Each year, your boss assigns you the task of coming up with gift ideas. On the first time, you were so enthusiastic and gave everybody the gifts they secretly coveted, but in the following years, you always settled for the same gift item. For the impending corporate gift-giving, your co-workers are already cringing at the thought of business card holders again, so what gives?

It Won't Hurt To Give Something New

When the boss gives you the same budget for this year's gift giving and tells you to toe the line, don't even think about giving the same gifts to your co-workers. You should have seen the dagger looks they gave you last year when they opened their gifts - business card holders!

If you don't know it yet, there's frenzied betting going on. Ninety-nine percent are betting on the reliable business card holders and only one is betting against the odds, and he happens to be your drinking buddy. If you're in this sticky wicket, it's time to take stock of the situation and reverse your shopping style, no matter how stringent the budget.

You'll suspect something is going on when you stop by the water cooler and hear the snickers and watch out if somebody thanks you in advance for business card holders. That should sound the alarm. So when you order gifts online, take time to look at each item and add up the cost. Make some adjustments here and there - as long as you'll be giving something novel this year. You may yet cop the year's Most Valuable Officemate Award.

If there are new people around and who haven't been recipients of the usual business card holder solutions, give them a taste of the old joke. They'll appreciate it, but for the rest, steer clear of the same of item. It won't hurt to give something different this year, even on a tight budget. But it will ruin your reputation if you give business card holders again.

Tips for Gift-Buying

To make your online shopping even breezier, ask the personnel department for a list of the workers. Armed with the list, segregate the males and the females. You'll be able to identify the seniors and the newbies. The next step would be identifying those you've known for long and those you haven't an iota of their preferences. Just be original this time.

These tips will help you lower your blood pressure:

* Ask your boss to increase the budget.

* Start shopping early online or offline.

* Avail of discounts and free shipping offers.

You can play safe by buying non-gender specific gift items. This will cut your shopping time in half too. Here are some gift ideas to toy with around a tight budget: letter openers, travel alarm clocks, personalized mugs, and key rings.

But if you have the luxury of time, spend more time online shopping for different items for personalized gifts. Your boss will be charmed by the extra effort you gave to the job. List those coffee lovers for their personalized mugs, the ladies? Swiss Army knives, money clips for the men, and padfolios for the workaholics.

You'll find exciting items for your personal friends and family members - personalized Cross pens, cufflinks, leather wine carriers, and designer business card holders. But for the people at the office, please, not another round of business card holders.