Tell me this isn't dumb

My job does a 'secret santa'/grab bag thing every year. Everyone picks a name out of a hat. Then there's a big list with everyone's name on it. There's a spending limit and minimum. You write down exactly what you want next to your name and the person who picked your name buys it for you and you buy the person you picked what they wanted.

Christmas party comes and everyone exchanges gifts.

How pathetically boring, thoughtless, and unimaginative. I might as well go buy myself something. Don't mean to sound like a scrooge, but seriously, what is the point of this?

I'm considering boycotting or rebelling against this dumb tradition this year. I was thinking that maybe I'd put down next to my name 'buy a toy and donate it to Toys for Tots', or something like that, because this is so dumb, at least that way someone who really needs something gets something.

Any other clever ideas? And please explain to me the point of this...

I can see giving 3 or 4 suggestions in the determined price range since not everyone knows what people like and don't like. But it does seem a bit silly to name the exact thing you want and the santa is supposed to buy that item. That sounds more like an errand then a game.

We did a secret santa here once without suggestions and half the staff got metro/gift cards and desk calendars.

This year, next to your name write down 'MONKEY'.

That'll teach 'em... and if you get a monkey and you don't want it, I'll take it.

I hate office secret santas.

sometimes I wish we had suggestions. I never knwo what to get & I thour out half the gifts I get.
If you want to rebel, you can put what you said next to your name or put ' whatever santa wants to give me'

And then don't get your person what they asked for. Write a card that says, 'Couldn't find XX hope you'lll enjoy this instead and makeit somethign cool,s o peopel will see that the surprise elemnt is cool.

or make a donation in his/her name.

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Posted by ChristineC68

I can see giving 3 or 4 suggestions in the determined price range since not everyone knows what people like and don't like.

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One of the firms I used to work for did that. You pick the name from a hat and along with that person's name are 3 or 4 suggestions to things they like, i.e.:

Jane Doe
candles
movie tix
lotions

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Posted by ChristineC68

But it does seem a bit silly to name the exact thing you want and the santa is supposed to buy that item. That sounds more like an errand then a game.

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good way of putting it.

We were just informed of our 'Secret Santa' for this year... we're all supposed to go & buy a gift card for a pre determined amount. They all go into a hat -- and then we pick one out without looking.

I can't tell if that's cool or not.

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Posted by MonkeyLuv

This year, next to your name write down 'MONKEY'.

That'll teach 'em... and if you get a monkey and you don't want it, I'll take it.

I hate office secret santas.

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Thanks -- I'll try that!! But I'll be keeping the monkey!

Yes, we are supposed to put 2 or 3 things we want but most people only put one and that's what they get.

'Errand' is the perfect way to put it. I still don't see the point.