,

Ya, I agree.

[Cookie]

SmartWool socks.

Yes.
Or a scarf is OK. Or coffee. Or a gift card.

If you think he celebrates Christmas, ornaments I think are good for anyone, male or female.

[scruffy the cat]

FWIW, SmartWool socks are not just for farmers in freezing weather. Lightweight SmartWool is appropriate even for summer- merino is a great temperature regulator, keeping you cool in hot weather and comfortable in cold.

The guy might not be a scarf-wearer, but he could be a sock-wearer. You'd hope.

Though an ITunes gift card always fits and is the right color.

[FlyingLily]

I'm still trying to wrap my head around how this list of things could be referred to as "crap":

"local handmade chocolates, cheese, crackers, shortbread cookies, sauces, seasonings, jams."

[pawsplus]

I'm still trying to wrap my head around how this list of things could be referred to as "crap":

"local handmade chocolates, cheese, crackers, shortbread cookies, sauces, seasonings, jams."

Well, other than seasonings, which I can't see a guy who isn't a cook wanting, they are all pretty much fat, animal products, sugar, and highly processed. The fact that people seem to think that's OK shows why the world is obese and unhealthy, I guess. I don't eat any of that stuff myself, and, while others have the right to do so, I don't buy stuff for people that I wouldn't eat myself.

Does anyone really think that the world needs more chocolate or cookies in the holiday season? I get my 2 vets fruits baskets and both clinics always say they are a huge relief from the piles of fatty, sugary stuff that inundate them throughout the hols.

I apologized for failing to say "no food" at the outset. I have appreciated many of the suggestions. Let's drop the food thing, OK?

[amygdala]

i'm with pawsplus-- the last thing anyone needs during the holiday season is more fatty sugary crap!

[FlyingLily]

I don't think presents are intended to address needs, solely. Come to that, no one 'needs' an office gift at all.

We all need to get out more, so should Paws just shove this guy out the office door and yell at him to run?

[angela9823]

Does anyone really think that the world needs more chocolate...?

(raises hand) Just kidding.

I think Paws has a valid point. I'm guilty of sending stuff that I know is crap to my business colleagues knowing they would eat it but that I really don't want them sending it to me. I like the idea of the fruit basket (if you were going to do food). I do also love the idea of something like homemade jams. Could there have been a nicer way to put it? Definitely. But the other ideas given were fabulous and her argument against the food makes some of us think twice about giving it to others.

[boots-aregard]

I personally love fruit baskets, but I have a family of people to eat it. If someone sent me Harry and David fruit-of-the-month, no way could I get thru 12 pears before some spoiled. And if he doesn't (appear to) have many friends, who is he going to share them with?

But a Safeway or Whole Foods gift card? I could use that, easy. I could even buy myself a "gift" rather than staples with it.

[Canyon]

Here you go. No junk calories involved.

Walk around the block.jpg (19.64 KiB) Viewed 21425 times

I am going to make some as gag gifts, print out the words and glue to a block of wood.

[carpevita]

I like to give movie theatre tickets when I need a gift card.

[PaulaO]

Oh, I like the movie gift card idea. Who doesn't like to go to the movies?

[pawsplus]

Oh, movies are good. Where does one get those? Just go to the theatre--they do gift cards now?

[angela9823]

Oh, movies are good. Where does one get those? Just go to the theatre--they do gift cards now?

That or go online. Some - like Regal- allow gift purchases online.

[Chancellor]

Oh, movies are good. Where does one get those? Just go to the theatre--they do gift cards now?

Raises hand....I don't like going to the movies...BUT, this IS something that could be re-gifted.

[Chancellor]

How about coffee?

[pawsplus]

Haven't seen him drinking coffee at all.

[emmalou]

All our grocery stores have a gift card wall that includes cards for local movie theater chains. Or you can get a Fandango card.

[Mirabella]

I think that is odd that a supervisor would be involved in a gift giving. That would not be tolerated where I work.

[ironbessflint]

I think that is odd that a supervisor would be involved in a gift giving. That would not be tolerated where I work.

My current workplace doesn't do a gift exchange, but prior to that my supervisors always participated in the secret santa. My mom's supervisor also participates in their secret santa. I think as long as it's a random drawing with a price limit, then there's no favoritism shown so there's no problem. The more the merrier?

[pawsplus]

We try to avoid the whole hierarchy thing where possible. Even including the other office (which we do in things like this), there are only 7 of us, and 2 are supervisors. I don't see any reason why we shouldn't all get to have whatever fun we can get out of a day at work