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By the way people... it's "Secret Santa"... not "Secret give the person a load of crap from the cheapest store in the world." Seriously? If you don't want to actually give gifts, then don't sign up to play!!! Maybe you just got the wrong name when you picked from the bowl??? Sheesh

Meanwhile... I gave my Secret Santa a buttload of good stuff... and the final gift was a $25 gift card to Red Lobster...

I know it's the thought... but there was no thought!! Seriously, no thought.

Fuck it... I ain't playing next year. What a load of crap.

What did you get?

Well, wh5, it looks like she got:

a load of crap from the cheapest store in the world

(((jrc)))

I got: a pen, a mini marker, a small bag of M & M's, a pair of cheap socks and....

For the final gift, the "Big Gift", I got another pair of socks and a lanyard.

ETA: What I gave: A holiday bag of Hershey's Kisses, A holiday bag of M & M's, a book with a gift bag of Hershey's Kisses tied to it, another book with a gift bag with two Godiva chocolate bars tied to it, a ceramic mug with a bag of gourmet hot chocolate tied to it....

For the final, Big Gift, I gave her a $25 gift card to Red Lobster taped to a box of Russell Stover's Chocolates...

She said she liked Red Lobster, Chocolate and Reading on her hint card.

[This message edited by jrc1963 at 7:30 PM, December 19th (Thursday)]

Were there rules/expectations for the gifts? Like a spending amount? I had a similar experience in high school. I followed the set amounts, but I got cheap stuff. A tootsie roll sucker doesn't cost $1...

We do a Secret Santa, too. We were to give small gifts - in the $5 range - for the first four days and then tomorrow is the "big" day. I spent less than $20 on tomorrow's gift.

Sometimes it's hard. To be honest, I've gotten some really good Secret Santa gifts over the years. One year, I got a wreath and I use the giant mug I got last year every day. I also appreciate candy, but often I get little trinkets that end up dusty and unused in my cupboard. I get the fun in the "daily" gift, but I would much rather spend more on one really meaningful gift than $5 every day on things my Secret Santa may or may not use or enjoy.

Yes... there were rules... suggested $ amounts and such... but the final gifts were supposed to be in the $10-15 range.

I guarantee the socks and lanyard cost less then $5 total.

Next year, be your own secret Santa. Guarantee that you'll like what you get.

Williesmom... You Got That Right!!!

Actually we have a great group on our side of the campus and we all exchanged lovely gifts... So I am not neglected by any stretch.

But it's the whole signing up to give crap thing that's got me.

That's your problem right there. You should have put more on your comment card than liking warm feet and writing

Well I have to say there is risk on both sides. Being the giver and the receiver. You can be an awesome secret santa and get for gifts. Or you can be the one getting the good stuff and giving the .

I played at both my jobs. For the Dr. office I spent a pretty penny at Victoria Secret. My gift giver got me a liter of SOCO. I gave to Carol, but I got a gift from Tiff ... I know the SOCO is $$$ and I know she has 3 little ones and is moving to TX soon. But I was happy, both with my gift and what I gave.

Now for The Hut I drew some high school kid So I got him a $5 pair of gloves(2 in a pack, & flannel lined) maybe he'll like them when he has to do the truck or work in the freezer. I don't know what I got yet, I was off tonight, raining ice here, not going out there.

Maybe your gifter just did it for the gifts, or maybe they had an unexpected expense come up ... Who knows, but you got something. If your unhappy with it, donate it to the salvation army, give it to a homeless person, or your son. Keep as prizes to hand out for your class when a student does something good. Bringing a smile to someone else may make it worth the crappy gift giving you got.

I already gave out the stuff to the kids... Or I should say one kid.

I gave the socks to my girlfriend because she loves socks and she asked for them.

She won one of the baskets they raffled off at the Holiday party and she gave it to me.

I don't know what gifts my Secret Santa received... pretty good ones I'd guess because her santa turned out to be her bestie...

And so... Whatever!

Next year I just won't participate.

BB - I'm glad you had a good experience with your Secret Santa exchange.

I'm not that much into Secret Santa but many times when I have participate in some kind of exchange, I would much rather have the gift I gave than the gift that I get.

At least you went with the hints your recipient gave but to be honest, I would rather have the gift you got than the one you gave. I don't eat chocolates and don't care for Red Lobster. But I do wear socks!

Merry Christmas, everyone!

Bobbi... If I got you as my recipient of Secret Santa and you put socks on your hint card... You'd have gotten the most awesomest socks I could find... Probably in 10 different shades and styles!!!

I always buy exactly what the person says they like or want... I assumed that's how you were supposed to play the game.

Maybe my Santa got confused and thought it was the White Elephant game where the fun is giving a load of crap that no one would want just for the fun of it???

I was disappointed with my secret Santa too. She gave me 10 small caramel-filled chocolates, note pads (I liked these to be honest), perfumed lotion & spray (I'm allergic), and a dollar store tin full of peppermint candies -you know the ones you always see at Christmas? (Peppermint is a migraine trigger for me).

On the last day, she came up to me and said "I forgot that you're allergic to perfume! Is the gift ok?".

I gave the candies to my students. Not sure what I'm doing with the lotion/perfume yet. Regift?

I'm not impressed with secret Santa right now either. I'm doing one with my DD online baby group. It was to be a $25 gift plus shipping since we are all across Canada. I sent mine out for arrival on Dec 10 which was a couple days past the deadline. Well it's now Dec 22 and we haven't seen anything arrive at our house yet. Maybe lost in transit?? Not sent yet? I don't know... I hope it gets here on Mon or Tues.. I'm gonna try to stay positive that it was sent out already or else it seems like the gifter is breaking the rules of the game .

I don't participate in Secret Santa where I work.

1) I don't really "like" most of the people in this building that much (well I like them, but I don't consider them friends. More like friendly acquaintances), so why would I want to spend my $ on them?

2) I work for very well to do doctors. I know not every doctor is wealthy and in the 1%, but these guys are. So WTF do you buy for them if you are "lucky" enough to draw their names?? Even their "hint" cards are out of my league. 3) no one pays attention to the "Specified $" to spend. Everyone goes way over the top. I can't afford to do that.

4) I'd rather spend my money on my friends and family.

So, around here, I'm the office Grinch.

She-Ra - I hope the gift from your baby club is delivered today. Fingers crossed.

Jo2love..

No dice on the secret Santa gift. I'm super disappointed that It fell through. To make matters even worse, I have even found out who it was supposed to be and she lives 20 minutes from us!!! I send my secret Santa gift from BC to Nova Scotia.. And this girl couldn't even get a gift to us from 20 min away. The next town over... She never should've participated in the exchange. Makes me feel kinda dumb that I kept thinking and waiting for it to arrive. I had to go pick up a parcel at the post office on Xmas eve anyways and asked if there was anything else under my name. Nope.

Oh well I'm not the one in the wrong. But definitely not gonna participate again.

That's a shame. I'm sorry.