I had this problem last year. I had no idea what to buy. I didn't up getting candy and the 20 questions game. I was given a toaster.

What do you buy?

Last year I gave my boss a GC for Starbucks. Not sure what I will get her this year.

I have no clue what to get him this year last year I gave him a picture.

Last year I got him a gift card to somewhere... can't remember. Probably the same this year. Not sure seeing as he and his wife just had their first child.

When I worked the girls in the office all went together and got the boss a detail certificate for his car one year. He REALLY needed it. Another year we had an aerial photographer take a picture of their house and property. He loved that. One year we got him an Ohio State Lamp that kind of had the Tiffany lamp look to it.
My boss was a dentist so it was really hard to think of stuff to get him that he didn't already have.
For his wife, who was our office manager, we would get a spa gift certificate, or a big basket of Mary Kay stuff...that kind of thing.

Not a darn thing....my boss is a #^&*@<hidden>#)@<hidden>^%@<hidden>)$@<hidden>)&!


lol...he's my brother..:sidesplit :holiday10

I don't have a boss, but when I did work, the entire office pitched in and we got our boss a Gift Card to his favorite store. Doing this your able to get him/her something a little nicer than everyone buying smaller gifts.

I am already in search of coal, with mud on it if possible.

Not a darn thing....my boss is a #^&*@<hidden>#)@<hidden>^%@<hidden>)$@<hidden>)&!


lol...he's my brother..:sidesplit :holiday10

:sidesplit :sidesplit :sidesplit :sidesplit :sidesplit :sidesplit

I work for my self now, but the last job that I had a boss at, I was pondering the same thing. However, one day he mentioned how much he used to love to play chess. I found a really nice frosted glass chess set marked down and bought it for him. He thanked me and thanked me. He said he and his daughter got lots of use out of it. They had not played for years and it brought them closer together.

I don't have a boss but I am one.
Last year dh had a cutting board made to match my counter tops.http://www.clicksmilies.com/s1106/lachen/laughing-smiley-014.gif

In the past I have given gift baskets of homemade goodies but frankly the amount of appreciation given isn't worth the amount of work that goes into it. (Ditto for the family members that received the same baskets)

Last year I gave big cookies in tins that I picked up at WalMart. Same thing I gave to regular co-workers. I am not even sure that anyone of my multiple managers even thanked me and of the co-workers it was minimal. Some co-workers that I am closer to got bottles of wine but again unless I handed it directly to them they did not even say thanks. This year I am swearing off gifts in the workplace but will probably break down at the last minute (I always do).

In the past I have given gift baskets of homemade goodies but frankly the amount of appreciation given isn't worth the amount of work that goes into it. (Ditto for the family members that received the same baskets)

Last year I gave big cookies in tins that I picked up at WalMart. Same thing I gave to regular co-workers. I am not even sure that anyone of my multiple managers even thanked me and of the co-workers it was minimal. Some co-workers that I am closer to got bottles of wine but again unless I handed it directly to them they did not even say thanks. This year I am swearing off gifts in the workplace but will probably break down at the last minute (I always do).

I know what you mean about the thanks. I work in a small company. I am one of two managers and we have 7 staff. The head manager gives all of us a 20 dollar gc to walmart every year and I use my Gotta deal skills and tricks to get each staff and the other manager a valuable gift at a fraction of the cost. I did the homemade goodies to hear them picking it apart like "she knows I don't like this and she knows my kids don't like that" type thing. So that is when I started doing small gifts. They know that I do this for the other manager as well.

Well the lady that takes charge of the staff always has each staff member donate 10 dollars for each of us. (I guess this is where you learn that although he is head manager of the plant, I have direct supervision of most of the staff by myself but they hate me because I won't take any crap and he plays favorites.). Anyway, they always come to me to beg 10 dollars from me as well. But they never go to him to beg money for my gift, because he has already given me one? Go figure. any way.... I don't care if they give me a darn thing because I know it's a show for the other manager to think they are so wonderful... but they collect $80 total for him and $70 for me. But he gets a gift card for $100 and I get a gift card for $50. It's not the amount, but it's the fact that the lady that does it probably doesn't tell the other ones what she is doing. And to top it off he left the card out last year where I saw it and it had everyone's name signed to it except mine. pfffftt.....

I am considering this year telling them that after buying the staff gifts I don't have the extra $10. I am sure he can still get 100 and I can just get 40... lol..... Then they can feel crappy when they think I spent a fortune on them all.. I got them the electronic organizers that were on sale at office depot a couple months ago for 99 cents each... jokes on them... lol....

But again, I wouldn't care but I get no thank yous or anything but I hear them just gushing thanking him for their gc's. I want to say "wake up people, he figures raises and he probably gives himself enough extra each year to cover that... "

I think I sound bitter.. I need a new job. ...

Dear Santa......

thats an easy one for me, he's a boozer so any alcohol is good then i save the pricey suggestion for his girlfriend or friends when they call up looking for ideas

I work for myself and I get nothing. I do daycare and give kids a gift i spend 10$ on each one and then , I give the parents a tray of cookies we make and candy as well.

I don't know I willdo it this year, we are going on vacation and after feeling like they don't appreciate me when I watch later then I am open etc etc. I guess I figure why spend all the extra money and time and effort when it seems they can not get me a simple card. I get along great with all of them just seems weird to not get someone who takes care of your kids all year a simple card would be nice. Its not the amount but the thought that counts.
this year maybe a year of only cookies!

Dh got a gift card to eat at a place that is not even in our area that we live .... talk about stupid! he is a food sales rep and the main office is 2 hours away. the gift certificate is for a restuarant in that are! you would think they would get him one for were we live not for a place hours away... not like we drive 2 hours to eat at Chilis restaurant!

BATH & BODY WORKS STUFF/ A PEDICURE/
MY BOSS IS A LAdy

my boss is Scottish... any suggestions???

my boss is Scottish... any suggestions???

Maybe some homemade scottish shortbread? It's super easy to make - it's just butter, flour and sugar.

Our office has started doing Secret Santas and we've included our boss .. so we only have to buy one gift. phew.

Last year I bought my boss something...This year I have a new boss and absolutely hate her so she won't be getting crap!

Seeing as I'm full time stay at home mom now I guess that makes me my own boss so I'll have to buy something for myself! :)

Seriously though, there's always my husband's boss who happens to be a very nice lady and any other number of people he decides to do something for. That means it's my job to come up with something; his idea is always gift cards. Me, I'd prefer to make some of those recipes in a jar unless something pops up on BF.

I work in a small office and have a great boss and co-worker. One loves anything strawberries and one like butterflies. I am having 6 place mats and napkins for each of them made in Bolivia (my dad is there) It will be unique and inexpensive too. (A lady there hand paints them)

My boss is my dad. But last year, I got him a gift basket filled with GC to a hotel in a close tourist/casino resort in New Mexico, a gas GC, a resturant GC and lots of snacks for the trip. It seems excessive, but he is my dad too. Maybe a good idea for an office group to do. I worked out great. He took the trip during work time, so I go a vacation from the "boss" too.

I work for a small family owned business. Each year we all chip in to buy a gift for the owner and his wife. It has varied from gift certificates for B&B, gift cards, etc. This year we are having a portrait made to match those of his dad and grandfather.

In addition, we also used to do Secret Santa, but have started a tradition of something much more keeping with the spirit of the season. We take the money we used to use to buy each other gifts we really didn't need, and use it to sponsor a child in foster care. We get the age, gender, and a wish list for each child we sponsor, and shop for gifts for them instead. It is so much fun to shop for them and know you are making Christmas better for someone truly in need.

Depending on the boss, perhaps you could sponsor a child in their name, or make a donation in their name to a favorite cause or charity of theirs.

Last year I heard him mention he broken their blender making drinks with ice. So when I saw a Kitchenaid blender on sale for $40 (reg $120) I asked the other 3 people to pitch in $10 and he was thrilled.

Thanks to GottaDeal this year he is receiving a Marbolo(?) BBQ set. The others can do their own shopping. Or not.

I am not buying my boss anything as a Xmas gift. I get ornaments for everyone in the office... but I don't buy Xmas gifts for coworkers.

saying that... my boss is my friend, and I will likely get her a present which will be given outside of work ;)

I have 2 bosses.

My FIL gets a gc some where. This year most likely Harley Davison. My Dh has me..what more could he want?? :sidesplit

The administration dept at my office get together and get our boss a gift card to his favorite Harley store.

they hate me because I won't take any crap and he plays favorites.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`

And that, JB would insure that you got a nice gift from me if you were my boss. I can't stand bosses who play favorites. My boss does it all the time and his favorites are the ones who walk around and do nothing but snitch on other people or sleep on the job (I am 3rd shift). And no, they haven't snitched on me, they can't get anything on me.

My boss is not well liked at all. One year one co worker tried to take up a collection to buy him a gift and got a grand total of $11 and that is from a staff of around 30 people. Even his faves wont put in for him a gift because they probably don't really like him either.

Thankfully, when I worked, we just did a Secret Santa exchange, boss included. It was nice, as it's hard enough to figure out what to get some family members (for me). If I had a boss to buy for, I'd probably do a gift basket of things they liked to drink/snack on--or a gift card to somewhere I knew they shopped/ate at.

[QUOTE=AndreaInNC;886684]Maybe some homemade scottish shortbread? It's super easy to make - it's just butter, flour and sugar.

QUOTE]

I'd be worried that he'd take it wrong...Like---Gee-I'm scottish--& you made me shortbread! Ha-Ha. Very funny.

However---when I read that "my boss is scottish" that was my first response too. I Love shortbread! And it IS easy!!!!!!!

I just wouldn't want it to look stereotypical. Know what I mean?

Overall, if they are a coffee drinker, I think Starbucks is a great neutral & enjoyable gift.

Or you could--- go to starbucks and buy a nice bag of coffee, and a little box of the special little caramel chocolates with a 10.00 gift card, and put it all in a nice little gift bag.

It'll cost just under $30.00.

JUST NO POPCORN TINS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! UGh!

If you having a hard time deciding what to do; gift card, searching for that special gift, homemade goodies or just don't know what to do. I have given scratch off lottery tickets in the past. This has been fun. Who knows how lucky they my get. They could end up with nothing or money in their pocket.:D

I have given my boss Home made cookies, candy and fudge every year, He looks forward to this as this is the only time of the year he will eat it, I use to send smaller packages for the support staff, but after one year of no thank you I didnt send them any more, Funny thing last year my boss was out the day the box arrived and the staff eat every bit of it and it was addressed to him, So I had to make up another box so he could have his yearly cookies, Which by the way I make about 27-30 different kinds of cookies, 3 different types of fudge and then homeday candy from molds.

I don't know about the popcorn tins. If it was from Dale and Thomas it would be a wonderful gift! This is the best popcorn ever! ( just got in a 6 bag sampler today) :gdlicklips:

not a darn thing:rolleyes:

Well I am not sure this year. Since this is my first year with this boss.

I work in a food service dept. Every year we draw names for Christmas, for some reason they always put our bosses name in the hat also. So one person gets her name, then we all go together to get our boss 1 big gift, and she buys for all of us. So one person gets 2 gifts from her since she would draw a name from the hat, and then she purchases for all the employees anyhow. It's kind of messed up to me, anyhow. What should I get my boss? I was thinking of a nice robe and slippers, something along that line, but i am not sure if that is too personal.....help me out !

Can't go wrong with a spa gift basket if she's into facials, pedicures, etc. Get a gift certificate to someplace for a manicure and/or pedicure or other service and then put it in a small basket or bag filled with appropriate items for her to keep up the newly done nails or whatever it is she'll have done :)

I think that type of gift is WAY to personal to give someone you work for, but that may just be just me. I would go with something like Harry & David or Hickory Farms.

I buy my boss nothing!! He's an absolute penis and I hate him!! He also knows it!!

Last year we gave our bosses GC to Barnes and Noble.
One of the bosses gave $100 and the other gave us a cheap bottle of wine.

:holiday02

For my husbands boss and his family(good people) we are giving a gift to them from
www.seva.org I am not sure which gift yet, we are still deciding.

I buy my boss nothing!! He's an absolute penis and I hate him!! He also knows it!!

hey - do we work for the same person ???

a gift card is always good that way they can go get what they want/ need and you dont waste your time trying to figure out what to get them.

spatel49.ordermygift.com

It is a giftalbum site that ranges gift albums from $25-$750

Ribbon Variety Gift Card/Album is $25 was the one I found it to be the most useeful it has varity of gifts that a person can choose from1! So they can enjoy what they really wanted.. This is great to giveout to employees, co workers,teachers,postman etc,,Because u don have to keep guessin what they want since they have so many things to choose from.

SHIPPING FREE for $75 n above

I buy my boss nothing!! He's an absolute penis and I hate him!! He also knows it!!

Do we have the same boss? I wouldn't even waste my money getting the prxxx a lump of coal!!!!!!!!!!!:yuck:

i never gave my bosses a gift. but one yr i did help my boss come up with Chanukah (sp) gifts for his wife, that was fun. i did give him a card but no gift.

This year, I'm giving my boss a "World's Best Boss" mug like Michael Scott's from the $1 bin at Target, a 2008 Office calendar, and a gift card to Dunkin Donuts. We have a really good relationship and I think he'll get the jokes. The gift card is his "real" gift. I normally hate gift cards, but I feel like this one fits a theme and required some actual thought.

I buy my boss nothing!! He's an absolute penis and I hate him!! He also knows it!!

I second this!! Or third/fourth this!!! Last year I ended up getting him a bottle of red wine and some chocolate... this year I'll probably do wine and lottery ticket. Last year was the first year I worked for him and he got some a scarf and glove set from Walmart... well his wife picked it out for me. I never wore it because it was so itchy and the gloves barely fit. I guess it was the thought right? Probably not.. he walked by me, put it on my desk, and walked away. So I did the same thing for him.. left it on his chair when he was gone.

Douchebag. :tongue1: