An office tradition, Secret Santa present giving takes some thinking.

It's that time of the year when the office conversation starts turning to Christmas. No sooner have people mentioned that the season of joy is upon us, the tree has gone up and everyone is mulling over what to wear for the festive party.

One of traditions at this time of the year is Secret Santa, which is a brilliant tradition that is as popular as ever. The basic idea is that everyone's name goes into a hat and allocated randomly to others.

On a modest budget, they then have to go and buy a suitable or wacky present for that person. Nobody keeps it secret for long though, which is part of the fun of it.

For that extra special something, placing these gifts in special printed Christmas gift bags is one way to bring out a huge smile in a colleague. It is not something they will be expecting, so when they receive their present, it will knock them off their feet.

If people are struggling to choose a present, there are failsafe ways to get around this. Food is always a good bet. Speak to the person you are giving a gift to – without revealing that you are their Secret Santa – and gauge what they like and don't like.

Another tip is to be considerate but don't break the bank. This is never meant to be a serious thing, so any lavish purchases will be viewed as highly inappropriate. Instead, establish a budget among all Secret Santas so that everyone gains an equal footing.

Alison Green, a management specialist who blogs at Ask A Manager, advises that people also stay away from high value gifts.

"Perfume, clothing, jewellery, and Fifty Shades of Grey are all inappropriate gifts for the office," she wrote in an article for US News. "And save the gag gifts for friends and family; the risk of a misunderstood joke giving offense in the office is too high."

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