Ideas for Kids Stocking Stuffers That Won't Blow Your Budget
100It is Christmas time again and with that comes filling stockings. With four kids, stocking stuffers could quickly blow the Christmas budget. They don't have to cost a fortune though. I love finding the perfect items to go in each stocking. This takes time though to find the right things at the right cost. Here are some ideas for different ages of kids.
I have found that filling stockings for younger kids is pretty easy. It doesn't take much for them to get excited. Young children are happy with art supplies and playdough. If you can plan ahead and purchase art supplies on sale at back to school time it will really save you money. If not that is fine, crayons and coloring books aren't that much money. A four pack of playdough is $1.68, making it a very inexpensive item for stockings. I will divide it up among the two younger kids. It also takes up a good chunk of space, meaning overall it will cost less to actually have the stocking filled.
Bubble bath is another favorite here. This is not something I buy on a regular basis, so it is always a treat at Christmas time. Again it takes up a lot of space. Young children also get excited about fun character toothbrushes and toothpaste. Speaking of character items, character socks or t-shirts fit well in stockings and kids love them. These items fill a need for my children many years and they still really like them.
For young boys little metal race cars are a favorite. You can purchase tubes of plastic animals or people for around $6. There are many themes to choose from - from forest animals to astronauts, even an Egyptian theme. Most kids love these and they take up a good bit of space too.
For young girls you can purchase little baby bottles for their dolls and even doll diapers. If your little girl doesn't already have a doll, that would be a great item to be sticking out of the top of the stocking on Christmas morning. Hair clips or bows, play jewelry or dress up items all fit nicely into stockings and are relatively inexpensive.
Older children can be a bit harder, as their tastes and interests are more specific. You can't get away with general items like art supplies, unless of course they really like art. For these children looking for items to put in their stocking through out the year is a really good way to find the right items at the right price. You could do a theme for the stocking. If your child is very interested in crafts, you could fill her stocking with all sorts of craft supplies. Googly eyes, Popsicle sticks, string and beads, feathers, pipe cleaners, glitter, etc are all pretty cheap and would get any crafty child dreaming of the possibilities.
For girls makeup and jewelry are usually a hit. Clothing is usually popular for older girls and can be rolled up nicely to fit inside the stocking. Instead of bubble bath I will do bath beads for older girls. For boys how about sports cards or little Lego or Kinex sets. Small handheld games are always a hit. These can be bought cheaply at Target or Wal-Mart. I am not talking about a Game Boy, but a handheld Tetris, Connect Four, Pac man, etc. There are many options and my kids love to play these in the car.
Other items I have put in stockings before include a child's favorite food (if it doesn't need to be refrigerated), a special treat specific to each child, books, card games, trinkets with the child's name on it, character underwear, handmade coupons for things like their favorite meal or a pass to get out of doing a chore, candy, notepads, fancy pens or pencils, glow in the dark stickers of the solar system, bouncy balls, gum, stickers, pajamas, disposable cameras (always a favorite) and computer games.
Filling a stocking should be fun and inexpensive. Many times I will try to get an item that was specifically requested by the child and have it as the top item sticking out of the stocking. Mostly I fill stockings with what I know the child will like and use, and a little bit of what they need. Items requested for Christmas are usually from us under the tree, not the main part of a stocking. Good luck filling your stockings this year!
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My gangs favorite part of Christmas are the stockings and the first part they all start with.
Great HUB
regards Zsuzsy
this is a very good comment you have up there you should make more of them because more people is going to want to know how to low there budget a little more then any other christmas they have and you should put like home made gifts up there for the home less people that cannot earn the money for there child
Great ideas, Jennifer! Thanks!
Great ideas, I can relate.
I had decided this year that since we are so low on cash I would skip the stockings. I figured the kids wouldn't notice. My 5 year old told me last night that he is so excited to see what he gets in his stocking. Aw crud!! Haha. Guess I will have to start looking for stuff.
Great ideas. Usually we filled up on similar inexpensive things: stickers, temporary tatooes, coloring pens, a few sweets, socks, gloves, hair clasps, ... just whatever they are needing at the time.
Great suggestions -- and yes, the younger they are, the easier, I agree. :)
Great ideas that wont cost a fortune. What i need suggestions for though is how to stuff my ladies stocking with the right stuff that wont break the bank. It's hard to fill a stocking with jewelry.
So far I've only done candy. I've got to stop doing that!!!! Thanks for the suggestions.
Excellent ideas - I think I can save some money this year. And yes, it's easier the younger they are.
i haven't done it but am thinkin of it. thanks for the ideas.
Great ideas! I bought quite small stockings when my kids were babies, and they are still going strong, but even so I sometimes struggle to fill them. It does get harder as they get older, as they are less impressed with cheap tat and teenage girls don't want fattening chocolate and sweet things. Cheap tat and chocolate still keeps my 12 year old happy though!
Great suggestions
Candy! You mustn't forget candy! My parents always put candy in the stocking with other things, of course. But bags of funsized candy are usually cheap and take up a good deal of space. You can usually find king sized candy bars are wal-greens, cvs, rite-smart, or any drug store for 3 for 1$ or so.
I do agree that the craftier kids are easier to fill. Stickers, markers, scissors with the designed blades, etc
I found little shoe shine sponges at the 99 cent store. They were great for the guys' stockings!
I have a 14 yr.old girl and 2 little ones under 6.
This year I filled my oldests stocking with depdorant, razor, a tide stain spot stick to keep in her packpack alittle make up and bior strips which I thought would be fun for her to do with her girlfriends. I made sure everything was on sale and I know she will be happy with her little gifts. I always wrap each one beacuse that is the fun part and it takes up space.
Hope this helps someone buying for a teenage girl. :)
You'd be surprised at how well you can do at a dollar store with art supplies for kids. Mine always has colored pencils, water color paints,markers and crayons, thick sketch pads and pads of construction paper, scizzors and glue, glitter and foam cut outs. And more. I stuff the stocking with things like this, and a big vynil table cloth for the kids to put down on the floor when they do art. I put this stuff in their easter baskets too. It's inexpensive and it always goes over well and keeps them busy for hours.
Good ideas for teens Marissa, thanks for adding them!
I am going on 35 and my parents still make stockings for all the of kids and their spouses. All of the grandkids also get a stocking. They are usually filled with lotions, candles, toys for the kids, picture frames and small stuff like that. It is the best thing about Christmas!
I know I'm a little behind on this cinversation, but I just stumbled acrossed it. I always loved when we lived with an Aunt of mine. She always found the cutest things to add to our stockings, but the thing that always stood out the most was a handwritten letter. A couple nights before hand, she would sneek away and write us a letter. She always included a few things she remembered about us thru that year, and would tell us how much we ment to her. I still have the letters, and I remember them more then ANY present I ever got!
What an excellent idea. My grandchildren will surely love this. :) Thumbs up
Toothbrushes...musical ones, Flavored Lip Glosses, Wild colored nail polish, goofy socks, etc.
Hello,
I too have an excellent idea fir stoking stuffers for Christmas. I am selling Beanie Babies that are collectors for $6.00 each. I only have 200 more left to sell. If you are interested please leave me a comment in my hub and I'll contact you very soon. Thank you so very much.
good idea
Other ideas include gum (the kind that comes in the fancier made packs is ideal for teens) chapstick, bath and bodyworks makes fun soaps for kids, even the foamy soap is ideal for youngsters. bubbles are easy and inexpensive if you can find them this time of year. Gift cards are easy and don't have to be alot. My favorite stocking stuffer for adults is the scratch off lottery tickets!
Great Ideas! I don't have kids, but I do have 1 niece and 3 nephews. I was looking around for ideas and your article was perfect! I'm a college student and I was definitely not wanting to spend much! Thank you :)
My parents still fill the stockings for all of us grown adults. They have four children and the three of us girls all have spouses. So, last year my mom filled the adult girls stockings with Margarita mix and Tequila and a movie. She put a can of Rotel and Velveeta cheese in the guys along with money of course! Anyway, I thought that was a clever idea.
I Found all of the ideas to be very useful. The only thing I had was candy, apple,oranges and toothbrushes:). Thanks and Merry CHRISTmas!!
Good ideas! We still fill them and we are all adults. Well except for the furry ones (our pets). It gets a little challenging then but it can be fun.
Still puzzle books, candy, favorite CD that can be made, socks, and all kinds of little things can be found. Dollar stores can be very helpful for these items. I make a few things which cuts down on the budget. The pets love everything so they are easy.
Merry Christmas!
we buy the mini bottles of shampoo conditiner hand sanitizer etc. this works great for the teens on the go. refillable travel bottles for those that like to go green. new water bottles are always a hit. small camp gadgets if you have some one into that go over huge even out of season we also put an orange traditional and a mini box of cereal(big treat) to make sure there is something healthy brfore the craziness starts
Hi Jenifer,
It always helps to get started early so that one has the time to find neat little treasures. When you aren't pressed for time, looking for perfect little gifts can be so enjoyable. Good Hub. Thanks.
Yes, we are all on a budget this Christmas. I will definitely look around before swiping my credit card. Seems small businesses are trying to compete with bigger brands and have lower prices. I found Kidkraft Dollhouses and traintables at lowest prices at www.kidfloor.com
My nephews love those little race cars!
Marye Audet says:
2 years ago
this is what we do too. Small books, little things and then a muffin so I know they are eating something good!