Stocking stuffers

[Immadismom]

It's that time of year! I was able to get some great budget ideas for stocking stuffers here last year. Hoping for more of the same this year. I have to buy for DD's, 13 & 15, DS, 12, and of course, DH. Bonus points if you know of any free samples or deals on the cheap that would be great stocking stuffers.

 

[dylans mommy]

The Target dollar spot has some great stuff right now for your girls. They have infinity scarves, jewelry, bags and Calendars that would be great for your daughters. They have a bunch of star wars things to if your son is into that. Also if you get coupons from bath and body works a lot of times they have a coupon for a free travel size item.

For your husband I would make him Gift certificates for like a backrub, his favorite meal etc.

Some other ideas...
$5 iTunes gift cards
small gift cards to their favorite fastfood place
socks- usually you can get a pair for a $1 from old navy

 

[AimberleeTwins]

I always do dollar store items, usually things we need anyway, like deodorant, toothpaste, hair gel, body wash etc.

 

[nikkistevej]

We always do a new toothbrush/toothpaste,snacks she likes, usually a little picture frame, some cute socks. I used to do a few giftcards(that got expensive though- and that was when she believed in Santa haha)- but now I do a real present with a bunch of giftcards she likes-5Below, Itunes, Target, etc.

 

[potterfanatic]

This year I found a TON of arts and crafts supplies scented markers and things on clearance at toys r us ( less than a dollar for a package of mr. scents colored pencils, markers, crayons) So we are going to be doing that for stockings, making them entirely art themed.

 

[ZephyrHawk]

Stocking stuffers are kind of a big deal in my family. Dollar stores are no longer a good option around here (they've become too similar in stock). I, too, like the Target dollar isles. I also like Five Below, and Cost Plus Market (for candies and the like).

 

[bababear_50]

Water bottles
Thermos mugs
Gourmet hot chocolate pouches
Chapstick/lip balm
hand warmers
mini hand sanitizer
scarf
hat
mitts
I- tunes card
Starbucks card
travel size toiletries
Favorite body wash and scrunchies puff
nail care kits
mini sewing kit
make-up brush set
car wash bucket with accessories
favorite chocolate
special tree ornament
slippers
cozy socks
USB Flash drive key
movie tickets
ear buds
book light
emergency Gas card
mini umbrella
magazines
post it notes
colored duck tape
new hairbrush /comb
toothbrush/paste/floss
Lottery tickets
Sunglasses
Earmuffs
Mini Nerf guns
Mouse Pad

Hugs Mel

 

[powellrj]

Ultra has lots of 5 items for $5. I use those for the girls.

 

[worm761]

Not sure how well it will work for kids those ages but I have two "only" children. DS is 19 and DD is 5 so those packages of cute toys meant for stocking stuffers has never worked for me. I plan to go to Party City and pick up little things for her stocking. I might look and see if they have anything for DS too.

 

[MomToOne]

I LOVE stockings. Because we travel at Christmas, DD15 gets only her stocking from Santa Mom on Christmas morning, no "under the tree" gifts (those she gets another day). So I try to have a stocking that gives a bit of "Wow". But I still combine inexpensive and expensive items and the expensive stuff I try to get with coupons or some other form of discount.

Here's what I have for DD so far - I am generally done, but will probably stumble across one or two more items to add. (WARNING - Last year I broke down and bought a larger than normal stocking for DD15 because of my history of overbuying. Even then some of these things may end up getting put aside for her Easter basket LOL)

Camera cleaning kit - she is getting a new camera as part of her under-the-tree gifts; I got this free with the camera purchase

Neoprene Camera case - from eBay, under $10. My SIL and I call these "camera bras" because they fit close to the camera. They are a great alternative to dragging a big old camera bag around

Infinity Scarves - got these on clearance at Target

External Backup Battery for her cell phone/iPod/tablet - got this for a few bucks via a Newegg AmEx discount awhile back

ELF Kabuki Brush - nice brush for travelling, but not expensive

Blackhead tool - Odd for a stocking I know, but DD really wants one

Lorac Pro To Go Pallette - definitely not a budget gift but at least I was able to use Kohls cash to bring the price down

Jewelry Roll w/earring set - bought the jewelry roll for $1 on eBay from China (as long as you plan ahead, this is a great source of stocking stuffers - but it takes about a month to receive items). Earring set was on clearance from Target .

Heated eyelash curler - This was just an odd thing I got on a whim. DD has super straight eyelashes that don't curl with regular curlers.

Disposable Razors

Seventeen and Instyle Magazine Subscriptions - paid about $4 for each. I'll put a current issue of each in the stocking to make it take up space!

Wallet - Target clearance

Coloring Book - They have all sorts of coloring books out geared to adults these days. She loves to draw, so I thought I'd get her one to see if she likes it

PrismaColor Colored Pencil Set - not particularly budget, but she spends hours each day drawing

PrismaColor Woodless Colored Pencil Set - again, not particularly budget

PrismaColor Pencil Sharpener

VeraBradley Lanyard - clearance. Watch for a day with free shipping.

Freeman Face Masks - these are inexpensive for face masks (just a few bucks each), and DD likes them

Essie "Good to Go" Topcoat - not budget per se but I get it with Kohls cash, DD loves this stuff.

4 pack of Too Faced Samples - got for half price from HSN with a coupon

12 pack of Benefit Samples - also got this from HSN with a coupon

2 Clarisonic Brushes - if you sign up for a subscription, you can get 20% off at the Clarisonic site (you can then cancel the subscription after they ship)

Wedge Flip Flops - $2 on clearance at Kohls. These I might put aside for the Easter basket

Eddie Bauer Mister Water Bottle - got this for our vacation next year. It combines a water mister with a water bottle. Might also be put aside for the Easter basket.

Tuck Everlasting DVD - DD has been asking for this. Got a used copy for just a couple of dollars from GoHastings

Inside Out DVD - Bought on sale, with a coupon code and $5 giftcard deal from Target. So all in it was about $15 - figured that was good enough to not wait for a BF deal.

And of course, Candy - waiting for some good sales and/or coupons to grab this

 

[leahgoogle]

Five Below has some nice stocking stuffers. In addition to some small toys, my kids (ages 5-12) also get a book, gold chocolate coins, a card game or deck of cards, an ornament, DS Game or iTunes GC, crafty stuff (small notebooks, pens, markers, stickers, ect) and the girls get earrings. I tend to overbuy for the stockings....lol.

 

[afan]

Ultra has lots of 5 items for $5. I use those for the girls.

They often have ads in the paper or coupons you can print online if you don't already get their ads in the mail/email. They are most often $3.50 off a purchase of at least $10 before tax.

 

[barkley]

stocking stuffers are my favorite items to look for/find-it just ends up being odds and ends of stuff I think the kids/dh will like. often times it's allot of edible items that might be available all year round but never the norm that one family member would have an entire container to just gorge on as they please (the large containers of marinated artichoke hearts or mushrooms from Costco, when the kids were younger-large jars of maraschino cherries). I also like to find odd little things that might not be terribly practical or useful, but because I never pay more than a couple of dollars for them it's not a big expenditure.

so far this year I've just found some Disney channel mini box sets of tissues at the dollar store so I got one set (phineas and ferb) for dd. as I do my regular shopping there i'll glance through the $1 dvds-in the past my kids have gotten a good laugh out of movies like "santa claus conquers the martians" and "yogi bear's christmas". i'll hit the local comic book store b/c they sell the kind of poki my kids like and they usualy have cheap bookmarks and stuff that ties into their anime interests, cost plus world market b/c they end up w/loads of cheap odds and ends (including the tiny sample size containers of different mustards and jellies). i'll also keep an eye out for strange and interesting pens, pencils and erasers-everyone uses them so I look for fun ones to include.

 

[StitchBuddy]

This year, I found a great sale at Victoria Secret. I bought 3 of their scented items for$5 an item. I thought that was a great deal. Now, I am loooking for some cheap fuzzy socks, some nice candy, maybe chocolate covered blueberries, razors, a new tooth brush and a bouncy ball. Stocking complete for less than $30. I think that's pretty good.

 

[Pesky]

Love the ideas I'm seeing! So far I have for various folks, including kids:
* smencils
* tin of activity cards for a slumber party or when bored or what to do with grandparents
* fun smelling paper clips
* parachute toy
* springy column toy
* candy
* iTunes GC
* Starbucks GC
* fake nails/nail polish/emery boards, etc.
* poopourri stuff
* light up drumsticks (DD is taking drum lessons), fun guitar picks (DS is taking guitar)
* hand sanitizer, travel bath gels, etc.
* lip balm
* socks -- Target has some fun socks
* winter hat
* mints, gum, flavored toothpicks, travel antacids
* kitchen gadgets/gear
* mini umbrella -- though will probably save for the Easter basket this year
* bath scrunchies -- dog has been ripping those up so need some replacements
* nit comb -- not for the kids but since we have dealt with this, other relatives are getting it as a precaution for when it happens to them
* water bottles
* flavor packets for water
* Notepads
* hair stuff - -accessories, comb, brush, moroccan hair oil, etc.
* travel tissues
* clementines, apple -- always at the bottom.

 

[nikkistevej]

Water bottles
Thermos mugs
Gourmet hot chocolate pouches
Chapstick/lip balm
hand warmers
mini hand sanitizer
scarf
hat
mitts
I- tunes card
Starbucks card
travel size toiletries
Favorite body wash and scrunchies puff
nail care kits
mini sewing kit
make-up brush set
car wash bucket with accessories
favorite chocolate
special tree ornament
slippers
cozy socks
USB Flash drive key
movie tickets
ear buds
book light
emergency Gas card
mini umbrella
magazines
post it notes
colored duck tape
new hairbrush /comb
toothbrush/paste/floss
Lottery tickets
Sunglasses
Earmuffs
Mini Nerf guns
Mouse Pad

Hugs Mel

Loving some of these ideas!!!!!

 

[jaybirdsmommy]

Love stocking stuffers!!!!

I don't like filling them with just "filler," so try to go for quality over quantity - having small stockings helps.

I also try to find things that they "need" for their activities/hobbies.

For examply, DS12 is a scout and swims, so might get new goggles (he likes $$$ ones), some new gadget for his first aid kit (last year it was a snake bite kit), bear bell, good water bottle, water proof box, small $ gift card for places he likes, movie gift card (last year I gave everyone a card with enough $ on it to take the whole family to a matinee), fun socks, little lego sets, drawing supplies, a book, axe body stuff.

DS5 might get art supplies, a couple of dollar bills, little lego sets, funny socks, new goggles, small nerf gun to shoot his brother with, fun bath stuff, a book, puzzle, small game, sidewalk chalk.

DH is a little harder, I tend to do phone accessories and little electronic gadgets, multi-tools, small $ gift cards for places he eats lunch, funny t-shirts, bath puff.


Everyone also gets a toothbrush in their stocking and some snacks/candy that they like that I don't normally buy.

 

[lizzi6692]

* nit comb -- not for the kids but since we have dealt with this, other relatives are getting it as a precaution for when it happens to them

I really tried to just move on, but I couldn't just let this one go. You give people nit combs in their stockings?

 

[DreamIsaWish]

Every year Santa puts new school supplies in the stockings. Inevitably someone will lose an entire box of crayons at school or the yearly allotment of pencils will run out before Christmas. The first year I did this, my son's classroom had an Elf on the Shelf. He was very impressed that the elf told Santa he had lost way too many crayons and that Santa brought exactly what he needed.

 

[DreamIsaWish]

I've also done extra packages of Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom cards. Imagine my son's surprise when Santa brought the one card he was missing from his set! How did Santa know that was the one missing? I really like to do at least one thing that is "magical" -- they wouldn't think to ask for but how did Santa know they needed that!