whoisjohngalt
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Post by whoisjohngalt on Nov 28, 2017 11:46:34 GMT -5
First I would like to say how much I hate hate hate HATE this idea. But I can't opt out since it's a very small office and "everyone is doing it".
My boss takes us all out to a VERY fancy dinner and everyone has to bring a "gift" to exchange.
I completely screwed up last year, it was quite embarrassing. I won't tell you what I brought...
But as I said, it's a very small office and I can't screw up again.
So, what should I bring?? I think it's suppose to be $25-$30.
ETA: Things that others brought last year
A huge glass serving bowl/plate - wasn't very succesful Purse - not too successful A big bag of candy - NO ONE wanted that A GC to the movies - it was OK Office heater - evidently it was an "inside" thing for one particular person and she kept it Some glasses bought at a craft fair - again, it was for a particular person
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Opti
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Post by Opti on Nov 28, 2017 11:48:53 GMT -5
What's a Yankee Swap? I'm guessing the boss participates in said Yankee Swap?
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whoisjohngalt
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Post by whoisjohngalt on Nov 28, 2017 11:50:19 GMT -5
Yankee Swap is you having to exchange useless crap with your coworkers.
Yes, boss participated too.
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grumpyhermit
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Post by grumpyhermit on Nov 28, 2017 11:58:11 GMT -5
You have to tell us! Given the list of items that were moderately? successful, I mostly just want to know what you could have brought that was a total screw up.
I too loathe Yankee Swaps.The Amazon Echo Dot is currently on sale for $30. You could give your coworkers the gift of constant surveillance.
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alabamagal
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Post by alabamagal on Nov 28, 2017 11:58:41 GMT -5
Lotto tickets - the scratch off kind!
I have actually known people who enjoyed receiving them. They are likely worthless, but there is a chance you can win big. When I worked for a 20 person company, someone gave some to the owner. I kind of wondered what would happen if he won big money, while all the workers were left with $20 useless gifts, but I think he got $10 out of it (for $20 spent).
When we did swap it was for a specific person. For a guy that worked outside, I got him a pair of really nice, expensive wool socks. For a guy that worked in the lab and complained that the boss wouldn't turn the heat up, I got a nice scarf and hat - and he actually wore them!
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wvugurl26
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Post by wvugurl26 on Nov 28, 2017 12:01:04 GMT -5
Gift cards and lottery tickets have always been popular in my office.
Less successful was the Chia pet and subscription to a cooking magazine. I'm drawing a blank on the other stuff. I think we only did it for one or two years.
My new favorite thing is the 30 ounce Ozark Trail tumblers at Walmart. They had a silver 2 pack on sale for $12 for Black Friday. They work really well and are much cheaper than the Yeti stuff.
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giramomma
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Post by giramomma on Nov 28, 2017 12:02:53 GMT -5
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MJ2.0
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Post by MJ2.0 on Nov 28, 2017 12:03:50 GMT -5
I'm confused - I could have sworn you said on a previous thread a few months ago that you don't work.
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whoisjohngalt
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Post by whoisjohngalt on Nov 28, 2017 12:10:20 GMT -5
I'm confused - I could have sworn you said on a previous thread a few months ago that you don't work. I make so little money (compared to what I used to make) that I consider it charity But no, I have been working PT, mostly seasonally since 2015.
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MJ2.0
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Post by MJ2.0 on Nov 28, 2017 12:11:08 GMT -5
working is working!
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NoNamePerson
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Post by NoNamePerson on Nov 28, 2017 12:18:20 GMT -5
Hasn't it dawned on everyone what a dumb idea this is since 95% of the "gifts" are unsuccessful.
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chen35
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Post by chen35 on Nov 28, 2017 12:20:02 GMT -5
Alcohol is usually pretty successful in the ones I've been a part of.
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raeoflyte
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Post by raeoflyte on Nov 28, 2017 12:49:23 GMT -5
Cell phone charger blocks
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milee
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Post by milee on Nov 28, 2017 12:53:13 GMT -5
The ones I've seen are popular:
- Small set of Williams Sonoma hand wash and lotion, think it was Lavendar - Box of whatever the local high end chocolatier sells - Bottle of liqueur like Bailey's Irish Cream
You HAVE to tell us what you brought last year!!!
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taz157
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Post by taz157 on Nov 28, 2017 12:59:24 GMT -5
Bottles of liquor or visa gift cards were popular at ones I’ve been too. Grey Goose was popular actually.
Edit: What did you bring last year? Pretty please with a cherry on top.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 28, 2017 13:05:28 GMT -5
liquor.
If you do lottery tickets you can display them in a frame.
I actually like the Amazon dot idea.
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wvugurl26
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Post by wvugurl26 on Nov 28, 2017 13:06:41 GMT -5
I like the charger block idea. My brother gave me one before my wedding since I'm nicknamed princess dead phone.
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whoisjohngalt
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Post by whoisjohngalt on Nov 28, 2017 14:04:40 GMT -5
I would have NEVER thought about bringing alcohol for "work" function, but you all might be right- they were driving quite a bit at our "after busy season" lunch
I am leaning towards lotions or GC....
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giramomma
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Post by giramomma on Nov 28, 2017 14:54:28 GMT -5
I would have NEVER thought about bringing alcohol for "work" function, but you all might be right- they were driving quite a bit at our "after busy season" lunch I am leaning towards lotions or GC.... I would do a GC....people can be fussy about lotions.
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Waffle
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Post by Waffle on Nov 28, 2017 15:05:16 GMT -5
The most successful gift of that sort that I ever gave was a small table lamp. (I think I got it at a Hallmark shop). Years later when I would run into the receipient she would tell me about how much she loved her lamp and where in her house it was.
But, I think that was a fluke - it could have just as easily been something that didn't go with her décor.
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NoNamePerson
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Post by NoNamePerson on Nov 28, 2017 15:20:56 GMT -5
Curious. Are these people females, males, mixture?
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Annie7
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Post by Annie7 on Nov 28, 2017 15:25:27 GMT -5
Chromecast (won it last year and I love it), Firestick, golf balls, movie theater tickets, cell phone chargers, memory sticks. We are a geeky bunch, so electronics always wins.
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beergut
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Post by beergut on Nov 28, 2017 15:48:56 GMT -5
A bottle of Crown Royal has worked at every gift exchange I've done.
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Anne_in_VA
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Post by Anne_in_VA on Nov 28, 2017 15:55:47 GMT -5
How about a throw in a neutral color? That's always gone over well at the ones I've attended. That and wine or liquor.
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Tiny
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Post by Tiny on Nov 28, 2017 16:06:37 GMT -5
How about a throw in a neutral color? That's always gone over well at the ones I've attended. That and wine or liquor. Sam's club had 5 foot by 6 foot fleece-y 'blankets' for $15.00 in assorted colors. Got myself one and DAM! it's nice - the cats love it too (it's big enough for all of us to share). For $15 when spring comes - I'll probably just toss out the fur covered throw rather than attempt to wash it. Disposable awesomeness. (my cats pretty much were like "Oh. My. Cat. THAT LOOKS AWESOME must snuggle in it!!!" when I used it the first time).
Alcohol also goes over well.
I had great success last year with a package of "battery operated candles" and the batteries to make them work... (spent about $20.00 total) ALDI recently had 4 candles (with a remote) for $9.99. so they are still a thing <-- an indication they aren't super pricey (the Aldi candles are nice - bought some for myself) - Bed Bath and Beyond use to sell them too.
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Tiny
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Post by Tiny on Nov 28, 2017 16:10:48 GMT -5
Hasn't it dawned on everyone what a dumb idea this is since 95% of the "gifts" are unsuccessful. Unfortunately, there are many people who feel that it isn't the holiday unless there are gifts - even crappy things you don't really want. I guess for them the pay off is the expectation and the suspense of unwrapping something - not what's actually in the wrapping.
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NoNamePerson
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Post by NoNamePerson on Nov 28, 2017 16:16:59 GMT -5
Hasn't it dawned on everyone what a dumb idea this is since 95% of the "gifts" are unsuccessful. Unfortunately, there are many people who feel that it isn't the holiday unless there are gifts - even crappy things you don't really want. I guess for them the pay off is the expectation and the suspense of unwrapping something - not what's actually in the wrapping. That could explain it. I just don't see this at work place especially when being treated to a fancy dinner by boss! Just color me ba humbug about this type of stuff.
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whoisjohngalt
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Post by whoisjohngalt on Nov 28, 2017 16:43:11 GMT -5
It's all women.
I am very hesitant to go any kind of "taste" route - it's such a crap shoot with blankets and lotions and decor items and even alcohol.
More and more I am leaning towards GC....or scratch off tickets...
I am probably making this too complicated and projecting my own dislike of crap.
Except for cash, I would really not want to anything in any kind of swap
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bookkeeper
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Post by bookkeeper on Nov 28, 2017 16:49:53 GMT -5
Good coffee or tea with some tasty sweets!
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hoops902
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Post by hoops902 on Nov 28, 2017 17:02:08 GMT -5
Hasn't it dawned on everyone what a dumb idea this is since 95% of the "gifts" are unsuccessful. Unfortunately, there are many people who feel that it isn't the holiday unless there are gifts - even crappy things you don't really want. I guess for them the pay off is the expectation and the suspense of unwrapping something - not what's actually in the wrapping. One thing I'll point out is that the entire idea of this kind of "game" is that it really isn't about the "gifts" at all...it's about the game and using it as a way to interact with others. Heck, you could even argue that a part of that game is in trying to get people to leave with things they don't really want. Whether you like the game or not is up to the individual...but it's certainly more about the game itself than the gifts (you could just pick one thing and leave without the game component if you just wanted to unwrap something).
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