Crowd-pleasing Secret Santa gifts that work for almost anyone, mostly under £15.
Best fits first, then by Picked Rating, from all our lists
A quick card game
9.4/10
£5.99 RRP
Small, cheap and perfect for the Christmas break with family. Quick games that play in 15 minutes get used the most.
Why we picked it: All the scheming, stealing and gloating of Monopoly, in about 15 minutes. Office lunch breaks will never be the same.
What owners say: A great take on Monopoly: quick, easy to pick up and hours of fun.
A keyring torch
9.3/10
£7.99 RRP
Dark mornings and evenings make this genuinely useful for finding keyholes and car doors. Tiny but surprisingly bright.
Why we picked it: Tiny, bright and charges by USB, so there’s always a torch on the keys for finding the front door lock.
What owners say: The perfect everyday pocket torch, bright enough to see the way home.
A hardback A5 notebook
9.3/10
£7.99 RRP
Everyone at work uses a notebook, and a nice one feels like a treat compared with the stationery cupboard.
Why we picked it: Thick 120gsm paper that pens don’t bleed through, in a smart hardback. For bullet journals, to-do lists or doodling in meetings.
What owners say: Lovely thick pages with no bleed-through, and it looks smart on a desk.
A scented candle
9.2/10
£15.99 RRP
A reliable crowd-pleaser, especially in winter. A good one fills the room with scent.
Why we picked it: Four soy candles in lavender, fig, spring and lemon, each burning for over a day, in a gift box with a card.
What owners say: Beautiful scents and pretty tins. Owners say the people they gave them to were delighted.
An adjustable phone stand
9.2/10
£12.99 RRP
Handy for video calls, recipes and watching things at the desk over lunch. A metal one feels much sturdier than the price suggests.
Why we picked it: Solid aluminium, folds flat and holds a phone at the perfect angle for video calls and recipes.
What owners say: Sturdy, versatile and works in portrait or landscape.
A hand cream trio
9.1/10
£8 RRP
One for the handbag, one for the desk, one by the bed. Always used up.
Why we picked it: Three pretty handbag-size tubes with shea and cocoa butter. A little bit of Cath Kidston cheer for a few pounds.
What owners say: A lovely scent, soft non-greasy feel and great value. Perfect for handbags.
Fun patterned socks
9.1/10
£ Under £15
Socks with a bit of personality are the rare “fun” gift that also gets worn. Food, animal or Christmas designs all go down well.
Why we picked it: Lots of designs, from book lovers to dog people, in a gift box. Pick the one that fits the person.
What owners say: Cute, comfortable and soft, and they always get a laugh.
A coffee or tea selection
9.1/10
£11.99 RRP
A consumable treat that doesn’t add clutter. A selection box lets him try something better than his usual without committing to a whole bag.
Why we picked it: Six single-origin coffees from around the world, so he can work out whether he’s a Colombia man or an Ethiopia man.
What owners say: Great variety and lovely fresh taste, and it looks smart enough to give as it is.
Heads up: The bags are tasting size (50g each), so it’s a sampler rather than a month’s supply.
A loose-leaf tea gift set
9.1/10
£11.99 RRP
Beautiful tins of interesting teas. The tins get reused long after the tea’s gone.
Why we picked it: Six little tins shaped like London landmarks, from Big Ben to a red phone box, filled with loose-leaf English tea.
What owners say: Lovely tea and charming tins that look more expensive than they are.
Heads up: The tins are small, so it’s a tasting set rather than a big stash.
Hot chocolate stirrers
9.1/10
£ Under £15
Stir into hot milk for a proper hot chocolate. They look lovely wrapped and get used up by New Year.
Why we picked it: Belgian milk chocolate spoons topped with mini marshmallows: stir into hot milk and there’s instant hot chocolate.
What owners say: Delicious, not too sweet and a lovely little gift.
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