Cool Secret Santa Gifts You’d Buy for Yourself
We’ve all been there. Forced to fawn over that snowglobe, or notepad adorned with kittens, or whatever trinket that Bad Secret Santa thoughtlessly gifted you this year. Don’t be like Bad Secret Santa. Give your coworker, colleague, or client a Secret Santa gift that they’ll not only appreciate but may even use on a regular basis.
Prices and availability are subject to change.
$20 from Amazon
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From the creators of the satirical web comic The Oatmeal comes this strategic but zany game that's great for kids and adults (or anyone who loves kittens and explosions, according to the box). There are also expansion packs available: Imploding Kittens and Streaking Kittens.
Related: The Best Gifts for Cat Lovers That Are the You-Know-Who's Pajamas
$20 from Amazon
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Hedgehogs and hippos not your style? These colorful pup-shaped ceramic planters also are perfect for succulents and cacti. Available as a set of three.
$23 from Amazon
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There’s a Peanuts fan in every office. (Go ahead, ask your coworkers; we’ll wait…) Give 'em this commemorative coffee mug, illustrating how Snoopy has evolved over the decades. A Charlie Brown mug is also available.
$25 from Williams-Sonoma
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The Star Wars geek in your office can keep their beverages cool with ice that’s got Force. Choose from storm troopers, Darth Vader, or the Death Star. Set of two.
Related: Cool Gifts for Guys Under $50
$23 from Amazon
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Here's a gift for that bookworm you know, the one who's always lending books to friends or coworkers. This kit comes with 20 return-date slips, 20 self-adhesive pockets, plus a date stamp and ink pad.
Related: Gifts for People Who Say, 'Don't Get Me Anything'
$36 from Uncommon Goods
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Plants are a living gift that keeps on giving. Give that friend with a green thumb a gift that celebrates the month of their birth. The kit includes a glass planter (a recycled wine bottle that doubles as a vase), growing medium, and seeds to start. Choose from: carnations, violas, mini snapdragons and daisies, sweet alyssum, red flax, lavender, poppies, asters, marigolds, mini sunflowers, or red zinnias.
$8 from Amazon
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There just are not enough hours in the workday for everything. These sticky notes will help a disorganized friend get their act together.
Related: Clever Gifts for Disorganized People
$24 and up from Etsy
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Every day is Taco Tuesday when you've got a snazzy phone case like this one. It's perfect for anyone who is down for tacos any day of the week, Tuesdays included.
$40 from Amazon
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This portable Bluetooth speaker would look cute on any desk, and it can get loud enough to rock the cubicle during office happy hour. Even if your office is the kitchen table.
Related: Cool and Creative Gifts for Music Lovers
$20 and up from Amazon
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Those Bob Ross chia sprout heads are SO last year! Tell your office buddy thanks for being a friend, or give the resident “Golden Girls” fan a bust of their favorite.
Related: Gifts for 'Golden Girls' of All Ages and Persuasions
$27 and up from Uncommon Goods
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These soy candles are hand-made in Vancouver and gently scented in pine and vanilla (cactus) or white tea and jasmine (poppy). Each one can burn for up to 35 hours, but they’re cute unlit, too.
$47 and up from Amazon
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This 14-ounce insulated mug will keep their coffee or tea piping hot all through that next too-long meeting. It’s also got a removable lid to keep liquids in place at home or in the car. Bonus: It’s dishwasher-safe, unlike cheaper insulated coffee mugs, and available in 18 colors.
$30 from NY Coffee Cup
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Your coffee-loving colleague may not be able to visit New York City anytime soon, so bring the Big Apple to them with this gift pack of disposable coffee cups from one of the original New York manufacturers.
Related: Perk 'Em Up with These Great Gifts for Coffee Lovers
$45 from The Adventure Challenge
Be remembered as the ultimate Secret Santa with this generous and unique gift. These books contain 50 scratch-off suggestions for fun bonding activities with spouses, partners, family, and friends. Each "surprise" adventure comes with an estimated time commitment and cost, usually $20 or less. And each entry includes a place to include a photo and notes, so books become cherished keepsakes even after the challenges are long-completed. There's also a version for solo adventures, a "naughty" edition, and bundles that include an instant camera.
Related: Gifts for Couples That'll Make Them Both Happy
$40 from Amazon
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Give the office shutterbug or social media maven this clip-on lens, and they’ll be able to snap dramatic panoramas and tight close-ups. A clip-on LED for a little extra light is also included.
Related: The Best Gifts for Photographers from Newbies to Pros
$12 from Amazon
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Give that eco-conscious, tumbler-toting friend a set of reusable straight and angled stainless steel straws. It includes straws sized for 20- and 30-ounce tumblers, plus two cleaning brushes.
$16 from The Unemployed Philosophers Guild
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You know who this gift is for: the office bookworm who passes every lunch hour with their nose in a novel. If Jane Austen isn't their cup of tea, you'll also find authors such as James Baldwin and Sylvia Plath, as well as historical figures like Carl Sagan, Marie Curie, and others.
Related: Clever and Creative Gifts for Book Lovers
$40 and up from Amazon
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Let them put the office or family on notice with this felt letter board, which includes 690 characters in three different sizes.
$16 from Amazon
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Cleaning products may not sound like a fun gift, but in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic we all know that cleanliness is super important for phones, tablets, and other high-touch surfaces. This kit comes with two spray bottles (one travel-sized) and microfiber cloths to clean and polish.
$14 from Amazon
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This USB mini humidifier can run for up to four hours, providing a little extra moisture wherever your colleague parks their laptop. Choose between three different cacti. Bonus: The illuminated base shifts between seven colors.
$35 from H&M
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This one's for that person who loves to cook but could stand a few pointers. This decorative poster addresses questions that arise in the course of preparing a meal: How many grams are in an ounce? What does parboil mean? How long does it take for green asparagus to boil? It looks pretty good up on a wall, too.
$9 from Amazon
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Know that certain someone who always seems to be gazing blankly off into space? Give ‘em something to stare at instead.
Related: Fun and Hilarious Gag Gifts for the Prankster in Your Life
$34 from Uncommon Goods
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Remember that first job in a new city? Exciting, yes, but maybe also a little lonely. These soy candles can burn for up to 80 hours, with a unique botanical scent for each state that will evoke memories of home.
Related: Gifts to Showcase Your State Pride
$20 from Uncommon Goods
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Tickle their taste buds with this collection of lollipops, each with a unique flavor like strawberry-rhubarb and lemon-thyme. Once done, plant the stick and watch an herb or flower grow within three months.
Related: Great Gifts Under $25 for Food Lovers
$10 from Uncommon Goods
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These critters are made of eco-friendly cardboard and can be assembled in less than a half hour. Each one is about 3 inches long and 3 inches high, making them the perfect size for even a cramped home workspace.
$19 from Uncommon Goods
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The office oenophile will appreciate this gift, Santa. Each kit comes with three seed plugs (cosmos, marigolds, and zinnias, or basil, dill, and parsley). Just add water and wait for flowers or herbs to grow.
Related: Gardening Gifts for Anyone With a Green Thumb
$15 and up from Amazon
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Your dog-loving coworker can make the next bring-your-dog-to-work day a little more tasty with this toy. Fill it with treats and watch it bobble and wobble as Fido tries to figure it out.
Related: Gifts for Dog-Obsessed Humans
$35 from Costco
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Savvy golfers know that Costco's golf balls are a dead ringer for pricier brands like Titleist, but at a fraction of the price. Wrap up a couple dozen for a much-appreciated contribution to their stash.
Related: Must-Have Accessories for Golf Fanatics
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