Many of us will be familiar with the sinking feeling caused by drawing the name of a colleague you barely know from the Secret Santa hat. You’ve shared little more than pleasantries with them, know nothing of their life outside work and don’t even know how they take their coffee.
Then there’s the £10 spend budget, which dramatically limits the gift options, and the worry of buying something so useless to them that it will end up in the bin. Where do you start? Well, with our Secret Santa gift guide, of course.
We’ve searched, scoured and sourced to create a bumper list of affordable gifts that will please almost anyone. Some will even leave you change from a tenner, so you can add a cheap box of chocolates or bag of sweets. Either way, everyone will be wishing you draw their name from the Secret Santa lottery next year.
The best Secret Santa gifts under £10 in 2024
Arty socks
Uniqlo Kaws + Warhol UT Socks, £5.90
uniqlo.com
Socks may appear a thoughtless gift, but this pair are far from that: they’re a little piece of history. They’re the result of a collaboration between contemporary artist Kaws and the work of pop-art icon Andy Warhol, and they’re available exclusively from Uniqlo.
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Fin-tastic!
Chocolate sardines, £2.25
brindisa.com
These whimsical sardine-shaped chocolates are sure to put a smile on anyone’s face.
For more presents for foodies, see our food-lovers gift guide
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Festive fragrance
Nikura Christmas tree essential oil blend, £5.99 for 10ml
nikura.com
Set of four Nikura Christmas essential oil blends, £9.99
amazon.co.uk
Nikura’s long-lasting essential oils can be used in an oil burner or diffuser, for a massage, in the bath, and even to make soaps and candles. This festive edition blends cinnamon, orange and pine needle scents.
For more presents for pampering, check out our self-care gift guide
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Stylish keyring
Personalised leather keyring, from £8.50
etsy.com
You need only know the person’s name to give them a stylish gift that’ll make them feel special with this personalised leather keychain.
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Hydration on the go
Nuactiv stainless steel insulated water bottle, £9.89
amazon.co.uk
Save them (and the planet) from single-use plastic bottles with this BPA-free water bottle. This 500ml one keeps cold drinks cold for 24 hours and hot drinks hot for 12 hours, and is available in various designs and colours.
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Pretty in peacock
Palette Royal Peacock nail paint, £8
amazon.co.uk
palettelondon.com
This lovely shade of nail polish would be a great luxury gift on a budget.
We asked teens what they really want for Christmas – check out the full gift guide for teenagers
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For your office bestie
Middle finger candle, £5
morebeesplease.com
Secret Santa gifts are usually thoughtful or humorous; this fits the latter. A fun present for someone you know well, and who definitely has a sense of humour!
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For your office acquaintance
John Lewis spiced clementine & pomegranate candle, £6.37
johnlewis.com
If it’s a co-worker you don’t know so well, this is a safer option. The warm glow of a festive-scented candle will bring cheer into anyone’s home, and this one comes in a sophisticated gold-rimmed glass jar and beautiful packaging.
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Cool candleholder
Bauhaus candlestick, £10
perchandparrow.com
If you think gifting candles is overdone, give them a beautiful candlestick instead.
Need a present for an interiors fanatic? Check out our list of gifts for the home
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Winter warmer
Hot-water bottle, £6.99
boots.com
As the winter weather sets in, any recipient is sure to appreciate an extra boost of warmth. This one comes with an extra soft fleece for maximum cosiness.
We recommended this as a great present for water babies – check out our guide to gifts for swimmers
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Personal touch
Personalised Tony’s Chocolonely, £7.13 a bar
tonyschocolonely.com
Add a picture or message to a delicious bar of Tony’s Chocolonely to give a personal touch to a crowd-pleasing gift.
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For footie fanatics
Personalised football shirt coaster, £9.90 each
etsy.com
Football fans rarely keep their passion quiet, so even if you don’t know the giftee well, chances are you know if they follow a team. Personalise this coaster with their name and the shirt of their club.
For more customisable gifts, check out our personalised gifts guide
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Rinse and repeat
Reusable face cleansing cloths, £5.99 for a pack of six
amazon.co.uk
Perfect for people who are into skincare, but also care about the planet.
Check out our guide for more everyday items that could improve your life
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Elevate their cooking
Ceramic garlic plate, £10
amazon.co.uk
£10.35
etsy.com
This lesser-known kitchen tool turns garlic into a paste with ease.
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Let there be light
Clip-on book light, £8.15
amazon.co.uk
A practical but thoughtful gift for bookworms and night owls.
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Intriguing seasoning
L’Isolina Pasta Spaghetti Dust, £7.50
superettestore.com
This ready-to-go mix of aglio, olio e peperoncino seasoning is the perfect conversation starter and flavour enhancer for a plate of pasta.
For more gift inspiration, see our guide of 242 Christmas present ideas chosen by the experts
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Strawberry dream
Strawberry lip butter, £3.60
thebodyshop.com
£10
amazon.co.uk
Made with shea butter and strawberry seed oil, this balm will help fight the dry lips caused by harsh winter weather.
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Just add water
Hairy Jayne shampoo and conditioner bars in a tin, £11
hairyjaynehandmade.co.uk
This solid shampoo and conditioner set is useful, vegan and can even help trim down the use of plastic bottles. Just add water to these plastic-, cruelty- and palm-oil-free bars to create fragrant formulas suitable for all hair types. Choose from floral, citrus, musk and herbal scents.
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Upcycled accessories
Scarf scrunchie, £5.85
etsy.com
Made from scarves, saris and other old clothes, these scrunchies would make a great addition to any outfit.
For more accessories, see Jess Cartner-Morley’s 50 autumn wardrobe updates
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Spice it up
Peanut rāyu chilli oil, £8.99 for 240g
selfridges.com
amazon.co.uk
White Mausu’s peanut rayu (a blend of garlic, peanuts, sesame, gochugaru, tamari and agave) is a worthy addition to most meals (and particularly eggs). A great gift for foodies who enjoy cooking at home.
For similar items, see our guide to the best indie food products
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Tiny trio
Pack of three succulents, £7
beardsanddaisies.co.uk
This low-maintenance trio would elevate any space, whether an office desk or a windowsill at home.
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Pampering
Treatwell gift voucher, starting from £10
treatwell.co.uk
A voucher to go towards a spa or beauty treatment is always a safe bet.
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Bamboo bento
Stackable bamboo lunchbox, £6.99
etsy.com
A truly useful present, perfect for bringing lunch into the office.
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Perfect for chocoholics
Hot chocolate flakes, £9.40
amazon.co.uk
A decadent treat that’s sure to get them in the Christmas spirit.
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Bottoms up
Personalised glass, from £4.95
etsy.com
Whether the recipient is a craft beer lover or gin fan, you can personalise the most suitable glass for them with a name or message.
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Kindness for chapped lips
Slow Down Club tokens of appreciation lip balm, £7 each
theeveryspace.com
Nourish their soul and lips with a cute lip balm that comes in a cute pot, sporting one of three thoughtful messages. The balm inside is unscented and 97% organic, making it ideal for combatting winter-chapped skin.
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Arty notebook
V&A Japanese Golden Leaves A5 luxury notebook, £9.99
amazon.co.uk
We can’t think of anyone who wouldn’t want this gorgeous notebook on their desk.
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The gift of organisation
Black 2025 day a page diary, £4
theworks.co.uk
A diary is a gift that will be useful throughout the entire year, and we love the stylish, minimalist design of this bargain buy.
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Fun bookmarks
Magnetic cat bookmarks, £4 for four
oliverbonas.com
Finger bookmarks, £7.56 each
etsy.com
Which of these two quirky – but useful – bookmarks you go for will depend on how well you know the person you’re buying for. Either suggestion is sure to rouse a smile, though.
