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So you’ve been designated the secret Santa for your boss. And, while it may apply an ungodly amount of some pressure, there are two ways you can look at the situation:
Either
a) your job and livelihood hinge on getting the perfect secret Santa gifts for your manager.
or
b) this is simply a great opportunity to make a great and lasting impression.
And, for the sake of your own sanity, we’d suggest you subscribe to the latter. Because conceiving of perfect secret Santa gift ideas for your boss is already hard enough without adding extra pressure of your own.
But, lucky for you, we’re here to help! Whether you’re looking for funny gifts for your boss for secret Santa, good secret Santa gifts for your boss, or simply great secret Santa ideas for your boss, we’ve got you covered.
So, without further ado, here are the best presents and present ideas under $50 for those unlucky souls who have been tasked with being this year’s secret Santa for their boss!
PS: Need more Secret Santa inspiration? Check out our other guides:
- 40+ Secret Santa Messages & Sayings to Steal This Christmas
- The Best Secret Santa Gifts for Him
- The Best Secret Santa Gifts for Her
- The Best Funny Secret Santa Gifts
- Top Secret Santa Gifts Under $10
- Top Secret Santa Gifts Under $5
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Secret Santa Gifts for Your Boss Under $10
If you’re looking for great secret Santa gifts for your manager on such a limited budget, then trust us: we get it. It’s hard enough to make a good impression without these kinds of constraints.
But, lucky for you, there are plenty of great and affordable secret Santa ideas for your boss that are sure to put you in the running and out ahead for that coveted bonus, promotion, or raise. (It’s what the holidays are all about, right?)
Here are some of our favorites.
A Fun Print for Their Office
When thinking of fun Secret Santa gifts for your boss, one super budget-friendly option is a framed print to put in their office.
This is particularly good if you, like so many of us, have a tendency to put things off to the last minute. This is a gift you can have squared away in under a day. Which is one way to stick it to those more uptight (which is putting it kindly) coworkers.
For example, we love this boss lady definition printable office décor, which comes as an easily printable PDF!
Click here to check prices and reviews.
Monogrammed Pen
This great monogrammed pen is pretty much perfect for every boss or manager. Because who doesn’t want to have a pen with their name on it? You just have to select the pen color, the font, and input what you want to be engraved on it.
These pens have black ink and accept standard refills. This is a wonderful gift because, as most people can attest to, pens have a tendency to disappear. So you can never really have too many—especially when they have your name on them!
Click here to check prices and reviews.
Funny Candles
If your manager loves candles and such aromas (though, honestly, who doesn’t?), these funny candles are the perfect secret Santa present for your boss. Select the scent and size. They come with a hilarious label that will undoubtedly inspire (though what is unclear).
This is a great gift for pretty much every boss who’s had to endure 2020 with more composure than most. Plus, they’re made out of vegan soy wax. So if they’re into that kind of thing, this is perfect.
Click here to check prices and reviews.
Wine Glass
If you’re shopping for a manager who—like everyone—had a real rough go of things this last year, (especially if you’re essential workers) this essential workers wine glass is perfect. Because there’s little that offers more relief than a glass (or five) of wine.
You can choose to have it come with or without a gift pouch. If you want to change the font color on the glass, just input the color you’d like in the personalization section. This is a gift that’s sure to be enjoyed by any boss or manager after this year.
Click here to check prices and reviews.
Laptop Keychain
If you’re shopping for the boss or manager of an IT office, or even just a boss or manager who’s always working on the move, then this great laptop keychain is sure to be a hit. Though there is a chance they don’t need any more encouragement to work.
These items are all handmade, and the laptop keychain is sure to be the perfect accompaniment on any key ring. Plus, maybe next time they’re working and have an opportunity to give out, they’ll see the keychain and think of you.
Click here to check prices and reviews.
Wood Bookmark
If your boss is always reading—whether it’s self-help, fiction, or business-related material—chances are they could use a new bookmark. Whether it’s to replace the tattered one they’re using or to have a quality backup, you can’t go wrong with this!
This great wood bookmark allows you to personalize it with the name of the lucky recipient. It’s made out of a thick maple wood veneer. Any bookworm worth their weight in antiquated paper would definitely appreciate this one!
Click here to check prices and reviews.
Secret Santa Gifts for Your Boss Under $20
If you have a little more breathing room, I guess that could either be a good or a bad thing. Because now you don’t really have an excuse to shop on the low-low. But, lucky for you, there are plenty of great secret Santa ideas for your boss that are only marginally more expensive and all the more touching.
A few more bucks won’t kill you. But, if you’re still dreading loosening the purse strings (because it can feel like they’re asking for you to give some of their money back), just think of it this way: it’s an investment in your career. Because in the same vain that folks say ‘happy wife; happy life,’ it’s also true that a happy boss will help you floss.
Regardless—here are our favorite secret Santa gift ideas for your boss that cost a tad more but are worth every extra penny!
Decision Paperweight
If your boss is always confronted with decisions to be made, this might come in handy. This decision paperweight is also particularly useful if they have more paperwork than available time to review it all.
With this awesome paperweight, they can spin it and see where the red dot lands for some decisions. Though hopefully they’re not, like, major ones. Categories range from ‘yes’, to ‘maybe’, to ‘reorganize’, and even ‘pass the buck’ (I knew that was in the rolodex of managerial solutions).
Click here to check prices and reviews.
Funny Mug
Maybe your boss is really transparent about the daily struggle of management. Or maybe they don’t need to say it for you to know the truth. Whatever the reason, this hilarious mug is sure to be appreciated by pretty much every manager.
This mug comes with the hilarious quote: ‘Being an office manager is easy. It’s like riding a bike. Except the bike is on fire. You’re on fire. Everything is on fire.’ Which, you know, feels pretty relatable after the year we’ve had!
Click here to check prices and reviews.
Desk Plate
Maybe your manager has a really unique relationship with their employees. If your office feels more like a family than workplace, this hilarious desk plate might be a fitting desk ornament that only a boss like yours could appreciate!
This desk plate comes with the word ‘Meltdown Manager’ on it. Because, well, it’s part of dealing with people honestly. You can specify the plate color and the holder color. Even if it’s just your meltdowns they manage, this is sure to be appreciated!
Click here to check prices and reviews.
Manager Tote Bag
If you’re shopping for a manager who feels like their responsibility and importance transcends the office—this might be perfect. Because, honestly, there are plenty of bosses who can’t help but feel themselves a little after a while. It’s only natural.
This great manager tote bag comes with the phrase ‘Controlling the world one cue at a time.’ Which is, you know, fitting if you’re shopping for a manager who’s assumed despotic levels of delusions of grandeur. But that’s, like, part of leadership to some extent. So I guess it’s forgivable.
Click here to check prices and reviews.
Boss Box
If you’re shopping for a boss who deserves to be spoiled because they never really spoil themselves, this is a great gift! This boss box enables you to select the design color. You just have to input the first name of the recipient to have it personalized.
You can choose to have crinkle paper added, and it comes with a gift box and custom label. The box itself comes with a whole host of hand crafted or designed goodies that are sure to make their day!
Click here to check prices and reviews.
Custom Engraved Desk Sign
This is the kind of gift a special kind of boss would like. And, honestly, you’ll know if it’s up their alley as soon as you see it. Because this humble genius custom engraved desk sign is perfect for certain people with even a little self-awareness.
You can select what color you want the sign to be. You can even select what color you want the stand to be. Plus, maybe gifting them this will let them know that they’re not as subtle with their elevated self-esteem as they might try to be. Or maybe they won’t think it’s a joke at all and will think you guys have finally had a eureka moment.
Click here to check prices and reviews.
Personalized Wooden Pen
While the world is slowly migrating to a new digital plane, plenty of business is still done in pen. Plenty of people still write notes and ideas in pen. There’s something about it that makes it impossible to truly supplant with screens and pixels.
That’s what makes this personalized wooden pen the perfect gift for any boss! You can select the color combination of the pen and case, and you can select the font. You just have to input what personalization you want included. You can’t go wrong with this one!
Click here to check prices and reviews.
Secret Santa Gifts for Your Boss Under $50
So you’re still looking for those perfect for secret Santa presents for your boss. And, while we commend your brown-nosing dedication, it’s hard not to suspect that you’re either playing damage control or are in pursuit of some kind of pay-raise. But, regardless of the motivation, we’re here to help. And, honestly, I don’t think there are many better reasons to go above and beyond. So I get it. Whether you’re looking for the absolute perfect secret Santa present for your boss or just the perfect secret Santa present idea for your boss, we’ve got you covered. Here are our are favorite secret Santa present ideas that may cost some extra cash, but are sure to pay dividends!
5-in-1 Tool Pen
Maybe you’re shopping for the kind of boss who wants more out of things than they should reasonably expect (like you guys, for example). If so, this great 5-in-1 Tool Pen is the perfect gift for that boss who always wants more.
This 5-in-1 tool pen is a screwdriver, a capacitive stylus for smart devices, an integrated bubble level, a ruler, and a pen with a clip. All at once. It’s the perfect writing implement for their desk. Plus, maybe they’ll start associating you with this pen of endless utility!
Click here to check prices and reviews.
Desktop Golf
If you’re shopping for a boss who loves golf, this fun desktop golf set is the perfect gift to get them! Because—and we can be honest here—we all know the reality of office life: it’s not like there’s never any downtime.
It comes with miniature balls and a miniature putter for them to work on their, well, miniature game. And, since so much business is purportedly conducted out on the golf course, maybe this is the kind of gift that’ll earn you an invitation to the next hole!
Click here to check prices and reviews.
Cassette Business Card Holder Case
Maybe you’re shopping for a boss who loves music just as much as they love getting stuff done. Or maybe you’re shopping for a boss who uses employees like their own personal instruments. Whatever the case may be—this is perfect!
This great cassette business card holder case is great for a boss who loves music and feels like an analog soul in a digital world. It’s made out of walnut. The lid is magnetic, and it’s sure to be a durable home for all their business cards.
Click here to check prices and reviews.
Rock Dock
If you’re shopping for a boss who is always struggling to keep their phone upright, this rock dock is perfect. Especially if you’ve walked in on them trying to multi-task (to, uh, less than stellar results), this will be much appreciated!
This awesome phone docking station is a stylish looking stand that also has a hole to facilitate charging and declutter their workspace. It’s made out of granite and stones that are hand-collected from New England beaches.
Click here to check prices and reviews.
Leadership Quote Box
Maybe your manager is the kind of person who can’t help dipping into the platitudes. Maybe part of their management style is predicated on dispensing encouraging and inspiring quotes. If that’s the case, this leadership quote box is perfect!
You can select what kind of scrolls come in this awesome box, and you can even select what finish the box will have. This is the perfect addition to any quote-lovers arsenal—though it should be said that this might make them even more insufferable.
Click here to check prices and reviews.
Handmade Pens
Maybe you’re noticing a motif—there are loads of great pen gifts for bosses out there. And that’s for good reason. Because a good pen is criminally underrated. Especially for someone who’s giving and writing orders and doling out their signature all day.
These great handmade pens give you the option of getting a pen box with them. They’re handmade and they are all one of a kind with their own grain pattern. They’re twist pens and write like a literal dream. You can’t go wrong with this one!
Click here to check prices and reviews.
The Boss Socks
If you’re shopping for a boss who has a sense of humor, then this is a great gift! Though it’s probably best to ensure that you guys have this kind of relationship before making this purchase—not everyone will be into it.
These awesome custom boss socks are sure to elicit some laughs. You just select the primary color and the sock size. Then you simply have to send in a photo of your boss to be printed on these socks. Which could be difficult to get. But trust us. It’ll be so worth it.
Click here to check prices and reviews.
Hopefully our list helped you find the perfect secret Santa gift for your boss under $50 you were looking for!
We’re confident we’ve provided you with comprehensive and varied list of secret Santa presents for your manager. But, if we didn’t, hopefully we were at least able to point you in the right direction. A good start on shopping can be as valuable as the gift itself.
If you have any questions, comments, or concerns at all, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We want to help you find the perfect gift for your boss. Because they’re probably far less benevolent to those on their naughty list. Though you don’t need us telling you that.