A major source of stress during the holidays is gift shopping for family and friends. Adding co-workers to your list may seem like an extra chore, but remember that this is probably the only time you can show them your gratitude for their support or assistance. It might be worth giving those you work with closely a small gift or card. Before you hit the stores, though, check the office culture and guidelines on gift giving. Some prefer to do a gift exchange or Kris Kringle to help manage costs, allowing you to keep your gift purchases to a minimum. Others specifically announce a budget for presents.
Once you’ve finally decided on purchasing a gift for your boss and other co-workers, some guidelines may help; we've listed five of them in the slide show below.
For more shopping and gift-giving tips, try these:
- 15 Early Christmas Shopping Tips to Beat the Holiday Rush
- 5 Tips for Picking a Good Gift for Your Guy
Need Christmas gift ideas? Check out FN's gift guides:
- Holiday Gift Guide 2011: 50 Journals for Writers and Diarists
- Holiday Gift Guide 2011: 55 Cute and Quirky Gifts
- Holiday 2011 Gift Guide: 70 Watches for the Men in Your Life
- Groom-a-thon: 40 Helpful Hygiene Items for Your Pooch
- Holiday Gift Guide 2011: 50 Fun Presents Below P100
- Holiday Gift Guide 2011: Over 60 Pretty and Practical Gifts for the Home
- Holiday Gift Guide 2011: Over 30 Gift Ideas for Book Lovers
- Holiday Gift Guide 2011: 75 Bath and Body Gifts for Precious Pampering Time
- Holiday Gift Guide 2011: Over 70 Makeup Gifts for Gal Pals
(First published in Good Housekeeping Magazine, Good Money section as "Gift-giving Guidelines" in December 2010; adapted for use in Female Network)
