Christmas Gifts for Coworkers: Best Cheap Holiday Gift Ideas

After decades of working in an office and taking part in holiday work celebrations and Secret Santa exchanges, I've learned a few things about what to give and what not to give during the holidays. Here's an unusual selection of Christmas gifts for coworkers that I consider outstanding in terms of price, customer reviews, quality, and suitability for a workplace or office environment.

Most of these coworker Christmas gifts will fit the tastes of either a man or a woman. These fabulous and affordable presents work as Secret Santa gifts or as holiday party treats. From inexpensive books to candy to delicious Christmas cookies, I promise these are not your boring Christmas mugs. And they're priced in the cheap to mid-range price bracket, ranging from under $10 to $30, which makes them perfect holiday gifts for male or female coworkers, employees, clients, bosses and colleagues.

My number one pick for the best holiday gifts for coworkers are these freshly baked and impressively decorated organic vanilla sugar cookies. These Christmas gift cookies have been buzzed about on the Food Network, the Today Show and more.

These Christmas cookies are not only gorgeous; they also come in a range of holiday, work or hobby based themes. The selection is wide enough that you can find one for every fellow coworker, young or old, man or woman.

The organic ingredients include flour, butter, sugar, eggs, vanilla, baking powder, and salt for the vanilla cookie. The cookie's icing contains sugar, water, meringue powder, and food coloring.

You choose how many cookies you want in a gift package - from 4 to a whopping 64 for the whole office. Note that if you order the box of 4 cookies, the cookies are usually all of one of the patterns pictured. Order a larger batch for the entire staff and there will be more designs included.

Coffee is the staff of life for work staff.  For coffee lovers, check out the coffee-decorated cookies. Cat lovers will love cookies shaped like kitties, and there's even something for sports lovers!

And then there are the special Christmas cookies, plus those with a winter or Hanukkah themes, perfect for a Secret Santa gift or to serve at the office holiday party.

On the job you'll find people of all types. Starting out with Archie's Classic Christmas Stories, here's a unique and wonderful selection of books to match up to all the individual personalities at work. And at mostly less than $10, they're cheap and ultra affordable Secret Santa gifts or stocking stuffers.

From the atheist and irreverant female coworker or male staff member to the nostalgic Baby Boomer or member of Generation X who'd love to experience a Charlie Brown Christmas again, these books are not your average sale rack Christmas gift books.

Christmas candy can be boring...or it can be unforgettable. The gorgeous peppermint candycane baskets make a cute novelty Christmas gift for coworkers that you can fill with small chocolates. If it's not gobbled up right away, there's a good chance it'll be a conversation piece sitting on the male or female coworker's desk throughout the holidays.

For more traditional Christmas flavors, the quaint and homey gingerbread and chocolate gift basket has a classic homemade look and is very affordable.

For coworkers with a sophisticated culinary palate, try the two-piece glaces chestnuts for a small but exquisite gourmet taste sensation he or she will be talking about for a long time after the winter holidays.

Humor helps break the ice at work parties, which, let's face it, can be awkward. Partly a gag gift, partly a sincere bow to your coworker's sense of humor, these Christmas ornaments are not your everyday stocking stuffer.

From the trendy coworker to the hobbyist, there's something here for every male and female staff member in your office or job site. These individual ornaments also make great corporate client Christmas gifts.