Christmas Gifts for Co-Workers: No Ho-Hum This Year

Choosing gifts for your co-workers each Christmas season can be extremely nerve-wracking. To avoid looking like Scrooge, you sometimes over-spend, or resort to getting last-minute, cheesy gifts that no one really wants or needs. Another common scenario is that you need to get a gift for someone you work with day in and day out, but you still aren't close enough to them to be able to ascertain what type of gift would be appropriate for their personality. This year can be different. By doing some advanced planning, you'll be able to confidently find the perfect gifts for your co-workers, while still holding onto that holiday bonus you've received!

The first step in a stress-free office gift search is to start early. Don't wait until the last minute so you don't have to get "just anything" out of desperation. By planning ahead and shopping early, you avoid paying more than you'd planned, and you feel good about the gifts your giving.

The next step is to consider purchasing the same type of item for all the co-workers on your list. In fact, by purchasing gift items in bulk, you save lots of time, and can even give some of them to people outside the office, such as friends and neighbors. Of course, one old stand-by tradition is the gift basket. But don't let the fact that "gift basket" sounds boring and generic deter you. As long as you don't just grab pre-made baskets from the local discount store, you can create the perfect, personalized gift for everyone. You also don't need to worry about making each basket reflect each person's individual tastes and interests. The key is to make the basket unique to YOU, but generic enough to be liked by everyone. Let's take a look at some examples of personalized gift baskets that will reflect the thought you put into them.

Let's say you decide to create "at-home movie, date night" baskets. Everyone could use some downtime in our hectic lives, and a nice movie break is perfect, especially if it comes with lots of goodies. Some generic items to include might consist of popcorn, movie candy, and a classic DVD. Now add that special touch. Purchase a small jar/canister for each person from the dollar store, and using craft-store items, paint some swirls or flowers or anything that reflects your personality onto the jar. Fill the jar with the movie candy, and you've turned the generic basket into a hand-made classic gift that could only come from you.

If you are more of a practical person, you might consider putting together some car emergency kits for your office mates. Your local discount store is a great place to stock up on travel packs of basic first-aid items, a can of Fix-A-Flat, a mini-flashlight, and some reflective tape. Look for cheap makeup or travel cases at the dollar store, and place all the items inside it. Personalize it with an included note that lets them know that you always want them to be safe in their travels. If you only have a few people on your list, you may want to add your Twitter ID or cell phone text message number to the note, so they can text you for help in an emergency.

Those are just two ideas that show how to combine bulk items into a one-of-a-kind present. Many other items can be combined to make great gift bundles as well. Just use your imagination, put your personal touch on it, and you'll end up having a no-stress, fun holiday season at the office this year.