Stocking stuffers that aren't "gifts"

[MomToOne]

I've found the trick is keeping the cost down is to find things that are small enough to fit into the stocking, but big enough to take up a fair amount of space. Gift cards are expensive and take up next to no space so they just don't work for me! I start grabbing things in the fall as I see good deals, so that helps too.

Things I have for my DD10s stocking this year:
- A full-size bottle of body spray from Bath and Body Works ($3 during their fall sale)
- Alice in Wonderland paperback book ($1 Target Dollar spot)
- Juggling set (just got this today for $2.50 at Target Dollar Spot)
- Full size Soduko puzzle book ($1 at DollarTree, will simply roll up to get into stocking)
- Knee-hi socks ($1 on clearance at Target)
- UltraFine point Sharpie Marker sets (she like them for drawing - $5 at one of the office supply stores for a 12 marker set during back to school; I will leave them in the package to take up more space LOL)
- Big Lip Smacker Lipgoss (one of the huge tubes, not the small ones - $3ish at Target. Will also leave this in the packaging to take up more space)
- Note cards ($1 Target Dollar spot)
- Set of mini playing cards ($.25 Target Easter clearance)
- Webkinz Cow (Something really cheap - Target clearance - probably $2-3)
- Lots of candy!

I have a few slightly more pricey items as well, but that's because all we are doing Christmas day this year is stockings (Santa is coming the weekend before with the big gifts because we are travelling) and I want to slip a few special "surprises" in to make it a bit bigger deal. And the items are still nothing extravagent:
- Selena Gomez and Taylor Swift CDs (I think I got them both for about $8 each during different deals)
- Nancy Drew DVD ($5 Target sale)
- 10K Gold Hoop Earrings ($9 Target Clearance - 75% off! Yeah!)
- Vinylmation figure ($9 DisneyStore sale w/free shipping)
- Skullcandy Earbuds ($8 Target sale)

 

[MomToOne]

my parents seem to be the originators of the extravagant stocking. Here are some of my highlights as a child:

10 yo-jade bracelet
11 yo-sapphire tennis bracelet
12 yo 1 carat diamond earrings
13 yo 3/4 carat birthstone ring (my birthstone is diamond so it seemed like an engagement ring)
14 yo-coach purse (it was CRAMMED into my stocking)
15 yo-a credit card in my name from their account that i could use as i wanted. they paid the bill
16 yo-keys to a new car
17 yo-trip with my best friend (alone) to puerto rico

Any chance your parents are looking to adopt a 46-year-old single Mom? I come with an instant grandchild for them, to double the fun

 

[mommaU4]

edited to add:

my parents seem to be the originators of the extravagant stocking. Here are some of my highlights as a child:

10 yo-jade bracelet
11 yo-sapphire tennis bracelet
12 yo 1 carat diamond earrings
13 yo 3/4 carat birthstone ring (my birthstone is diamond so it seemed like an engagement ring)
14 yo-coach purse (it was CRAMMED into my stocking)
15 yo-a credit card in my name from their account that i could use as i wanted. they paid the bill
16 yo-keys to a new car
17 yo-trip with my best friend (alone) to puerto rico

Wow! See, my son wants exactly what you got when you were 16. LOL But it's not going to happen. He's more likely to get a Matchbox car then the keys to a real one.

My kids like twinkies and snack cakes so I put some of those in their stocking.

Socks, deodorant, does your son wear any of those body sprays like Axe? Good luck!

Snack cakes! I saw some Little Debbie Christmas tree cakes at Walmart that I am going to get. Thanks for reminding me.

He does like Axe, but......I am not fond of it, so I'm sure I'm going to encourage the use of that. lol

I've found the trick is keeping the cost down is to find things that are small enough to fit into the stocking, but big enough to take up a fair amount of space. Gift cards are expensive and take up next to no space so they just don't work for me! I start grabbing things in the fall as I see good deals, so that helps too.

Things I have for my DD10s stocking this year:
- A full-size bottle of body spray from Bath and Body Works ($3 during their fall sale)
- Alice in Wonderland paperback book ($1 Target Dollar spot)
- Juggling set (just got this today for $2.50 at Target Dollar Spot)
- Full size Soduko puzzle book ($1 at DollarTree, will simply roll up to get into stocking)
- Knee-hi socks ($1 on clearance at Target)
- UltraFine point Sharpie Marker sets (she like them for drawing - $5 at one of the office supply stores for a 12 marker set during back to school; I will leave them in the package to take up more space LOL)
- Big Lip Smacker Lipgoss (one of the huge tubes, not the small ones - $3ish at Target. Will also leave this in the packaging to take up more space)
- Note cards ($1 Target Dollar spot)
- Set of mini playing cards ($.25 Target Easter clearance)
- Webkinz Cow (Something really cheap - Target clearance - probably $2-3)
- Lots of candy!

I have a few slightly more pricey items as well, but that's because all we are doing Christmas day this year is stockings (Santa is coming the weekend before with the big gifts because we are travelling) and I want to slip a few special "surprises" in to make it a bit bigger deal. And the items are still nothing extravagent:
- Selena Gomez and Taylor Swift CDs (I think I got them both for about $8 each during different deals)
- Nancy Drew DVD ($5 Target sale)
- 10K Gold Hoop Earrings ($9 Target Clearance - 75% off! Yeah!)
- Vinylmation figure ($9 DisneyStore sale w/free shipping)
- Skullcandy Earbuds ($8 Target sale)

You are a pro at this!! Note to self: I should probably start earlier next year. Maybe keep an eye out all year even for deals like you mentioned. Would make it much easier, cheaper and less stressful.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

For my DD, I usually put in bubble bath, fun T-shirt, christmas candy, hair bows, and I think a Webkinz will finish hers off.

For DS, axe spray, fun T-shirt, christmas candy, itunes gift card (10.00), this year a HEX bug. I think I still need one more thing for his. Last year he said he wanted a Hummer when he grew up so I got him a Hummer matchbox car for his stocking.

I've started looking around for small things they might like whenever I'm in Walgreens, Walmart, Target. I figure it ends up 30.00 total for each.

 

[Wilsonfamily4]

books in stockings are great. I also think buying second hand books (in good condition of course) is a good idea. It saves money and recycles.

my kids are getting

flip flops, fuzzy socks, fun pencils, nerf darts, nail polish, bubble bath, fun coke glass bottle, Andes mints (DD8 loves these and we only do them twice a year), lifesaver book-but gummies, small lego sets,

I can think of all kind of things for my daughter but it seems like smaller toys for boys are just junk.

 

[rlovew]

If he is almost 16- how about things he can use for a car- he may not be getting one yet but things like a flashlight for the glovebox or some of the inexpensive emergency items (you probably already have them in your own cars but if he starts getting them now it will be less of an expense when he gets his own vehicle.

 

[VAfamily1998]

My kids are all boys, ages 10, 9, 6 , and 4. They each will get

-a paperback book
-some type of card game like Uno, Old Maid, etc.
-new toothbrush
-candy...probably lots of fun candy like chocolates shaped like Santa or snowmen, etc. Oh, and usually I get a maple sugar candy shaped like Santa from World Market

That's probably about it...

 

[Kitzka]

Any chance your parents are looking to adopt a 46-year-old single Mom? I come with an instant grandchild for them, to double the fun

I can ask them but the moment they helped pay for my wedding the pricey small gifts stopped. Apparently it was now my husband's job to spoil me.

I do get flack from them for including 'small' things in their only grandchild's stocking but as i said, my budget not theirs.

But they may be intrigued by your proposal since you have a child! They would love more grandkids!

Lara

 

[Kitzka]

Wow! See, my son wants exactly what you got when you were 16. LOL But it's not going to happen. He's more likely to get a Matchbox car then the keys to a real one.

I will quanitfy the new car thing a little. My mom was legally blind at that point and unable to drive so my dad saw it as a way to take some of the pressure and stress off of him. With another driver in the house he might get a chance to sit down. And he saw how poorly (in his opinion) I drove and didn't want me to drive his car

 

[Tink-n-MrIncredible]

I am putting a flashlight, razor and refills, bath and body work item, a back scratcher from BB&B, some Lindt candies and a can of spray chesse. (Every time we go to the store DD ask for a can of $3.00 spray cheese and the answer is always the same NO, so Santa is going to bring her a can.)

 

[Thumper_Man]

New pins for pin collectors.
Charms for charm bracelets.
Key chains with their names on it, or of their favorite sports team (minus the car keys. )
Money Clip
New earbuds for Gameboys and iPods.
WDW Lanyards. Or again, of favorite sports team or something.
Anyone wear glasses? Repair or cleaning kit.

I'll post more later, when I think of more.

 

[MSSANDRA]

girls are very easy and fun. teen boys a litte harder.

-5.00 gift cards to fast food or itunes
-pen flash lights
-bath products they need anyway
-altoids
-money
-nerf ball (never too old for that)
-good pens or mechanical pencils
-sun glasses
-snacks such as packs of nuts etc.
-batteries

 

[Disneybuckeye]

I bought my college aged boys Cincinnati Reds Division Champs t shirts at 50% off. I will be rolling these up and putting them in their stocking. $10 and they take up a lot of space. I also put in Chapstick for everyone. I buy the multi pack at Sams that is like 10 for $8. I don't know if your girls play sports, but my daughter loves getting the rolls of pre wrap that they tear off and use as a disposable head bands. They also each get a box of Gobstoppers or Swedish Fish. A dollar each on sale and they also take up a lot of space. Good luck!

 

[jordansmomma]

I have DS 14, DS10 & DD 2 months.
For the last 4 years I swear their (DSs) stuffers were more like getting gifts.
But this year it will be a little different. 1 because well don't be a smart a** and maybe you will get better things in your sock, 2 I have no idea what to put in there anymore. So for now this is what they are getting.
iTunes card that I got on sale at Wal Mart
jerky
batting gloves
DS 10- Club Penguin GC
movie gift card
gum
toothbrush
$5 Starbucks card
cool boxers
Disney gift card for our Spring Break trip
Pencils that I thought cost way to much when we were school shopping

Brooke~ Well she will be getting....a new bottle, a rattle, a build a bear gift card, and a Disney gift card.

I am just out of ideas. When I was younger, I was given the sames things as OP, but with a few toys added in. A Barbie, pencils, crayons, and markers.

 

[Ava]

I'm having a hard time trying to figure out what to put in my baby girl's stocking this year.

I noticed your DD is about the same age mine was last year at Christmas. Two of the big hits from her stocking were a toothbrush and a set of little squirt toys for the bath. You could do some small board books also.

We didn't do very many gifts for DD last year; she was only 8 months old & didn't know what was going on anyway!

 

[bookgirl]

We do a chocolate item, a candy cane, some kind of savory item (beef stick, sunflower seeds, jerky), chapstick, some small grooming item (toothbruth, travel cologne, nail clippers), a magazine and maybe a small fun/toy item. Sometimes in the adult ones we do something like coffee or gloves or a food giftcard, but it's never real gifts.

 

[merekc]

I'm not sure if a teenager would think this cool, but I picked up lights that clip on your hat visor for a couple bucks that I think my younger boys will love. I got them on clearance at Cabelas with a coupon but I've seen them at Walmart as well for about $5.

Another good inexpensive item that takes up some space is the commemorative/special design pop bottles that are normally out for the holidays. My boys don't normally get Coke so they think it is a treat to get the $1 ornament bottle. This could be done with a variety of items, new flavors of Gatorade, a frappucino anything they might enjoy.

I keep laughing about the boxer suggestions. I bought KC Royals boxers for my boys' stockings because I got them super cheap and they had the right sizes. However, as bad as they are, they probably should have paid me to take them.

Another idea for the teenage boy would be sunglass clip for the car visor.

 

[Cindyrellablue]

I like finding a cool looking USB key in my stocking.

For my niece I bought nail polish, the thing that separates your toes for polishing too (no idea what that thing is called), hair ties and digital photo keychain.

My nephew is set to receive, little lego sets, Japanese erasers (loves these things), candy and a fake mustache (he just really wanted one...lol).


I honestly never heard of people getting toothbrushes in their stockings...I don't know if I'd want one either...unless I guess it was a really cool character one...lol.

 

[prncess674]

I would just think about all the little things your kids have the "I wants" when wandering thru a grocery or discount store. Stuff it with favorite candies, snacks, chips, candy, chocolate, etc that you think are junk but they love!

My sister was never a chocolate fan, but she LOVED honey roasted cashews, so she always got a can of those in her stocking. She also got chips and nuts in her Easter basket.

My parents were also of the camp to put one expensive present in the toe of the stocking. Sometimes it was jewelry. My most memorable stocking present was I pulled the adoption papers for a Cabbage Patch Kid and it had a clue attached that said, "She is somewhere warm." Had to go on a scavenger hunt and it ended up she was on top of the clothes dryer.

At age 36 I keep asking my parents to tone it down for Christmas, but it is like talking to a brick wall. I love to cook and I made sure to tell them last year to keep the gifts small and just about spending time together. I had plenty to open. All my Christmas morning gifts were all reasonable and thougthful. We always open stockings last. In the toe of my stocking was a gift card in the amount to cover a Kitchen-Aid Professional 6 quart stainless lift stand mixer. Mom's defense was "gift cards are small and easy to transport." Love the mixer, but they totally didn't get the point of small is okay.

 

[jenlynn0808]

Didn't read what everyone has posted so far, but for DD12.5 last year was a tough one for the stocking. To me it needs to be something fun/useful but within budget.

Some of the items we used last year (and some will be used again this year):

Teen Magazine or 2 (m, j-14, Bop, etc.)
nail polish in funky or school colors
Sleep mask (from Dollar Tree-DD has already asked for a new one)
bath stuff (fizzes, Avon bubble bath, lotions)
Hair stuff (new ponybands, barrettes, headbands-Walgreens usually will have a B1G1 deal on some of these)
cool pens
funky socks

a little more $, but have worked in a pinch...
CD (sometimes we have found them on sale at Walmart for $5-$8 (Miley and Bieber have both been gotten this way)
DVD from the $5 bin