I don't buy a present unless I want to. I just don't. If you get me one and there was a hidden string attached that I should get you one, then you probably should just keep it... unless it's a new Lexus, or even a "like-new" Lexus, lol.
I forgot, I do have to get gifts for my 7 employees that work under me. I want to do this because we've had a very difficult year, and I feel as a supervisor that I should do something nice for each of them.
Last year my manager got us this interesting coaster, that looks like a rug (check it out at mouserug.com, I guess they make mousepads like that, too) with a handwritten personal card from him. It touched my heart because not only was the gift creative, original, and useful, but he took the time to write a personal message to everyone in the office acknowledging what they mean to him and thanking them for their contribution to the office. I'd never had a manager like that since working here. Because it's such a big office, many times they don't even bother to acknowledge people individually, they just send an email to the whole office or whatever. So many of my employees and clients have admired my coaster rug thingy, I thought about repeating that idea, along with the card for my people. We'll see... that's 40 bucks for work gifts... I could design the card myself, because I'm into that type of thing.
