When you need to give gifts for a large group of people (say all 30 of your co-workers), what do you give them?
This year my friend Kathy made mini pumpkin loaves and attached a cookie cutter to the bread.
I’d love some ideas from you all! I am sure this is something a lot of us have to come up with every year.
Dianne Rice says
I make heavy-duty magnets through my business then purchase glass containers with metal tops at Hobby Lobby, fill the container with candy, then give the personalized magnet as an extra gift on top.
Kathy says
Several years ago at work we decided that none of us really need anything so we decided to start helping others instead. We have help two fellow employees who were dying of cancer have a Christmas for their families. We have bought shoes for refugees that were wearing sandals to school. This year we helped a single mother with 10 kids provide Christmas for her children. We work with some very generous people and so willing to give. Many years when other departments hear of what we are doing they have asked to join us. No one have missed the gifts we use to give each other and we feel we are the ones who have truly received gifts from giving.
Allison says
I buy some big bags of individually wrapped candy and then divide it up into gift bags. I’ve also done bath beads, they come in lots of cute shapes and are easy to package.
Sarah K says
It’s not 30 people (just 8-10), but I’m giving all my coworkers plates of cookies with cheap/free holiday candy from Rite Aid and a Glade candle from Target.
Rebecca Zepp says
We like to do lottery tickets for occasions like this!
Stephanie says
boyfriend’s grandma makes these really cute icecream looking things in a glass with red&white peppermints.. they are SO cute.
this year me & mom made chocolate nutter butter balls (think oreo balls) that were a great hit!
Laney says
I make homemade Chai Tea mix it is very good and different.
Michele says
I always do a huge sweets tray for my husband restaurant. I fill it with peanut better balls, run balls, an assortment of cookies and just what ever I am in the mood to make. It usually takes two adults to carry it in and is opened before I have a chance to exit the kitchen. I even get requests each year for their favorites. I of course always attach a note thinking everyone for their hard work because without them I would NEVER see my husband. (I don’t see him that much now and in fact he is opening another restaurant the day after Christmas)
Thao says
I personalize candy wrappers myself and get candy bars to cover
amber h says
I always make fudge for my husband’s coworkers. THis year it is Brandy fudge. I package them in cute Christmas Chinese style take out boxes from the Target dollar bin.
myers2be says
I usually do an “A-Z Bread” and fudge. A-Z bread is a basic sweet bread recipe that you can make into just about any kind of bread you want. From apple bread, banana bread, zuchini bread….etc. You can even throw in a can of fruit cocktail. Anyhow the theory of the story is that it is a stupid easy recipe that you can then make a variety of types of breads. Then, my fudge recipe is actually Rachel Ray’s 5 minute fudge, again super easy and quick. Then I put them in a cute little box or tin and put a bow on it. People just love homemade goods at the holidays.
Mary says
I am a teacher and we buy for everyone in our grade level (9 other ladies). This year I gave them all a snowflake picture holder…you know the kind with the little alligator clip on the back that hold one picture (or recipe or receipts or business cards for those that don’t have pictures). I got them at kohl’s last year the day after Christmas on sale of course and with a coupon in a 3 pack that I broke up. I think I spent $2 each. Last year I got them all a small reed diffuser air freshener for $2 each at Ross. I have also done the glass Christmas trees that you can fill with candy and filled with holiday M&Ms for around $2-3. And for all my grandparents (and my hubby’s and the great grandparents) I usually do caramel puffcorn in plastic Christmas tubs (bought the year before on clearance of course). It doesn’t have any kernels to get stuck in their teeth and is very soft to chew.
Jean says
I bought 2 pair of gloves (really cute) at Target for $1.50. I bought cute christmas bags at the $ tree (I think they were 12 for $1). I separated the gloves and put one pair in each bag and wrote a personal note that I attached to each. (that is less than $2 per gift. The coworkers commented they liked it was something they could keep in their glove compartment and have as a back up to a sturdier pair of gloves. They appear to have come in handy for most of them this year.
This year we got large coffee mugs that all look the same from our company. I am going to take everyone’s mug and have their name put on the mug in vinyl lettering. $2 per mug, and keeps everyone’s mug from getting mixed up.
Heather says
I didnt have quite as many to buy for but I still had 10 family and friends to get.
I got them all solar rainbow makers!!! AND then with the recent Walgreens Hershey’s Pot of Gold deal, they each got a box of chocolates! ‘Cause what else would you find under a rainbow? Total turned out to be about $13 on each person/family.
http://beadandelion.blogspot.com/2010/11/favorite-things-christmas-ideas-solar.html
Brenda D says
Homemade gift of puppy chow snack mix, fudge or chocolate dipped pretzels have been my go to in the past but this year with full time job and full time grad school, homemade is out of the question. I have been buying those great fuzzy, warm, soft sock that are infused with shea butter as I can with coupons and sales. The 22 members of the committee I chair at work and friends will all get a great pair of socks and I have paid average of about $1 per pair.
Robyn says
One year I worked for a company where there were 60 employees so I made them each a origami dove of peace. They all appreciated them and could nestle them in their Christmas Trees each year and remember the year that they got them. It was a cost of about $3 to $4 because I used a 40% off coupon to get the paper.
Robyn says
Whoops it was a crane….and you can google it to get the simple instructions start early and you’ll have them done before you know it….think games, or anywhere you might be sitting, garage, appointments etc.
Hilary says
This year I gave the men boxes of theater size candy wrapped with a gift tag I made with my son’s picture on it. For the women I gave bags of sugar cookie mix, punched a hole in the top and tied a gift tag (again with my son’s picture on it – got it at VistaPrint) and a cookie cutter.
melissa salmon says
I like to make the homemade hot chocolate mixes. You can put them in a pastry bag and tie a cute ribbon on them for really cheap.
Jessica says
Fruit Basket would be great.. what we usually give “big families” instead of buying ind. gifts.. is a gigantic basket filled with fruit, candy and pop corn along with 2 movies and or a rental gift card.. a gift for the entire family can enjoy.
Megan says
I am horrible at this kind of stuff! I always call my sister and ask her. One year a made pumpking cheesecakes and put them in the lounge with a stack of the recipes so everyone could have one.
Jessica D. says
I always like to give small ornaments or a variety of “food in a jar” gifts like hot chocolate or cookie mixes. Thanks!
candice says
i normally bake cookies and put them in cute bags w/ bows but this year i only had to get something for some teachers…. i just made little goody bags for nails… i used all the stuff i have gotten free or really cheap… (mostly money makers at drug stores). each bag had clippers, emry boards, nail polish and a small thing of lotion…..
Karen B. says
My hubby works in the hospital, so he put 10 pieces of Lindt chocolate in gift bags and will pass them out. Looks like we spent alot, but didn’t
deborah pressley says
Fix cookies and place in gift bags. Everybody loves cookies
CAROL says
I make cinnamon applesauce ornaments and buy a calendar at a discount store and add a bottle of sparkling apple cider for my neighbors.
ART says
How do you make cinnamon applesauce ornaments? Sounds interesting.
Holly says
Art,
They are super easy… the way we do it is 1/4 cup applesauce and 4 oz cinnamon… make dough and cut out with cookie cutters… poke a hole in the top of the shape with a straw (to put the ribbon through) and leave on a cookie sheet until hard
Mary J says
I bake. I get tins from Goodwill, they usually have them for 25 cents and then I put treats in them. If i have a REALLY big group, I will just do a small plate of goodies with decorative saran wrap and curling ribbon.
But check out goodwill during the year for tins. One time I found 6 of them and they are a dark green, perfect for Xmas! I also got quite a few plastic platters which I plan to take to parties and leave. Those were 50 cents each!
Cambria says
I made homemade hot chocolate and Christmas spiced tea for me and my hubby’s co-workers. We also plan to give them to adult family members since we only do gifts for the kiddos. I put the mix in canning jars, tied curling ribbon around them and attached a Christmas tag with directions! Super easy and super cute!
Alicia M says
Every year I make chocolate covered cherries for my hubbys work and extra gifts for people, They are really time consuming and need to be made 3 weeks in advance for the centers to liquify but its worth it because everyone loves them and asks for them every year.
Christina says
Fudge, Cookies, Applesauce bread or gifts (mixes) in a jar with a printed recipe.
Catherine says
I gave my fellow teachers one of the Glade candles that I got a deal on at Target :)
marie says
The week after Christmas I start shopping for the next year…
Teachers and All the other Staff: After ‘back to school’ was over I started buying school supplies at 75-90 percent off…each teacher gets a little bag (bought on clearance after Velentine’s Day so they are red) with a pen, highlighter, etc…)
Child Class: Bought bubbles at .25 a bottle after summer and will wrap with ribbon saved from another gift with ‘tag’ cut from cardstock and stamped then sign child’s name
Friends: Spend the day cooking a big batch of chili or spaghetti or something simple and inexpensive to make in bulk…that will freeze well if they don;t want to eat right away…then some mass dessert like others have mentioned…bag it up and drop off to everyone at once…you only spend about three-five dollars a family and they get a night off from cooking!
Mailman, Garbage guys, Recycling Guys, UPS…Get the big Powerade, make a tag from cardstock saying thank and wrap with saved ribbon and leave it outon their respective days…
jill b. says
My standard go-to is just making a whole batch of buckeyes, fancied up by packing them up with pretty ribbons! I’ve also done things like a movie night basket or a hot cocoa basket. Movie night: $1 popcorn container, bag of microwave popcorn, $3 DVD (think Black Friday prices). Hot cocoa: $1 mug from dollar store, a pack of hot chocolate and a candy cane.
Angela D. says
I bought those little Christmas mugs (avg about .50 each) then added some tissue paper inside and a bottle of Bath and Body Works 2oz lotion (get these free or next to free all year long..heck I got three free this weekend alone with the new coupon…my daughters donate theirs to me too lol). I also bought bags of candy (well, they were free after coupons) and added that in as well. Wrap up in some clear wrapping paper with ribbon and gift is done. I probably (at the most) ended up spending .75 each for the gifts! While it is not much, it lets people know we were thinking of them!
I also LOVE going after Christmas when the clearance sales start and stocking up on non-perishables for the next season! You can get tons of mugs, cups, and little stocking stuffers for REALLY cheap!
diane says
great ideas! Keep them coming!
cora brack says
A lady at Church emptiied 2 packs of hot chicilat mix int a clear bag and tillted it on its side too look like a sugar ice cream cone topped w/ some chocolate chips and the small marshmallows and rounded them off to look like ice cream and then tied the bags and attached name tags they were so cute. I have taken large marshmallows and dipped them in semi sweet melted chocolate and rolled them in coconut some in crushed cany canes and some in crushed pecans and put those in a cute see thru bag they were a hit! I used a toothpick to dip them
Yvette says
Having been a hair dresser and being bombarded with sweets during the holidays (hey, not complaining!) I like to do something different. I love to think outside of the box. I will keep an eye out for clearance items during the year. One year I got chinese take out boxes for .25cents each! I filled them with apple, pear, or orange, some nuts and some chocolate. (stuffing in the bottom of the box) Cute, different, inexpensive and not so fattening!! I have also done a snack bowl. I got some lil like cereal bowls (but a bit bigger) from the dollar store. I will put a can (or bottle) of coke or dr pepper a chocolate bar, granola bar and a bag of microwave popcorn. Many of these items we can get for pennies with our coupons!! If I’m super together I will paint their names on the bowls. Wrap it will fun clear wrap like a gift basket, and voila! This has been a big hit every time I do it!!
Stephanie W says
Last year, I was able to score bags of Chex Mix (assorted varieties) at Walgreens for .49 per bag. So I bought enough to hand out to my 12 coworkers, and typed a little poem that went something like, “Remember, Santa “Chex” his list twice!” and glued the poem to Christmas themed scrapbook paper, attached curling ribbon and tied through the top hole of the Chex Mix bag. :) They were really cute. This year I’m currently 34 weeks pregnant and have no energy, so they’re getting little holiday baggies with a Bath & Body Works pocketbac and some mini candy bars LOL. I’ll be more creative next year!
Krisi says
I have bought huge bags of flavored popcorn – red and green and repackaged with a little tag for everyone – like 100 people. It was about $75.
Love the wrapping paper idea. Might grab some after the holiday this year for that purpose!
Jennifer R says
I make old-fashioned tea cakes using my great grandmother’s recipe. Traditional recipe for a great cookie you can’t really buy in stores.
Yvette says
Jennifer, I would love your recipe. I make tea cakes every year and people go crazy over them!! I love to compare recipes. Mine calls for “shortening” which cracks me up every year I read it, cuz they don’t use that word in recipes much anymore!
Brandi S says
I have never heard of tea cakes. They sound so cute though
shirley says
Homemade breads and cakes in mini loafs is what I do.
annee says
I’m a pastor’s wife and I have made mini poppy seed loaves for each of our church families for years!
Annette says
For my family one year I bought $1.00 instant lottery tickets and wrapped them up in a little box.
Stephanie W says
I LOVE getting scratch off tickets as gifts! My boss does it every year. One year I won $25!
Mindy says
Our family started when our kids were still in elementary school (now they are both college grads and one is married) giving to a favorite charity in honor of all their teachers, our neighbors and co-workers. We created a flier that we print on holiday stationary telling the recipient about our donation in their honor. We then make one large donation to the charity of our choice – usually a breast cancer charity as I am a survivor. It has been a wonderful hit!! Most people feel special that we honored them in such a special and unique way.
Brandi S says
That is a great tradition and gift!
jenny byrd says
I normally do a lot of christmas bakeing and take a platter of all the goodies i make. I also like to make up some puppy chow and put it in bags then call it snowman poop and attach a cute little poem i wrote in high school to it. I would post the poem but i can’t seem to find it right now. I have also seen this idea done and called reindeer poop instead. I have also done little plastic cps with a bag of “snowman poop” (mini marshmallows) and a few packs of coco. Chocolate chips cookies or homemade truffles wrapped up one or 2 at a time in seran wrap and tied with a bow is something else i have done before.
ro scheivert says
I make a big batch of chocolate covered pretzel rods and dip them in christmas jimmmies. I bag 2 or 3 for each person and tie them with a ribbon!
Brenda Z says
i do pumpkin bread. Though in the past I’ve done $5 starbucks cards wehn I’ve had more money to play with :) I LOVE that gift wrap idea! very cute. Though I have to stick w/ things that my hubby can fit in everyone’s teeny box in the office :)
Brandy says
I used to do that when I was teaching and made bread for my team of 6–I always attached a holiday ornament to the bread. Now that I”m home I do that for my local family so they can have sweet bread x-mas morning–my aunts, adult cousins etc. I also make peppermint bark and this year I tried to make buckeyes for the first time-jury is still out on if they are fit to give as gifts.
Barbie says
I made a huge platter with chocolate dipped pretzels, fudge, homemade caramels, lots and lots of other treats and cookies. You can see some of the directions and recipes on my blog.
My neighbor brought over a roll of wrapping paper with a not saying that they hoped we got wrapped up in the spirit of the holiday. It was such a great idea I think I am going to do the same next year instead of the treats.
Kimberly says
Your neighbor had an AWESOME idea!!!!!!!! Who doesn’t use wrapping paper?? I love that it’s consumable (so you don’t have yet another coffee mug in your cupboard) and we can probably buy it cheap after Christmas. I plan to purchase as many rolls and I can after Christmas and store them in my garage for next year’s gifts!
sara j says
It’s cute to make chocolate lolipops… you can pick the molds, chocolate, lolipop sticks, little bags and ribbon to make them with at any craft store…homemade, yummy and inexpensive! I did that last year, and they loved them!