Secret Santa Gifts for Coworkers: Appropriate & Affordable Ideas

From Male to Female This Guide Will Help You Survive the Office Gift Exchange

It's the time of year when you are not only struggling with gift ideas for close friends and family you are also looking for Secret Santa gift ideas for a colleague. Just because you work together doesn't mean you have a clue what they need or like. Coupled with this usual lack of familiarity are time restrictions and of course, monetary restrictions. As a former personal assistant I was responsible for seeing that cost effective but thoughtful gifts were sent to clients and employees all through the year. To help your shopping go quickly, and possibly be even a bit meaningful, I have compiled some of my most successful gifts into an easy to use guide for both male and female coworkers ranging in price from $5.00 to as much as you want to spend.

Gas Cards- Inside corporations and as business promos gas cards are the number one requested prizes and perks. A gas card can be loaded for as much as your spending limit allows. To make this even more thoughtful buy a bottle of the fuel enhancing additives for the model of car they drive and tie the card on to the neck. Available at any gas station, you can pick this up when you fill up your own ride.

Snacks For Their Desk- If your office is anything like mine someone is always on a scavenger hunt for snacks before and after lunch. A container that seals (to avoid any unwelcome critters in the workplace) packed full of cookies, crackers, gum, popcorn and candy is very thoughtful and useful. The new 100 calorie snack bags make an even more thoughtful gift and can be picked up during your regular grocery shopping.

Business Books- What ever business you are in someone has written a book on how to succeed in it. If the person you are gifting is actually trying to move up in the corporate world, or just in the venue you work in, business books are great investments. Available online from Amazon.com, Books-A-Million, Barnes and Noble or even Half.com these are great choices to buy either books or gift cards.