stocking stuffers for 10+ teens?

[gasman61]

Last year about 10 of ds's high school senior friends decided to hang stockings at our house, and I filled them with a small gift card, some candy, and a disk drive. This year the high school (not seniors) friends of my DD have decided they want to hang THEIR stockings over here!

So, I am looking for some good suggestions for inexpensive stocking stuffers for teens. I will get some candy, and prob a small gift card.. but any other ideas? Really want to keep it under $10 as I might have 10 of them again!

Karen

 

[mrsbornkuntry]

Bath and Body Works stuff
toe socks
cute pens

 

[brymolmom]

First of all...this seems like a very expensive tradition. Do these kids not get stockings filled at their homes? Are they needy?

I see the fun of getting a gift at a friend's house...But honestly if it was me, I'd like to nip this in the bud before you have 50 'friends' in the next few years with their stockings over there.

Most all the kids I know get PLENTY at their own homes so really no use busting your budget.

That said, I would definitely keep it VERY BUDGET (to curb others hopping on the bandwagon for next year). If they are all girls - some chapstick/lipgloss, inexpensive notepad (like from the 2/$1.00 section), a scratch off lotto ticket, and maybe a $1.00 pair of holiday (or not holiday) socks. That should put you in the $4.00 -ish range per stocking. If you want some filler, get a couple big bags of Hershey kisses and throw a handful into each.

 

[gasman61]

I think the appeal of it is to feel like they "belong"? I'm not exactly sure. Yes, most of them do get Christmas at their own homes. That being said, many of them do have very difficult family situations. I think they like to hang out at our house because it's relatively calm here. And maybe they don't get stockings at their houses.. because they are very excited about the stockings here!

These are some great suggestions. I just sent out from church college care packages and included several school supply type of items. I can do that here, too.. a mechanical pencil and post it notes and the like. My dd does not wear any makeup at all.. so I'm not in the know about lip gloss.. is there a special type?

 

[momejay]

We each had to stuff a stocking for a needy teen at church. I got movie gift cards & itunes cards for the girls. (& some make up items on sale for a $1)
For guys I would say a food item: homemade cookies, fudge, candy canes, McDonalds or Burger King gift certificates.
Santa always used to put an orange in the bottom of our stocking. How about a piece of fruit?

 

[coolbeans]

Burt's Bees chap stick
knee socks
mechanical pencils
hand lotion
body scrubbie (poof)
m&m's mini's tube
gloves (the little stretchy ones come in a two pack)
matching hats or head bands (if it's cold in your area)
heck, matchbox cars, crayons, dollar store coloring books, glow bracelets.. my dd is 13 and would love those too... just something fun.

i think it sounds great what you are doing... i'm sure they love it and feel loved by you doing it!!

 

[mychicks]

If you have a Five Below store near you, they have some body wash sets for $5.00. I think there are six small bottles in the set, you could split those up amongst the girls.

 

[poohbear8]

Do you have an Avon rep near you? (you can also order online) Avon has small bottles of bubble bath, lotions, and small trial size makeup items. My mom sells Avon and I used some of these to make an Advent calendar for my DD (12) this year.

Do you have a Sally's Beauty Supply near you? They also have small trial size nail polishes. I think they are .50 each. Rite Aid sells a full size brand, NYC maybe, that is $1.99 and sometimes goes on sale for B1G1.

Nail files are another idea.

 

[3boymthr]

how bout this?

http://www.burtsbees.com/my-budget/20-or-more/premium-grab-bag.html

You can split it up.

There were some discount codes out there that allowed it to be even less expensive.

 

[timzagain]

First of all...this seems like a very expensive tradition. Do these kids not get stockings filled at their homes? Are they needy?

I see the fun of getting a gift at a friend's house...But honestly if it was me, I'd like to nip this in the bud before you have 50 'friends' in the next few years with their stockings over there.

Most all the kids I know get PLENTY at their own homes so really no use busting your budget.

That said, I would definitely keep it VERY BUDGET (to curb others hopping on the bandwagon for next year). If they are all girls - some chapstick/lipgloss, inexpensive notepad (like from the 2/$1.00 section), a scratch off lotto ticket, and maybe a $1.00 pair of holiday (or not holiday) socks. That should put you in the $4.00 -ish range per stocking. If you want some filler, get a couple big bags of Hershey kisses and throw a handful into each.

Maybe they enjoy the atmosphere at the OP's house. When I was a teenager, my friends seemed to have adopted my mom as theirs, so I can relate. The family atmosphere and activities I took for granted simply did not happen at the homes at most of my friends. It's nice that the kids have somewhere to call their home away from home - it might be the only family life they get to experience!

I have a few suggestions for keeping the cost down without ruining the fun:-

1. Shop at Oriental Trading and buy novelty jewelry, lip glosses, inexpensive ornaments etc. Alternatively, shop at the dollar store. Where possible, buy multi-packs of items like hair accessories that can be divided up
2. Have a name draw - let each of the daughter's friends pull the name of one person. He/ she would then be responsible for filling the stocking of that person. Set a $ limit like $10 so that it doesn't become burdensome

 

[timzagain]

My dd does not wear any makeup at all.. so I'm not in the know about lip gloss.. is there a special type?

When I was vacationing in the US during the summer, I bought a pack of 12 fruit flavoured lip glosses from Wal Mart for about $3.49. They were on the displays by the cashiers. You can check to see if WM still carries them - I'm guessing they'd have them in stock, because they'd make great stocking stuffers.

 

[NVDisMom]

OP- You are one nice mom! I am a firm believer in keeping the kids interested in hanging out at my house. Better at my house where I know they are safe and I know what they are doing then goodness knows where doing gooness knows what! It helps keep hem out of trouble.

I'd be looking for multipacks for cheap that could be split up and spread throughout the stockings. I'd even grab a 12 pack of soda to split up and help fill those stockings up! Maybe individual bags of chips/crackers/cookies/twinkies...you get the idea.Then fill in with chapstick, gloves, maybe some candy, whatever you find.

 

[jacksmomma]

I like the idea of cookies or homemade treats. Maybe this recipe for a small bag of mix for mug cake. http://www.giftsfromyourkitchen.com/mug/lemon-cake-mug.html

What about the baby sizes of cokes or Jone's Sodas? Those would fit perfectly in a stocking. McD's has gift coupons at halloween and you get 12 for $1! Not sure if they have those at Christmas or not.

Also, if you have any artsy or creative kids you could include things to create a scrapbook page they could frame along with a "coupon" to come make it at your house.

 

[jacksmomma]

Maybe individual bags of chips/crackers/cookies/twinkies...

Great idea! Hit the Hostess/Wonder Bread store, around here they have a certain day of the week that is discount day.

 

[Worfiedoodles]

Don't forget the Dollar aisle at Target -- they have totally cute lip glosses in Mountain Dew, Dr. Pepper, Orange and Grape Crush, all kinds of bath and body products, school supplies, socks -- you name it, and everything is $1! I consider it "one-stop" shopping for a great variety of items.

 

[DawnM]

What an awsome mom!

I would also suggest in the future, to shop all year long and get hot deals you see.

I always get loaded up on the Staples school supply sales and use them for all sorts of things.....inner city backpack filling, Christmas boxes for Samaritan's Purse, and for kids who need them.

There are always things posted on the budget board too.

If you load up all year long you can get amazing deals and you can spend a little at a time.

Dawn

 

[swilshire]

I also watch throughout the year for cheap or free things at Walgreens, CVS and the grocery store. Body wash on sale with a doubled coupon costs 50 cents. Shavers with good coupons on sale are pretty cheap. Chapstick was free after Register Rewards at Walgreens. I have a big box of stocking stuffers by December.

Sheila

 

[Maddie2]

For the girls .... Walmart has the "CONAIR 12 pc. styling collection" -- which includes a hairbrush, comb, clips, & bands for $2.88. They come in a cylinder-shaped clear plastic bag with a top section drawstring in either burgundy or navy blue. These are large enough to fill the "leg" part of a "regular" sized stocking. I found them in the seasonal section. Toss in an orange, candy, and a pen & notepad and your set!

Boys .... I think they are much more difficult and I'm a Mom of only boys! Inexpensive stocking hats, socks - buy multipacks of gym socks and divide them up - what guy can't use more socks?, gum, suduko or wordfind books, pencils, fruit snacks, small bags of chips, breakfast/granola bars, Capri Sun pouches. I really like the Hot Wheels suggestion that another poster gave as well. Even in high school, they are still little boys sometimes.

Have fun!

 

[Grumpy's Gal]

nail polish. cvs often has it on sale with earning extra care bucks.

a russel stover marshmallow snowman. we always got one in our stocking.

if you're going to do this every year, I'd sure stock up on supplies after the school supplies go on clearance in Aug/Sept. I know by this time of year, my kids are needing replacement pencils, erasers, post it notes, lead, highlighters etc.

I'd get some packs of glow in the dark bracelets and some other silliness.......Michaels craft stores have a huge number of dollar bins of fun stuff.

I don't know where I saw them (maybe walgreens) they were for kids but they were a light-up Christmas light necklace.

I think you are great for doing this. You may be creating life long memories that will be worth more to those kids than the amt you are paying in supplies.

 

[gerberdaisy1234]

Melt some chocolate, dip a heavy duty plastic spoon in it, add sprinkles, put in little clear bag, add a pack of hot chocolate (or you mention a small gift card- maybe starbucks card attached) And a little bag of mini marshmallows.