The idea with this list is to find things that are going to be almost universally useful for anyone that you work with, regardless of what they already own, their age, or their gender. For example, a great gift on a limited budget could be a phone case, but you would need to know the exact model of phone that your co-worker has so that you get the right case. It’s nice if you have that information, but not everyone does, and you might give away your Secret Santa identity if you go snooping.
1. Portable USB charger
This has been my go-to budget gift for much of this year, because almost everyone has a cell phone, and short battery life is a very common problem. Few people will think to buy this on their own, but it’s one of those things that you will use a lot if you have it.
2. USB flash drive
Moving large files (or large groups of files) is common in an office setting, and it’s not always feasible to send them through email or upload them to cloud storage and share them that way. So a USB flash drive can be handy at the office, plus it will provide your Secret Santa recipient with a way to move files at their home, or take a picture with them to Staples if they want to get it printed.
3. Headphones
4. Electric wine bottle opener
We are kind of breaking our self-imposed rule about age restrictions with this gift, but even those under 21 will eventually have a use for a wine bottle opener that makes the process a little easier. While it isn’t as easy to use as a Rabbit, most people find it to be much better than the traditional twist wine bottle opener.
5. Freezable lunch bag with zip enclosure
Shared fridges are a reality for most work environments, and many people take the cheap and simple option of putting their food in a plastic bag. Having a unique lunch bag will make it easier to find your food in the fridge, plus it comes in a lot of different styles if you think your Secret Santa recipient would prefer something with a little more style than the mono-colored option.
Bonus –
Cards Against Humanity
This game can be a little divisive, but this can be a fun gift for the right person. This is definitely an option where you need to know your recipient and their style of humor, though. This game can be a little off-colored, and might not be appreciated by someone that gets offended by foul language. If you are looking for another gift that is slightly more expensive, then consider the Google Chromecast. You can read our review of that device here. After receiving his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science he spent several years working in IT management for small businesses. However, he now works full time writing content online and creating websites. His main writing topics include iPhones, Microsoft Office, Google Apps, Android, and Photoshop, but he has also written about many other tech topics as well. Read his full bio here.
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