Stocking Stuffers & Little Gifts | Pad Patter 12/23

[jk703]

Hi Everyone!
Today is wrapping day…. Ugh. I am a terrible wrapper and have no patience. That’s only really because… I don’t have a whole room with all the supplies and pretties to wrap nicely and comfortably, haha!

after that, it’s stocking stuffers! I always blank out on those! Little gifts for random people, or to generally have on hand (a couple). Out stuffers are generally not expensive, mixed with candy, essentials and fun trinkets. It’s the fun ones I struggle with.

What are your stocking stuffers? Little random gifts? General fun gifts but inexpensive?

I’ll save these ideas for next year!

 

[StefanieS]

I have stopped stocking stuffers, they were not really appreciated and way too much work and money for 5 people.
Am happy to follow this post to get ideas for gifts going forward though.
Growing up Andrew's family would always get an orange and a new toothbrush.

 

[michelepixels]

We stopped doing stocking stuffers in 2019. I always disliked it too, because I'd be spending money on silly little things no one really cared about. But the reason we stopped at that time was because my middle child changed their name (all our stockings have embroidered names). As they were working through their sense of self, it was emotionally charged, and thankfully they have supportive understanding siblings, so when I said, hey, how about we just stop doing stockings, everyone agreed. I have never gotten around to getting new stockings -- and that would be sad anyway because my Mom sewed all of our stockings -- and when I've asked again last year and this year, my practical, reasonable children (currently ages 20, 18, and 15) have been cool with this change.

 

[michelepixels]

To be more helpful with the prompt, I will describe what I did for stocking stuffers. I'd look at the gift displays in stores and go to Five and Below (a store where everything is $5 or less) and just let inspiration strike, choosing little toys and stuff I thought each kid would like. And then I'd add a lot of candy.

 

[IntenseMagic]

My oldest is obsessed with his stocking lol. It's so funny because he has his own home with his own stockings, but he still makes sure that I have the one from his childhood out and hints about how he knows Santa will visit him here as well. That said, I hit up Dollar Tree for stocking stuffers and pick up things like lotion, deodorant, loofahs, etc. This year I got that stuff plus some little car detailing things, silly putty, hair ties and face masks for the girls, and some candy.

ETA: I'm also adding a couple of scratch off lottery tickets to all the stockings this year.

 

[Angela Toucan]

mini notebooks, keyrings, coasters, coin purses.

 

[jk703]

I usually have candy, deck of cards, chapstick, deodorant, some coal candy in the toe (lol)…

snd more but can’t remember what I bought already! Hahaha!

 

[Iowan]

Our stocking stuffers have always been fruits and candy so they are easy to fill. The candy has gotten much nicer over the years. When the kids were little, it was a package of MMS, lifesavers, and gum. Now it will be more like See”s lollipops, Godiva chocolates and Chukar chocolate cherries.

 

[gonewiththewind]

My mom was amazing at stockings and at Easter baskets, too, filling them with all manner of things that she had collected.

She doesn't do Easter baskets anymore, but she does do stockings. There will usually be nail polish or a nail file, mints for your purse, favorite candies, magazines, post-it notes or flags, pens or markers, little treasures that she picks up at estate sales, etc.

This year, because my children are 24 and 15, we went a bit of a different route. Since my daughter checks in here frequently, I'm not saying what we did. LOL

 

[amien1]

I totally agree on the 'stuff no one cares about' for stockings- so I've really limited what I do. We do them here at home & for my mom's christmas- so a few more adults. I try to one thing specific to that person (For example- my mom loves fuzzy socks, my sister loves tiny things- got her a tiny light bright toy, cash for my little brother, hot wheel cars for my son & nephew, etc etc) and then my usual- a new toothbrush, floss & chapstick(I get them for free from work); hand sanitizer & one favorite treat. For the adults I will get the little airline bottles of alcohol too! I try to be intentional with stockings & not just stuff to fill it up ya know?

 

[Karen]

I usually do a lot of candy (plus a toothbrush and toothpaste ) because it's cheaper than small gifts. Those small gifts add up REALLY fast. I also do deoderant and gum and stuff like that. I start trying to keep an eye out for stuff a few months in advance at the grocery store for fun little extras, but then it never fails... I get to Christmas Eve and I can't fit everything into their stockings. Whoops!

 

[Cherylndesigns]

We don't do stockings anymore, either. I used to have as much money wrapped up in stocking stuffers as in presents. Haha

 

[klee73010]

My oldest is obsessed with his stocking lol. It's so funny because he has his own home with his own stockings, but he still makes sure that I have the one from his childhood out and hints about how he knows Santa will visit him here as well. That said, I hit up Dollar Tree for stocking stuffers and pick up things like lotion, deodorant, loofahs, etc. This year I got that stuff plus some little car detailing things, silly putty, hair ties and face masks for the girls, and some candy.

ETA: I'm also adding a couple of scratch off lottery tickets to all the stockings this year.

My mom always did deodorant, toothbrush, toothpaste, too. And razors.

And Thank you for the reminder... I need to grab some lottery tickets today!!

I usually have candy, deck of cards, chapstick, deodorant, some coal candy in the toe (lol)…

snd more but can’t remember what I bought already! Hahaha!

oooh, decks of cards. I meant to grab some this year and forgot. Oh well.

I usually do a lot of candy (plus a toothbrush and toothpaste ) because it's cheaper than small gifts. Those small gifts add up REALLY fast. I also do deoderant and gum and stuff like that. I start trying to keep an eye out for stuff a few months in advance at the grocery store for fun little extras, but then it never fails... I get to Christmas Eve and I can't fit everything into their stockings. Whoops!

SAME. Stockings are definitely an investment. and I always end up with too much.


As many have mentioned, Stockings cost a lot of money... but they have always been one of my favorite parts of Christmas, and I'm sad no one fills my stocking for me. I fill my own.

So this year, my daughter got some nail stickers, nail polish, make up remover pads... mostly bought at dollar store.

My son is getting some different crayons (neon, cosmic, glitter...) because he asked for special coloring stuff this year. I almost always find a lego bag for him...

We did find mini light brites at target and I thought they were completely adorable, so I bought those for 3 of us.

Hand sanitizer for everyone... I got myself a fabric steering wheel cover, some makeup remover pads, and a pasta serving spoon (because ours is melted after years of use ), and some silicone pot trivets.

My husband will get lottery tickets, and I bought him some small gift things- sweary pens for his desk, some caps for the cigarette lighter things in his truck (they say FIRE! Or "Missile" or "eject" or something) just for fun. Magnetic poetry tiles (I bought dirty/adult ones as a joke, but they make alllllll kinds of themes). I also got him some wooden models. I usually get lego for him, too, but he wasn't impressed with lego options this year, so he's getting these wooden things instead.

Other ideas depending on ages of the people of your life:
Bandaids (especially character ones for kids), fidgets (idk why these are so popular right now), all manner of toiletries, especially if there's any upcoming travel... hot wheels cars, play doh or slime.... glow in the dark stars for their rooms, stickers, chapsticks... puzzle or coloring books

Last year I got my daughter hair curler rods, and both kids got those bead things for their bicycle wheels that make them sound clicky when they ride...

I love stockings!!

 

[jk703]

My mom always did deodorant, toothbrush, toothpaste, too. And razors.

And Thank you for the reminder... I need to grab some lottery tickets today!!

oooh, decks of cards. I meant to grab some this year and forgot. Oh well.

SAME. Stockings are definitely an investment. and I always end up with too much.


As many have mentioned, Stockings cost a lot of money... but they have always been one of my favorite parts of Christmas, and I'm sad no one fills my stocking for me. I fill my own.

So this year, my daughter got some nail stickers, nail polish, make up remover pads... mostly bought at dollar store.

My son is getting some different crayons (neon, cosmic, glitter...) because he asked for special coloring stuff this year. I almost always find a lego bag for him...

We did find mini light brites at target and I thought they were completely adorable, so I bought those for 3 of us.

Hand sanitizer for everyone... I got myself a fabric steering wheel cover, some makeup remover pads, and a pasta serving spoon (because ours is melted after years of use ), and some silicone pot trivets.

My husband will get lottery tickets, and I bought him some small gift things- sweary pens for his desk, some caps for the cigarette lighter things in his truck (they say FIRE! Or "Missile" or "eject" or something) just for fun. Magnetic poetry tiles (I bought dirty/adult ones as a joke, but they make alllllll kinds of themes). I also got him some wooden models. I usually get lego for him, too, but he wasn't impressed with lego options this year, so he's getting these wooden things instead.

Other ideas depending on ages of the people of your life:
Bandaids (especially character ones for kids), fidgets (idk why these are so popular right now), all manner of toiletries, especially if there's any upcoming travel... hot wheels cars, play doh or slime.... glow in the dark stars for their rooms, stickers, chapsticks... puzzle or coloring books

Last year I got my daughter hair curler rods, and both kids got those bead things for their bicycle wheels that make them sound clicky when they ride...

I love stockings!!

I’m a sticking fan too! I like all the little things you pull out and stuff. DH does a little for me, and I overdo for all the boys in my house! He does but me a bottle of captain Morgan too… but puts it next to my stocking.

 

[weaselwatchr]

We did stockings at work. I bought bags of peppermint kisses candies and evenly distributed them between all 24 stockings. Yeah it was lots of bags, lol