Toyology

Sub-Fiver Secret Santa

ONE OF the more challenging gifts to buy at Christmas is the one that shouldn't really take a second thought, when those Secret Santa slips have been selected the pressure is on, buying a gift for a work colleague, simple....Surely? - That stress is entirely self-inflicted, our brain decides that this gift must tick more boxes than almost any other purchase we are making this year, well its part of our work remit and must therefore be performed appropriately. Of course highly inappropriate gifts can be highly amusing for the rest of the office but if the recipient finds out then all hell might break loose, anything remotely romantic for the lady on reception might well earn you a ribbing for some time – You must be glad we're here to help with a selection of sub fiver secret santa stuff:

Fuzzy Felt for the Fridge

There are 100 pieces of magnetic felt in this box and each is a replica of an iconic Fuzzy Felt shape, from chunkcy tractor to leaping lambs there's enough inside to cover your fridge thoroughly. £9.99 gets you this much fun at Wossat

Haynes Manuals tackle new subject

Infamous for their detailed car maintainence manuals that had wannabe mechanics stripping their cars bare to save a few quid on garage bills only to find they couldn't slot them all toegether again, or was that just us? Haynes have dabbled into a few new areas of late. These two new additions aim to increase kids knowledge in the areas of espionage and piracy with detailed information, tips, tricks, jokes and "how to" pages to help build cannons, eye-patches and spy stuff on the cheap. Written by Andrew Parkinson, author and more importantly Blue Peter badge winner we reckon are great value at £12.99 at Haynes online

Silly season starts early

If your on the hunt for spectacular secret santa stuff, stuck for what to get the in-laws or are dreading buying yet another box of boring choccies for the grandparents then head over to Iwantoneofthose sharpish, they've just started their sale and theres nearly 50% off loads of great gadgets for all. Limbo String for just a tenner, Boxing Grannies a fiver and speeding grandads just two pounds....Theres a ton more stuff to see, just get over there before they're all gone - IWOOT

Deck your Desks

GETTING INTO the festive spirit needn't mean you don a cheap Santa hat every day or one of those cheapo lights-a-flashing, bauble topped headbands. Just deck your desk with one or more pieces of our “entering into the spirit” items and you're screaming Christmas without saying a word. It is of course obligatory to hum inanely along to at least one tune during December but you can't be accused of any “Bah Humbug'ness” with one of these items of desktop decoration.

Shopping with your hands up!

If the whole experience of clicking around online for the perfect pressie is too much then perhaps allow this blind buying service to assist and your recipients will receive all manner of mixed up stuff. With mixed emotions they'll enjoy opening and rummaging through the Firebox box. Mystery boxes start at about £15 and go up to £30 with a random selection of their gadgety wares inside totalling more than the cash you've splashed. Net result = your family and friends get extra gear you didn't pay for / they don't know this /you didn't have to think about it for more than the moment it takes to click HERE