Hardly a novel position, but I hate the commercial aspects of Christmas more with each passing year. Each year I swear that this is the last time I’m ever going to give into the extortion to spend money I can’t afford on the Christmas Compensation Package (CCP) of some relative I don’t like and or barely know in the first place, but I never do because of the “never be caught empty-handed when somebody gives you a gift” etiquette education of my youth. However, this year I am sticking 100% to modest gift certificates for the relatives I rarely see (including my small-town-rich-and-overindulged nephew and niece) rather than putting any thought into it so that I can at least concentrate on people I actually like.
Anyway, rant out. I am interested in small ($10-$50, though any price range will do) gifts that other Dopers have received or given over the years that were in the “never would have bought for myself but love” category of the title. Appliances, specific books, gadgets, luxury foods, etc. anything that you received (or gave) that didn’t just sit around and collect dust but was actually used and enjoyed. I am leaving my current workplace in December and would like to give out such items to some of my favorite co-workers as a keepsake, but- as is often the case with friendships in a large office- I’m not completely sure what all of them want or collect or would like, so I’d love suggestions.
This is kind of weird, but my mom got us a lap desk (kind of like . this.) It’s just a kidney-shaped piece of plywood with a handle cut out at one edge, and a couple of elastic straps.
When we unwrapped it, I was like ooooooookay . . . But the thing is I am constantly working on the couch. I always just used books to provide a writing surface, piled papers beside me or on the floor, etc. Incidentally, I also was constantly losing my pen, chasing the cat off of my papers, and encountering many other minor frustrations. Having an actual work surface (even though it’s not huge) is so much more convenient. I use it constantly. I also use it when I’m using my husband’s computer to do Quicken because (grumble grumble) he apparently prefers using his desk as a horizontal storage surface rather than a work area. If I rest the lap desk across the arms of the computer chair, I can still easily reach the keyboard, and I can neatly array my bills and checkbook and pen and bank statements and receipts before me.
I haven’t the foggiest idea what inspired Mom to get it for me, but it’s turned out to be handy as all get-out.
My parents got me one of those little ultrabright LED keychain flashlights. I’ve used it so much that I had to replace it with a new one when the batteries ran out for a second time and I couldn’t get them replaced properly. (I got them replaced properly the first time; I have no idea why I couldn’t get it to work the second time.) It’s great for when you just need a small light to look for something, check your footing, etc. Although the most interesting use for it was probably in organic synthesis, when we were looking for the seperation line in some really dark solvents and that was the only way we could get enough light on the sep funnel to see the line. (I think it was a ferrocene derivate that was really dark red in solution.)
There are several cooks gadgets that are really worth while and quite cheap. Microplane graters, potato ricers, flexable color coded cutting boards, Brenriner mandolines come to mind. For something out of the blue, a lego set is good for any adult without children, as can be a jigsaw.
The one I thought of when I read your thread title was a pair of small heart shaped fire opal earrings my mother gave me last christmas, though the op specification of office appropriate is probably a stretch. I never would have chosen them myself, and I thought little hearts? I’m nearly 40 mother, what were you thinking? But I wore them once when I knew I was going to see her that day and received so many compliments from others that I wore them often after that. They went with almost everything. I know they were less that $50. because she is on a very fixed income and gives appropriately modest gifts.
My son gave me one of those neat little mag light on a keychain things that asterion mentioned. I have used that thing a lot and I really like it and I never would have chosen it for myself.
Finally, I never buy those little travel sewing kit to repair a hem or replace a button, or a first aid kit, but I always think it would be nice to have one at the office.
Also I really appreciate it when people share with me their favorite book.
One year, my mom bought me socks. Not trouser socks which I could have worn to work, but thick, loosely woven socks you wear around the house. I hated them at first, but now I wear them to bed and they keep my feet nice and warm. Now, I wouldn’t be without them.
The coolest gift a coworker bought for me, which I would never buy for myself, was a gift certificate to the grocery store. It was only for $30 but it covered both my prescriptions in January. Ever since then, I usually give the same thing to all my family members. It’s amazing how cool it is to go to the grocery store and buy something you normally wouldn’t splurge on, just because you don’t actually have to fork over the dough.
My sister always gives me scratch tickets. Sometimes this has paid off. One year, I gave her one. It was a $10 ticket and she won $200. She was so happy (she was very poor).
My fiance bought me a pair of footie pajamas a couple years ago but I wouldn’t get that for a coworker. Maybe a family member you don’t know that well? I love mine and I wear them all year long.
A couple of years ago my daughter gave me nice fuzzy warm socks from the Gap. They were weirdly colored and patterned, however, they were WARM and FUZZY and I wore them all the time, and actually wore them out. The next year I specifically requested the socks, and the same thing happened. Guess what I’ll be requesting again this year?
My dear ol’ Dad has the oddest Christmas shopping habits. While Mom will sally forth, list in hand, in search of well-considered gifts that fit what she either knows about the recipient or what the recipient has in fact mentioned to her that s/he would like, my father has none of that. He will wander the aisles until something strikes him as interesting, then rationalize a reason that someone on his list needs it. This past year, he came to the conclusion that we were dim, or not-so-bright. To rectify this, he gave everyone flashlights. My brother’s was an Energizer 3-LED headlamp. Mine was a very sizeable gunmetal gray Maglite. The Maglite has taken up its station in the map pouch in my car. My brother’s headlamp, after a few days of intermittent use as a tool of harassment (2 white LEDs…very bright when aimed at one’s eyes), fell out of favor, and somehow ended up in my astronomy accessory kit. I would have never thought to look for such a thing, but it has proven invalubable. In addition to the 2 blinding white LEDs, it also has 1 red LED, and, of course, requires no hands to aim. This is very useful for 1) preserving night vision and 2) showing me where I’m going in the dark while lugging my 6" Dob around. I lost that original light at some point (maybe it was retaken by its intended owner…), but bought another just like it, for much less than red-glowy keychain lights cost in telescope catalogs. So, yay Dad, for finding something cool, even if he didn’t know which son needed it.
A good kitchen knife sharpener. Way to many people don’t have one.
A gift certificate to a specialty grocery store. As congodwarf said, it’s cool to be able to splurge on something you wouldn’t usually get. Here in Minnesota, we have a couple of higher end chains that carry interesting sauces, mixes, cheeses, etc.
For female co-workers, nice hand lotion. One year I was given a tube of handlotion. I’ve kept it in the office and use it all winter.
Chenille slipper socks. I don’t buy slipper socks because a) I’ve got a nice pair of slippers already and b) I have approximately 7 billion pairs of slipper socks, given me by relatives who don’t want my icy little paws anywhere near them. I especially would never buy bright red chenille slipper socks with black and red furry cuffs.
Then I put them on, prompted by the expectant gaze of the aunt who gave them to me. And I fell in love. They’re like the fuzziest, snuggliest chenille sweater ever, but a million times more so, and the soft snuggly fuzziness brushes lightly across your feet as you walk around or wiggle your toes. Two thin slices of heaven, wrapped around your feet. Luuuuurrrvvve 'em.
I also would never have bought that glycerin hand cream my mom got me, but it was incredible. So thick and rich. She got me a jar about the size of a thing of Oil of Olay, and a little lip balm-sized one that I carried in my backpack. I don’t know the name of the brand, but it had little ribbon rosettes on the lids, and I’ve seen it in Hallmark shops and such.
My grandma got me an emergency kit for my car a few years back. I didn’t appreciate it at first, but I was driving a total beater on really bad roads (the road to our house looked like a creek bed, only driven on). It came in real handy, though.
So, this last Christmas (driving a different beater), I requested another emergency kit. And I dig it.
I agree. And I think the best place to get one of those is a hardware store, rather than a specialty kitchen things shop (or even a restaurant supply store.) I’ve become a major fan of diamond stones.
I once got a knitted wool balaclava from my ex-common-law-mother-in-law. (I was never formally married, but after living with someone for 2 years and getting to know his family well…well, I think she counted as a mother-in-law. But I digress…) I wasn’t too thrilled with the present at first, but I found out how absolutely lovely a soft, knitted balaclava was to have when we had a really fierce winter.
These things rock for reading in bed. My MIL got me one, and like the first poster, I was initially skeptical. Then I tried it. Perfect amount of light for me to read, but still possible for Furthur to sleep when I’m using it.
You can get 'em at B&N and maybe Bas Bleu as well. Worth every penny.