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Secret Santa Gift Ideas: Christmas Presents For Your Colleagues And Friends Under £20

Secret Santa Gift Ideas That Your Friends Will Actually Want
Natasha Hinde
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JanuarySkyePhotography via Getty Images

Finding an appropriate secret Santa Christmas present for colleagues and friends can be pretty damn difficult.

In fact, if we had the choice, we'd rather debut on Takeshi's Castle than go out and track down a gift. It's THAT hard.

So what do you buy? Or should we say, what shouldn't you buy...

Firstly there are the totally inappropriate 'joke' presents, which are just terrible and should be avoided at all costs - unless, of course, you know the recipient extremely well. Even then, it's pretty risqué.

Anything with boobs or a penis on should be discarded immediately. Don't even pick it up off the shelf, unless you want your boss to look like this...

There are also the completely useless secret Santa gifts that nobody really wants. A colourful knitted 'tea cosy' to keep your toilet roll covered being one of them. Or a sparkly cowboy hat.

What you do want, however, are useful items that people won't feel compelled to throw away. Anything from stationery to homeware, or if in doubt - chocolate! And that, friends, is what you can find below.

From sushi bazookas and socks to Nintendo 64 soap and a chocolate fondue set, here are 30 secret santa presents that you definitely can't go wrong with...

Secret Santa Gift Ideas (Under £20)
Long Life Milk Portable Charger (£14.99)(01 of30)
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Keep your USB devices replenished with fresh milky power. Lightweight and pocket-sized carton – take it everywhere. Mighty 2600mAh battery recharges your phone with charge to spare. Three incredibly delicious flavours to choose from...Price: £14.99 / Buy it here (credit:Firebox)
Alphabet Scented Candle (£6.99)(02 of30)
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These quirky candles with letters A-Z, '&' or a heart motif printed on the glass votive can make a lovely personal message for someone or a single initial as a great personal gift. They are scented with a lovely clean rosewood fragrance, and supplied in a natural kraft gift box.Price: £6.99 / Buy it here. (credit:Not On The High Street)
Bleach Gift Set (£12)(03 of30)
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The Bleach London Spin The Bleach Bottle Cool Colour Kit has six fun-sized bottles of hair colour to explore! This cheeky gift will delight anyone who loves to get creative with colour.Price: £12 / Buy it here. (credit:Boots)
Manicure Set With Nail Dryer (£6)(04 of30)
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Price: £6 / Available from Tiger stores. (credit:Tiger)
Printer's Drawer (£10)(05 of30)
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Back in the day, before computers came along and changed everything, printing was a long process that involved assembling words using hot metal or wooden type. These letters would be kept in a printer’s tray: a box that is divided into many compartments to store all the letters of the alphabet. Now that computers are used for setting up print, these trays can be adapted for other things. This one from Tiger has been made with 11 compartments that can hold all your trinkets.Price: £10 / Available from Tiger stores.
Scented Bath Flowers (£9.99)(06 of30)
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Transport yourself to an exotic paradise with this indulgent Bath Treat from Heathcote & Ivory. Scented with Sandalwood, Citrus and Cassis these beautifully sculpted Soap Flowers smell simply amazing and dissolve to create an enticing bath.Price: £9.99 / Buy it here. (credit:Presents For Men)
Florence Anne Fragrance Patchouli & Clove (£10)(07 of30)
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The fragrance is a warm and sensual combination of earthy patchouli, spicy aromatic clove and the unique floral scent of ylang ylang. It has been inspired by Florence's love of botanical fragrances created with high quality ingredients, for a sumptuous and sophisticated experience for body and home.Price: £10 / Buy it here. (credit:Boots)
Yoga Cats Book (£4.99)(08 of30)
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A hilarious and charming collection of photographs of cats doing the ‘purrfect’ Yoga workout! Each double-page spread features a different pose, complete with description, name of the cat and a wry comment.Price: £4.99 / Buy it here. (credit:Presents For Men)
Makeup Brush Kit (£5)(09 of30)
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Every woman needs a nice selection of makeup brushes, they're a bare necessity. This lovely makeup brush set comes in a polka dot pouch which is trés chic, making it the perfect gift idea. We love.Price: £5 / Available from Tiger stores (credit:Tiger)
Gold Pineapple Frame (£12)(10 of30)
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Gorgeous and glam, this gold pineapple frame is a must for displaying small but special photos. Made from metal with a metallic gold coating, it has a black velvet stand for display on a flat surface and a metal loop to hang it on the wall. It is suitable for photos measuring 3x3 inches / 8x8cm.Price: £12 / Buy it here. (credit:Paperchase)
Mark Hill MiracOILicious Treat Collection (£10)(11 of30)
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Mark Hill is the master of “cool, sexy, wearable hair”. In his salon, he creates beautiful and wearable styles that rock! He has put his expert knowledge and love of hair together and created his amazing range of products for you to use at home.Price: £10 / Buy it here. (credit:Boots)
House Tea Light Holder (£4)(12 of30)
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A pretty, white tea light holder which will look gorgeous in any room.Price: £4 / Available from Tiger stores. (credit:Tiger)
Fondue Set (£4)(13 of30)
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Go for a dip in chocolate. Mmmm, everything tastes better when you dip it in chocolate (except maybe olives and chicken wings). Price: £4 / Available at Tiger Stores (credit:Tiger)
Genie Head Massager (£4.95)(14 of30)
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The Genie Head Massager’s* weightless spindly fingers *gently caress and massage sensitive acupressure points on your scalp, neck and even your face. Lie back and bask in the consummate pleasure which spreads over your entire body. It’s impossible to resist the intense waves of relaxation and pleasure that the Genie Head massager gives.Price: £4.95 / Buy it here. (credit:PrezzyBox)
Jack Daniel’s Apple Whiskey Punch (£15)(15 of30)
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Winter Jack is a tasty blend of festive spices infused with apples and, of course, Jack Daniel’s Old No.7 Tennessee Whiskey. Best served warm, it’s the perfect drink to enjoy with friends and family around an open fire when the days get shorter and the nights get colder. The festive design also makes it the perfect gift for those who like a taste of Christmas.Price: £15 / Buy it here (credit:Jack Daniel's)
FoodSkin Flexible Lunch Box (£19.99)(16 of30)
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Don't let your lunch box mangle your meal! Elasticated silicone skin keeps the shape of whatever is inside. Preserve the pristine construction of your heavenly sandwiches. Packs down nice and flat when empty. Keeps your food zip-lock fresh, no need for foil or cling film.Price: £19.99 / Buy it here. (credit:Firebox)
Sushi Socks (£7.99)(17 of30)
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In the future we'll be able to wake up in the morning, perch on the end of our beds and watch in awe as pair after pair of warm socks glide past on a conveyor belt – freshly rolled and ready to wear. This lazy utopia isn't far off, but for now you can enjoy these sensational Sushi Socks. Price: £7.99 / Buy it here. (credit:Firebox)
Cyclist Survival Kit (£8)(18 of30)
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This Handy & Useful Cyclist's Survival Kit is filled with essentials for cyclists! There's a puncture repair kit for on-the-go emergencies, handy tyre levers, cleansing wipes, plastic gloves, suncream and plasters. It's the perfect kit to send them on their way in style and comes in a stylish bright green container.Price: £8 / Buy it here. (credit:Boots)
Grow Your Own Coffee Plant Kit (£10)(19 of30)
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Grow your own coffee plant at home with this amazing plant kit. Coffee Arabica house plants are perennial and can be grown in a greenhouse or in the home in a sunny south window. The Coffee Arabica plant produces star-shaped, sweetly scented white flowers. These flowers are followed by green fruits which change to red then to almost black as they ripen.Price: £10 / Buy it here. (credit:Not On The High Street)
The Star Mug (£9.99)(20 of30)
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Add hot drinks to reveal six well-known constellations.For fans of star-gazing and boiling beverages alike.Hone your knowledge of the wondrous night sky.Monumental rocket ship packaging – a hamster's dream home.Price: £9.99 / Buy it here (credit:Firebox)
World's Hottest Chilli Powders In A Matchbox (£6)(21 of30)
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This explosive little box contains some of the hottest chilli powders ever tested, including 2013 world champion Scorpion Moruga (2,000,000 SHU), a former world hottest Butch T (1,500,000 SHU), the legendary Seven Pot (1,300,000 SHU), and the ten minute burner Ghost Powder (1,000,000 SHU). Each one is beautifully presented in a corked glass bottle.Price: £6 / Buy it here. (credit:Not On The High Street )
Smart Phone Projector 2.0 (£19.99)(22 of30)
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The Smartphone projector V2.0 is the updated version of the original Smartphone projector, which was a best seller and is now out of stock until January 2015. The V2.0 comes fully assembled meaning that no glue is required for this version. It is compatible with any smartphone and can turn any wall into a cinema screen with 8x magnification.Price: £19.99 / Buy it here. (credit:Presents For Men)
Half A Pint Glass (£9.99)(23 of30)
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No one likes to order a half. However, many of us don't want to to drink a pint. Keep your dignity and your wits about you with this inspired half pint glass. Made of high quality glass, the half pint is exactly what you would expect from the name: A pint glass sliced in half to make a half pint glass!Price: £9.99 / But it here (credit:Getting Personal)
Nintendo 64 Soap (£9.99)(24 of30)
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Because gamers value soft hands and sweet scents too. Life-size soap replicas of classic Nintendo 64 games. Handmade in the USA. Drench yourself in sweet gaming nostalgia. Clear your mind with the invigorating Energy Citrus fragrance. Finally a soap to compliment the gaming lifestyle.Price: £9.99 / Buy it here. (credit:Firebox)
Wild Man Shaving Set (£15.76)(25 of30)
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Wild Man Clean Shave and After Shave are designed to work together for naturally soft and clear skin. Our unique therapeutic grade essential oil blends naturally cleanse and act as an aromatherapy aid with a subtle, refreshing scent.All Natural - GMO Free - Vegan - Cruelty FreePrice: £15.76 / Buy it here. (credit:WildRoseHerbs / Etsy )
Sushi Bazooka (£19.99)(26 of30)
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Create perfectly-formed sushi rolls like a professional. No guess work, no trial and error – it does the hard bit for you. Launch a barrage of sushi missiles, all that's left is to slice 'em. Will have no positive effect on verrucas...Price: £19.99 / Buy it here. (credit:Firebox)
My Amp Black (£15)(27 of30)
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Most sound systems only go up to ten, but just like the equipment belonging to one particularly special (and fictional) British heavy metal icon, this one goes up to eleven. Connect your smartphone or MP3 player to the amp using a regular 3.5mm audio jack cable, then start blasting music from this impressive desktop speaker.Price: £15 / Buy it here. (credit:Hawkin's Bazaar)
Mood Cube (£4.99)(28 of30)
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Soften the mood and heighten the 'chill out' appeal of any room with this cute colour-changing cube. Mood Cubes have such a small footprint that you can sit them almost anywhere; book shelves, windowsills, bedside tables, coffee tables, mantelpieces etc.Price: £4.99 / Buy it here. (credit:Robert Dyas)
Wallet Ninja (£8.99)(29 of30)
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18 well-chosen tools for the everyday warrior. The size of a credit card and forged from 4x heat treated steel. A master of stealth, it lurks silently in the shadows of your wallet. Harness the voodoo powers of the 'hex wrench'...Price: £8.99 / Buy it here. (credit:Firebox)
Zap Cap Bottle Opener (£4.95)(30 of30)
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Place the zapper on top of any crown topped bottle, push with the palm of your hand and SHAZZAM - one ice cold beer ready for drinking! Broken Teeth will no longer be a problem...Price: £4.95 / Buy it here. (credit:Prezzy Box)

More top tips for buying secret santa gifts:

:: Edibles and booze work well - you can get nice cider sets or miniature chocolate hampers from places like BHS.

:: Hats, scarves and gloves are pretty essential in England - opt for stylish sets and you can't go wrong.

:: Funny gifts are great - but remember, stay tasteful.

:: If in doubt, get socks (preferably covered in sushi).

What's the worst secret santa gift you've ever received? Tweet us @HuffPoLifestyle.

SEE ALSO:

Top 15 Christmas Toys 2014: Best Gifts For Children

Gifts For Men This Christmas: Present Ideas That The Man In Your Life Will Love

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