They usually start right around November 1 . . . the ubiquitous annual ads for stocking stuffers. When I was a kid, our stockings were one of the most joyful parts of Christmas morning, opened with squeals of delight as soon as we finished singing “Happy Birthday” to the Baby Jesus. Perhaps kids were easier to impress, once upon a time . . . or maybe my family just lived a simpler life. The thing is, our stocking stuffers were always small gifts. From my mom, we could count on weird things like squishy, overripe oranges, interesting things like rubber duckies, and she also was always good for Hershey’s Kisses® and assorted Christmas candies. My dad, on the other hand, preferred inexpensive fun things like Silly Putty, Play-Doh, and Slinkies.
Could any of us ever have imagined that the stocking stuffer ads of today would pitch items “under $50”?! Isn’t the point of stocking stuffers to allow you to “stuff” the stocking? Let’s get real – there’s no reason to break the bank on your stocking stuffers. Small, inexpensive gifts can be loads of fun . . . both to receive and to give. Your neighborhood dollar store can be a great place to find fun stocking stuffers – but make sure you go with a budget, because it’s easy to spend a lot of money in a hurry in those places.
Put on your creative thinking cap and you will probably come up with all kinds of wonderful stocking-sized gifts. Here’s a list of 113 ideas to get you started . . .
1. AA or AAA batteries
2. Journal or blank book
3. Shoelaces – fun or practical, depending on the receiver
4. Blank CDs or DVDs
5. Eyeglasses case
6. Decorative bottle opener or cork screw
7. Bubble baths or bath pearls
8. Calculator
9. Bookmark
10. Spare toothbrushes
11. Compact mirror
12. Gum, mints, favorite childhood candy
13. Crayons, colored pencils, or markers
14. Chocolate – or other favorite candy
15. Dave’s Insanity Hot Sauce
16. Decorative ice cube tray
17. Barrettes, hair ties, headbands
18. Kitchen gadgets
19. Address book
20. Decorative wine stopper
21. Desk, wall, or pocket calendar
22. Favorite herbs or spices
23. Stuffed animal
24. Flower or vegetable seeds
25. Lipstick or gloss – select fun colors and/or flavors
26. Playing cards
27. Nail clippers or file
28. Book or magazine
29. Gloves, scarf, earmuffs, or hat
30. Magnifying glass or decorative reading glasses
31. Crossword puzzle book
32. Golf balls, tees, glove
33. Greeting cards or stationery
34. Craft supplies
35. Coloring book
36. Hand lotion
37. Hand-crafted picture frame – buy at the craft store and decorate with glitter, stickers, or decorative items to suit recipient’s tastes
38. Candles
39. Decorative tea or hand towels
40. Perfume or aftershave
41. Homemade jam or canned fruit
42. Garden tools
43. Incense
44. Photos from recipient’s childhood
45. Bud vase
46. iTunes gift card
47. Gift certificate for a favorite fast food restaurant
48. Jigsaw puzzle
49. Flavored coffee or gourmet teabags
50. Kaleidoscope
51. Cold facial mask to relieve aches and stress
52. Silly straws
53. Keyring
54. Decorative soap dish or shower curtain rings
55. Postage stamps
56. Decorative scissors or hole punch
57. Back scratcher
58. Shoehorn
59. Kite
60. Oranges, apples, kiwi, or another favorite fruit – make sure they’re not overripe, though!
61. Lottery tickets – Scratchers or Lotto
62. Miniature bottles of liquor or liqueur
63. Model kit
64. Handkerchief
65. Costume jewelry
66. Mouse pad
67. Sports water bottle
68. Christmas ornament
69. Mug or teacup
70. Lanyard or chain for eyeglasses
71. Nail polish in a fun, lively color
72. Fishing lures or hat
73. Baseball, batting glove, or ball cap
74. Nuts or dried fruits
75. Snowglobe
76. Lipstick case
77. Packets of flavored hot chocolate or cider mix
78. Personalized birth chart or horoscope book
79. Wall poster
80. Homemade cookies or brownies
81. Refrigerator magnet
82. Sachet or potpourri, decorated with a silk ribbon in a favorite color
83. Yo-yo
84. Scented soaps
85. Sewing, knitting, needlework, or woodworking patterns
86. Decorative watering can
87. Sheet music
88. Dog/cat toys
89. Wine glass charms/drink markers
90. Sidewalk chalk
91. Silly Putty, Play-Doh, or Slinky . . . all these years later, Dad’s ideas still work!
92. Change purse
93. Stickers or rubber stamps for scrapbooking
94. Flashlight
95. Boxed card set with phrases from a favorite book
96. Movie gift certificates
97. Toy cars
98. Travel map or city guide
99. Decorative tissues
100. Razors
101. Travel mug
102. Napkin rings
103. Trinket box
104. Microwave popcorn
105. Useful tool (e.g., hammer, screwdriver, pliers)
106. Wallet or business card holder
107. Gel pens in a variety of colors
108. Sudoku book
109. Wrist or ankle weights or workout bands
110. Zipper pouch
111. Travel game/toy, like Etch-a-Sketch, Boggle, or Pass the Pigs
112. Rubber ducky – OK, Mom, once in a while, you got something right.
113. Christmas accessories (e.g. earrings, socks, pin, vest)
December 13, 2008 at 6:35 pm
I like the idea of silly shoelaces, especially for kids under ten. It’s one of those “Why didn’t I think of that?” ideas!
When I was in junior high, we used to tie little jingle bells to our shoelaces in December. Our teachers tolerated it as long as we didn’t deliberately make extra noise during classes. Your post brought that memory back!
January 9, 2009 at 11:11 am
[...] follows is a list of nostalgic stocking stuffer ideas that come purely from my own childhood [...]