The top 22 Secret Santa gifts

by Rachel Wait on 07 December 2009  |  3 comments
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Rachel Robson hunts down 22 fun and frugal gifts, perfect for Secret Santa presents and filling those Xmas stockings!

Whether you've arranged it with friends, or you've got to hunt out a present for someone at work, 'Secret Santa' invariably fills many of us with dread.

While Secret Santa can be a great way to save some cash - particularly, if you're doing it with a group of friends - it can also end up being a bit of a nightmare if you really don't know what to buy the person you're buying for!

So to help you on your way, I've come up with some fabulous Secret ideas to suit everyone's pocket.

£5 and under

Gifts for him

If you fancy bringing some fun and games into the office, why not pick up this Desktop Ping Pong for just £4.99 at Lakeland?

Alternatively, this Beer Key Bottle Opener might come in handy. This is also £4.99 from Play.com.

Gifts for her

'Smellies' are often a popular pressie for the ladies, and this Exotic Mango Indulgence Set from The Body Shop is sure to be a winner at just a fiver.

However, if you don't fancy that, this gorgeous Compact Mirror is great for handbags and comes in at £3.99 from Lakeland.

Unisex

Boiling an egg to perfection can be a tad tricky, but this Egg Perfect Egg Timer gives you a helping hand by changing colour - so you'll know exactly when your egg is ready, whether you want it soft, medium or hard boiled! It's a great little present for a friend or a colleague and only costs £4.99 at Gadget World.

If the person you're buying for is a big tea drinker, this cute Stainless Steel Tea Strainer might come in useful and will only set you back £2.99 at Lakeland.

Or if all of that seems a little too boring and sensible, this Balloon Modelling Kit could provide hours of fun for all involved! It costs £3.99, also from Lakeland.

Alternatively, for something a little festive, this wind-up Santa Eco Torch costs £4.99 at Nigel's Eco Store.

£10 and under

Gifts for him

Why not let your colleague/friend re-live his youth with this Nintendo Mini Classics set? It costs £9.99 at Firebox.com.

On the other hand, this Flyro Gyro which 'throws like a ball but flies like a jet' could provide plenty of entertainment - probably best used outdoors rather than in the office though! And it will only set you back £9.99 - also from Firebox.com.

And if you're buying for someone who's partial to the odd beer or three, this Inflatable Beer Bucket could be a fabulous storage solution at £7.99 from I Want One Of Those.

Gifts for her

If you know your 'Secret Santa receiver' is a fan of travelling, this Travel Jewellery Case could make a fabulous present at just £6.99 from Lakeland.

Alternatively, this pretty Bluebelle Braided Purse is bound to make any girl smile and is £8 at Accessorize.

Or, if you'd prefer to stick to 'smellies', this Sumptuous Strawberry Pamper Pouch from The Body Shop is £10.

Unisex

This next gift idea is perfect for the office. Anyone who used to watch 'Take Hart' and 'Hartbeat' will just adore this Morph Desk Buddy and it will look fabulous on your colleague's desk! It can be bought from Findmeagift.com for just £5.99.

Alternatively, this Monkey Screen Wipe could also provide some office fun and will also help to keep your colleague's computer screen dust-free! It costs £8.99 at Lakeland.

Over £10

If you're really looking to splash the cash for your Secret Santa gift, here are a few ideas for anyone spending more than £10.

Gifts for him

This Finger Drums set is certainly likely to be entertaining, but might be a tad annoying for your friends or colleagues. It's £12.95 at PrezzyBox.

But my ultimate favourite is this Etch-A-Sketch! Your friend/colleague can spend hours sketching away and re-living his childhood! It costs £14.95 at Firebox.com.

Gifts for her

Help your colleague/friend to stay warm with these gorgeous Aroma Home Fuzzy Feet Slippers! They are bound to cheer anyone up on a gloomy, cold day, and they will set you back £11.95 at PrezzyBox.

Alternatively, this Festive Glow candle set makes a beautiful and festive gift at £12 from The Body Shop.

Unisex

How could anyone resist this cute Boogie Bear MP3 Speaker which is compatible with iPods and other MP3 players? He has a speaker hidden in his tummy and easy-to-use controls on his paws! You can pick him up from Lakeland for £14.99.

Finally, if you're buying for a dog lover, he/she is bound to love this Puppy Bumperstop Doorstop which costs £14.95 at PrezzyBox.

So hopefully these Secret Santa gift ideas have provided you with some inspiration - just don't forget that if you're ordering online you'll need to take delivery costs into account. Good luck!

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