Community Chat

[Kachina624]

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@elated wrote:

Are you sure you have to buy 16 gifts? That seems like a big expense for co-workers.

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@elated    That does seem excessive.  I think I'd clarify that with my supervisor.

[CoffeeNut]

Our work has a gift exchange and I simply tell them I'm opting out and don't put my name in the exchange.   

[Desertdi]

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@CoffeeNut wrote:

Our work has a gift exchange and I simply tell them I'm opting out and don't put my name in the exchange.   

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@CoffeeNut     I was the ONLY person who worked the overnight shift in my department of 20 persons.   I "opted out" too.   di

[DottieBlue]

I was also going to suggest The Dollar Tree Store, but it may be all picked over by now.  

I also think you should double-check with your supervisor because 16 gifts seem like too much.

Good luck!!

[Venezia]

@Jordan2  - I agree that I'd clarify exactly how this gift exchange works, since you weren't there last year.

I've worked in places where we did a Secret Santa (or other name) exchange.  Everyone bought one gift (pre-set price limit) and wrapped it with no tag and names were pulled from the hat to decide who picked first, second, etc.

I've never worked anywhere that expected me to buy a gift for all my co-workers.  And who does that in this current economic climate?

[sunshine45]

$5 gift cards to starbucks or baskin robbins/dunkin donuts.

lottery scratchers are a good idea.

$5 gift card for gas.

buy a few pounds of candy or cookies and make small gift bags.

burts bees chapsticks

[FancyPhillyshopper]

Sometimes smaller groups like to have a special celebration just for themselves and exchange gifts.  If they have worked together for a long time it is probably a favorite custom.

I second the Dollar Store.  Sometimes you can find pretty ornaments that come in packs of three or more.  You can buy the dollar box of chocolate (sorry, $1.25 now!), and attach a pretty ornament and each gift should be under two dollars.

I do not think you should buy for the principal or the other administrators unless they do something special for the staff as well.  Their salaries are much higher, and they do NOT need a gift card.

As a boss, I used to give ALL my employees gifts, sometimes I would buy 45 gifts just for work.  People who were directly under me received the most expensive gifts, but everybody got something (and I spent much more than a dollar!).  Nobody was ever expected to buy me anything, expecially those who had the lower salaries.  It was my opportunity to show my appreciation for their efforts.  

I hope you enjoy your work, and all goes well in your school in the new year.

[San Antonio Gal]

@Jordan2  - Are you sure you have to purchase 16 gifts?  That seems a bit nuts.  

[JeanLouiseFinch]

I don't mean this as an insult, so I'm apologizing in advance if it comes across that way.   Double check to make sure you understand the terms. Sixteen gifts is nuts!   And who decided to obligate the monitors into chipping in for the principal, secretary, and these other people?  What about the other way around, do they give the monitors anything? All of these gifts are a huge financial drain on a monitor's salary even in a great economy, but especially now with the prices of everything always increasing every time you turn around.  Your salary is to serve you and your family.  You are a grown adult.  Don't let anyone pressure you into doing something that may be financially irresponsible. Back out now, if you can.  There may be others who may want to opt out but feel the same way as you and just go along to not rock the boat.  If it really is 16 gifts, and if it's too late to get out of it, go to TJ Maxx, Marshall's or Home Goods and get everyone a pretty wrapped bar of soap (about $3.99) or maybe a pretty pump bottle of liquid soap.  I've bought Michel Design Works liquid soap at these stores for $5.99/bottle.  They're usually 3x that elsewhere.  Another option would be shopping Amazon for bulk sets of hand cream and bulk lip balms.   SMH over this. 🤦‍♀️

[MorningLover]

Jordon2 wrote:

I work in a school as a monitor. I started in January so I wasn't there for Christmas. Well I just found out the school monitors exchange gifts. There are 16 ladies to buy for, I don't have much time to buy anything, buying 16 gifts will be pricey. Any ideas of what I can get for $10 and under?

I would double check to make sure I understood this exchange with co-workers.

If it really is 16 gifts that's Crazy !

16 x $2 = $32.00

16 x $3 = $48.00

16 x $4 = $64.00

16 x $5 = $80.00

16 x $6 = $96.00

16 x $7 = $112.00

16 x $8 = $128.00

16 x $9 = $144.00

16 x $10 =$160.00