# What should I get my Secret Santa(list inside)? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 5, 2019, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-get-my-secret-santa-list-inside/844390 "2019-12-05T03:01:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2019, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-get-my-secret-santa-list-inside/844390/1 "2019-12-05T03:01:30Z")
Every year, I do the Secret Santa at work. 4 small gifts(less than $3-$5) and one final gift up to $25. We have a list of likes and dislikes to fill out and I am always really extensive, trying to suggest inexpensive “wants” and a few hints for some final gift ideas. I seem to get lists sometimes that are vague and barely filled out. This has happened again. I know the person, but not well enough to really know their likes and dislikes beyond what they tell me in the list. [Here is her list. It doesn’t have nothing, but it isn’t really very helpful.](https://imgur.com/jmiNjuF) What do you think I should get her? I can grab a few chocolates or some small popcorn bags, but what else can I get her that would be acceptable? ---
**Author:** ![Alpha\_Twit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alpha_twit/32/265_2.png) [@Alpha\_Twit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alpha_Twit)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2019, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-get-my-secret-santa-list-inside/844390/2 "2019-12-05T03:04:49Z")
Cinnamon spice candle? Starbucks gift card? ---
**Author:** ![SurrenderDorothy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/surrenderdorothy/32/1221_2.png) [@SurrenderDorothy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SurrenderDorothy)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2019, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-get-my-secret-santa-list-inside/844390/3 "2019-12-05T03:22:43Z")
[bucky balls](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=bucky+ball&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI383c2MOd5gIVUPDACh3O8AUFEAAYASAAEgIrIfD_BwE&hvadid=241929676682&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9022816&hvnetw=g&hvpos=1t1&hvqmt=e&hvrand=17106196973343951883&hvtargid=kwd-305722341&hydadcr=24665_10401006&tag=googhydr-20&ref=pd_sl_7y23ibl6ig_e)! As far as I can tell, they’re something pretty much anyone can enjoy regardless of taste or personality in general (unless they’re aggressively boring, I guess). Plus, they’re small and compact and you can stick them on your fridge, so easy storage. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2019, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-get-my-secret-santa-list-inside/844390/4 "2019-12-05T03:30:58Z")
Get a nice perfume for $25. A thing of chocolates. Starbucks card. Cinnamon candle in a glass jar. A large candy cane. Bam. Done (:)) ---
**Author:** ![justanothermike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@justanothermike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/justanothermike)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2019, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-get-my-secret-santa-list-inside/844390/5 "2019-12-05T04:04:57Z")
A WoodWick cinnamon candle for the big gift, Wendy’s gift card (she can get a chocolate frosty), Starbucks gift card, popcorn flavoring powder or drizzle in a fun chocolate flavor that she can put on her popcorn when she wants, a pack of Pepsi mini cans since she likes to sip on them and take mini drinks. The candle will be your roughly $25 gift. The problem is that you’re looking for $3-5 or less on the other smaller gifts and gift cards usually are $10 minimum, I believe. Do you have to buy 4 smaller gifts? If not get her a Starbucks for $10, skip Wendy’s, and I checked the cost of the popcorn flavoring and Pepsi minis and those should play out pretty close to your budget. Oh, and maybe a pen, since she clearly ran out of ink and that must be why she didn’t complete her paper. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![MoonMoon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moonmoon/32/2959_2.png) [@MoonMoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MoonMoon)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2019, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-get-my-secret-santa-list-inside/844390/6 "2019-12-05T13:58:59Z")
> [@Alpha\_Twit](#): > > Cinnamon spice candle? > > Starbucks gift card? Yeah, this seems to me to be pretty obviously the path she was leading you down. Or some sort of chocolate, or a “fancy” tin of popcorn. ---
**Author:** ![swampspruce](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampspruce/32/261_2.png) [@swampspruce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampspruce)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2019, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-get-my-secret-santa-list-inside/844390/7 "2019-12-05T15:21:48Z")
I’m with **Becks** although the wood wick candles are pretty cool. I bought several for Mom over the years and she always liked them. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2019, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-get-my-secret-santa-list-inside/844390/8 "2019-12-05T16:32:17Z")
“Awww, my apologies. I read it as Secret Satan.” ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2019, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-get-my-secret-santa-list-inside/844390/9 "2019-12-05T17:01:15Z")
12 pack of Pepsi and call it good. ---
**Author:** ![begbert2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/begbert2/32/3357_2.png) [@begbert2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/begbert2)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2019, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-get-my-secret-santa-list-inside/844390/10 "2019-12-05T18:19:55Z")
She seems pretty insistent in liking chocolate. Because I’m utterly classless that says “big bag of M&Ms” to me, but I’m sure you can do better than that. ---
**Author:** ![Enola\_Gay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/3ab097/32.png) [@Enola\_Gay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Gay)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2019, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-get-my-secret-santa-list-inside/844390/11 "2019-12-05T18:33:06Z")
A gift basket with chocolates, coffee, & popcorn. For the $3-5 gifts, get those really good candy bars at Trader Joes. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2019, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-get-my-secret-santa-list-inside/844390/12 "2019-12-05T21:10:07Z")
[I’m thinking this might be a good final gift.](https://www.amazon.com/Appreciation-Perfect-Birthdays-Sympathy-Occasion/dp/B00FBGMBZ0/ref=sr_1_11?keywords=snack+gift+basket&qid=1575579915&sr=8-11) Thoughts? ---
**Author:** ![Enola\_Gay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/3ab097/32.png) [@Enola\_Gay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Gay)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2019, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-get-my-secret-santa-list-inside/844390/13 "2019-12-05T21:14:44Z")
You can’t go wrong with a tower of treats. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2019, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-get-my-secret-santa-list-inside/844390/14 "2019-12-06T01:25:13Z")
> [@Enola\_Gay](#): > > You can’t go wrong with a tower of treats. I want one. We need a SDMB Secret Santa. Have we ever had one? ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2019, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-get-my-secret-santa-list-inside/844390/15 "2019-12-06T01:48:58Z")
She likes alone time, scents and snacking For the more expensive part ~ $25, buy a fleece throw/couch blanket. IMHO, they always go over well. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2019, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-get-my-secret-santa-list-inside/844390/16 "2019-12-06T05:25:30Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > I want one. > > We need a SDMB Secret Santa. Have we ever had one? It’s done every year. I haven’t participated, but there’s always a thread. I’m surprised you haven’t seen it. ---
**Author:** ![swampspruce](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampspruce/32/261_2.png) [@swampspruce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampspruce)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2019, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-get-my-secret-santa-list-inside/844390/17 "2019-12-06T15:33:33Z")
Link Here: [https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=885511](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=885511) Pretty sure it’s too late for this year but shoot **purplehorseshoe** a PM and see. ---
**Author:** ![StarvingButStrong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/starvingbutstrong/32/335_2.png) [@StarvingButStrong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StarvingButStrong)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2019, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-get-my-secret-santa-list-inside/844390/18 "2019-12-07T22:00:21Z")
I hate work place type Secret Santas. Never know what to buy, almost never like what I get. ☹ One year a club I belonged to ALSO went the Secret Santa route. I just re-gifted the present from one to the other. Ha hah! Take that Secret Santa. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2019, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-get-my-secret-santa-list-inside/844390/19 "2019-12-13T23:09:37Z")
I gave the gift basket of candy and it was very well received. Thank you everyone!