Any Budget Stocking gift ideas???

[jacksmom]

Thanks for the great ideas!
I just ordered the Big Parade of Holiday treats that includes : 4 holiday Hand cremes, 4 kids holiday bath time paints, and 8 winter treats lip balms from avon.com for $12.00, got free shipping so with tax only $13.26

I will split up the contents of this pack between my two girls and they will love these in their stockings!

Thank-you!!

Great idea! How did you get free shipping?

 

[jacobsmom]

Teen Boy stocking ideas: Duct tape in multiple colors, gift cards for food/gas, tools (like a multi tip screwdriver), movie rental slips, fun cereal, deck of cards, cool key chains, pez machines (no one outgrows these), batteries, a wallet (feel free to throw some cash in there!) , itunes card. All the guys I work with as a youth leader LOVE this stuff.
DH is getting some rocking grill seasoning, a grilling thermometer, starbucks gc, coupons for him/us time , some shaving cream, some snacks he "never" gets, fun socks, hand warmers, cologne, his own "fun" soap...
DS10: legos, disney cars, book, pez, batteries, some of his own tools, little wood kits, gc to mcd's, gc to movie/game rental place, root beer (it's a guy thing in our house), fun socks
DS2: cars, book, m&m's, fun socks, toddler toys with music/lights,

In our house if it lights up, smells good, tastes great, or is just a little crazy fun... it'll be in the stocking.

 

[mickeymouseclubhouse]

Great idea! How did you get free shipping?

I used the coupon code AVONFS, good for free shipping on any order over $10!

 

[jacksmom]

Thanks!

 

[jenlynn0808]

Great idea! How did you get free shipping?

I recieved an email today that had a free shipping code. SORRY914 was the code. That code is only good for a day or two.

 

[mickeymouseclubhouse]

Thanks!

You're welcome! Glad to pay it forward!

 

[Vacation Lover]

Don't overlook Halloween clearance (and other holiday clearance throughout the year) for stocking stuffers. Some Halloween/Valentines/Easter items can still pass for stocking stuffers, for example, Target had bags of little Play-Doh containers that had Halloween decorations on the bag but not on the Play Doh containers. They also had a Kelley Barbie doll and a Littlest Pet Shop dressed up in a costume, and Halloween Mr. Potato Head. They even had Halloween Duct Tape--rolls of orange, black, silver and purple duct tape!

 

[semo233]

Any ideas for older kids?
Any ideas for teens and tweens are appreciated.

Check out your AVON catalog. I like buying my DD13 coordinating scents. They have shampoo, conditioner, body lotion and deodorant in coordinating scents and all 4 were about $12. They would fill a stocking!

 

[allison443]

Thanks to those who suggested Avon...I haven't bought/used anything from them in years but I just went to their site and they have some good deals. I may have to forego my usual annual Sephora order for my dds in favor of Avon!!

 

[libinatorsmom]

I love to check into FREEBIES for Stocking Stuffers... Like I make a Vista Print Order... I got my husband a coffee mug & Mouse Pad with my daughters pic on it... all you have to pay is shipping... NICE... Also look on the freebie board here... Otherwise...

Socks
Undies
Pens/Pencils
Art Supplies for Kids
Gift Cards

Janel

 

[MonkersMama]

I think I'm going to cash out my Coke Rewards points for stocking stuffers - magazine subs, movie/game rentals, etc.


I'm sort of stumped on DD (21 mo at Christmas) stocking stuffers. New Playdoh, crayons.... (we already have a bazillion FP Little People).

 

[FINFAN]

I was going to suggest a magazine subscription as well, but you put the December issue of the magazine in the stocking, takes up a LOT of room. National Geographic kids is a good one, or if your older DD is into a series, maybe book marks or items that are along those line to match it ( Harry potter, Twilight etc) a supply of glow stick neclaces etc., is always a hit here (and my DD is 19) becasue of NYE the next week. One year we did as a gift, not a ctocking stuffer, but a new calendar. we had a riddle telling DD that she had to look for certain dates in the calendar and she could chose 3 in which to have parties on...REAL parties, where we would have themed food/decoration etc. She was a smart cookie and used 2 for after school dances..and of course Halloween. It was great for us as we had advance notice so decorations etc could be found on sale, she could help, gave her something to look foreward to and it was REALLY fun. Selfishly, it was a gift I could enjoy right along with her. She also said it taught her how to enjoy parties more by planning ahead instead of being frazzled wondering if her friends would have a good time etc. The best part if funds are tight right now, it is helpful since it is an "as you go" gift, do not need the $$$ right t Christmas...one party she chose was after Homecoming, so we had 10 months to save/plan for that one!
Back to stocking stuffers, all the ideas listed are great, do they like to craft? A small denomonation gift card for Michaels or Hobby Lobby so they can chose a craft...or this was REALLY cheap one year...DD loves to play around with making jewelery..we had a 50% coupon for the basic set of jewelry tools they came to about $5...DD was like, cool when she opened her stocking, but them when she opned a $20 gift card under the tree (wrapped in a funky shaped box) she went nuts imagining all the beads etc she could go pick out. We usually have an item like that in the stockings that ties in with an under the tree item...or an item from a family menber etc. It is fun to see them try to figure out what might be a lead in for another gift.

 

[Praise2Him]

I usually put a rolled up magazine in their stockings, sports illustrated, etc. It takes up alit of room. And this year I'm getting my son some of the bubble wrap that you pop, duct tape( he's constantly taking mine). And my daughter is getting kitchen spoons, etc (she's getting married in Jan, so this will be her last stocking).

Great ideas! (especially the magazine) But why make it her last stocking? My DS has been married 2 years but they always come over on Christmas Day, so we just added one more stocking for DDiL

One of the best pieces of advice for staying on budget was given to me by another DISer on the Budget Board two years ago: Get a paper lunch bag for each stocking recipient; put all stocking purchases in the lunch bag; when the lunch bag is full, stop buying.

Excellent advice - I always end up buying too much and having to wrap some of the items to put under the tree! Not a bad thing, but still... I'm going to try to cut back this year so I'll be using this tip.

How about a couple tech deck mini skateboards for your DS12? They are $3, sometimes on sale for less.

I got these at the Dollar Tree a few days ago (for $1 )

 

[timzagain]

Any ideas for older kids?
I have a 16 year old son, a 13 year old daughter and an almost 12 year old daughter. The stuff at the dollar spot won't work for us. I like the ideas of toothbrushes, slippers, chapstick and some mini sharpies and maybe some hair clips for when my oldest DD straightens h4r hair. Cosmetics for the oldest one are hard as she only likes specific brands and i am nervous to pick something out for her. My youngest DD is not into makeup or bath products yet and is over the webkinz and hannah montana like stuff. I am kind of stuck on ideas for her as she is in a transition phase too old for little girl stuff and not interested in beauty stuff. I don't mind candy and treats as we don't even keep cookies in the house on a regular basis.

Any ideas for teens and tweens are appreciated.

We have a 19 year old son, and 3 girls, ages 17, 17, and almost 12.

The girls' stockings are always easier to fill - bath gels, body lotions, small bottles of perfume, puzzle books, paperback novels, hair accessories, earbuds/ headphones, candy, lip gloss, key rings, manicure sets, nail polishes, flip flops etc. I saw a pair of cheapo mini speakers at a local dollar store that will work with the iPods - not the greatest sound quality but will come in handy for travel etc and the times when they'll actually listen to music together and have a mini dance contest etc.
Youngest DD is at that awkward in-between stage, she likes some girly stuff but there's still the kids that will appreciate a "cool" toy/ game. I'll probably give her the electronic 20Q game that I picked up from Walmart for about $5. I'll also add jewelry or a water bottle related to swimming which is her favourite sport.

As for our son, I must admit that it got increasingly difficult to find inexpensive stocking stuffers for him once he reached about 15! I've tried food, phone cards, movie money, surfing supplies (wax etc), underwear, socks, stuff for his car. all of which he must find really boring by now. He won't admit it publicly but he still looks forward to the stocking. The kind of things that will appeal to him (expensive tech toys and their accessories) are outside of the price range I'd like to spend. I hope that we'll get some good ideas from this thread because I am at a complete loss!

 

[MapleGirl]

Add a bottle of sparkling cider (Martinelli's is the best). It's yummy and takes up a lot of room!

 

[jacksmom]

I am really pushing being cheap this year and I have been sending away for a lot of freebies to stuff in stockings. Some are just a free lip gloss or trial size shampoo - we are going to Disney in jan so I am doing these for the kids
http://baggagelabel.klm.com/
Check out some free stuff boards and blogs and start signing up now so they come in time.


Also, my husbands family wraps everything in the stocking - everything! Toothbrushes, emery boards, my MIL even individually wraps the lottery tickets I thought that was so bizarre when we met, but I like how it prolongs the stocking "experience", since we are definitely big stocking fans here too.

Thanks! I just ordered these also! Do you know any really good freebie sites you can share??