39 no-junk stocking stuffers

[Deleted]

modernmrsdarcy.com/2013/12/39-stocking-stuffers-that-will-actually-be-appreciated-dont-feel-like-a-waste-of-money-and-wont-be-brokendestroyedforgotten-by-new-years/

39 stocking stuffers that will actually be appreciated, don’t feel like a waste of money, and won’t be broken/destroyed/forgotten by New Years.

I love the idea of stocking stuffers, but it’s too easy to feel like the usual items are just highly packaged crap that will be trashed, broken, or forgotten by New Years. It makes my frugal head hurt!

These favorite (and a few unconventional) stocking stuffers won’t make you feel like you’re throwing your money away. Some are inexpensive, some are a little more spendy, but all will actually be used. Choose accordingly.

I personally don’t mind paying a little more for stocking stuffers that aren’t junk. Some of these ideas could be funded straight out of the grocery or clothing budgets.

(Head here to read more about my minimalist stocking stuffer philosophy.)
39 stocking stuffers that are way better than the usual cheap crap

To play:

1. Play silks. (It’s worth planning ahead and making your own.)
2. Puzzle books. (This is our favorite)
3. Baseball cards.
4. Glow sticks.
5. Silly putty or thinking putty.

To wear:

6. Hairbows and headbands. (You can’t make ‘em cheaper–or cuter–than you can buy them from Gymboree’s sale section this time of year. I’ve tried.)
7. Cute panties or boxers.
8. Tights.
9. Cute socks.

To eat:

10. Altoids.
11. Beef jerky. This is my favorite. Or make your own.
12. Trail mix.
13. Drink mixes (hot chocolate, spiced cider, Emergen-C).
14. Pineapple like in this episode of Charlie and Lola. (Or maybe a clementine, pomegranate, or starfruit.)

Fun but useful:

15. Flashlight.
16. Batteries.
17. Candles. (These are my favorite.)
18. Paper straws and cupcake wrappers.

To read:

19. Board books. (My favorite, for young or old.)
20. Slim paperbacks.
21. Book light.

To write:

22. Blank journals.
23. Notecards.
24. Pens. (Like individual Le Pens or Sharpies in pretty colors.)
25. Postage stamps. Maybe Pixar or Harry Potter?

Personal care:

26. Bath bubbles.
27. Nail polish.
28. Character band-aids. (Not just for kids! Try these for women. Or these for the men.)
29. Rosebud salve.
30. Chapstick or lip balm.
31. Hand lotion.

For crafting:

32. Markers/crayons/colored pencils.
33. Scotch tape or washi tape.
34. Stickers.
35. Post-it notes (especially the shapes).
36. Small craft kits from Kiwi Crate.

Just for grown-ups:

37. Coffee or tea.
38. Milk frother for homemade lattés.
39. Dollar Shave Club. Subscribe now on his behalf, slide the first month’s shipment in his stocking.
- See more at: modernmrsdarcy.com/2013/12/39-stocking-stuffers-that-will-actually-be-appreciated-dont-feel-like-a-waste-of-money-and-wont-be-brokendestroyedforgotten-by-new-years/#sthash.8fyT31tF.dpuf

[scribellesam]

Ooh I like these.

[Deleted]

This is funny because I'm pretty sure nearly every single one of these my mother has used as a stocking stuffer.

Except glow sticks. I question how those aren't crap, but whatever.

[sometimesrunner]

These are right up my alley! I usually spend $100ish on stockings because I looooove finding things and I don't want crap. This year he's getting a board book (Spot goes to school), 2 die cast cars from Cars 2 that he's been asking for, 36" balloons since the last one from his 1st birthday party finally popped, a toy Zurg from Toy Story 2, and a stuffed animal.

[Deleted]

Glow sticks are crap, but DS loves them and they come with permission to throw them away.

[water*drop]

I love finding good stocking stuffers! I think I have more fun with stockings than with a lot of our normal gifts. This list is great!

[pugz]

great list

[Redpoppy]

Those are great. Two other suggestions for older kids - Lego mini figures (the single mystery packs) and Lego Mixels. We put fun socks in there sometimes too.

[h]

Good list! I do/have done a lot of the things on here. I am excited about these things I bought for DS1 and DS2's stockings this year:

Thinking Putty (I love the magnetic one): www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B009CJ8HYG/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?qid=1415743965&sr=8-2&pi=SX200_QL40

Energy sticks: www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B004K0DSDC/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1415744179&sr=8-1&pi=SY200_QL40

I also really like the little $3.99 Lego sets in the bag, the Lego or Playmobil mystery figures, and Schleich animal figures for stockings. I think I will add a $5 gift card to the local frozen yogurt place they like to go this year, too.

[deo]

Stocking staples in my house are toothbrushes, socks, bubble bath/bath bombs, scratch tickets and magazines.

[pierogigirl]

I love stockings.

Other things for kids:
magnifying glass or bug magnifier
Melissa and Doug aquadoodle-type coloring board book
For Small Hands is a catalog with a lot of kid-sized real things (work gloves, dust pan, cooking utensils, etc)
Legos or Playmobile tiny sets or mini figures
doll clothes or small stuffed animal accessory (DS2 loves his Puppy, so Puppy is getting a bowl from Build A Bear this year)


For adults or older kids:
mini screwdriver - my favorite and most used stocking stuffer from DH was a stubby screwdriver with changeable heads in the handle. I use it to fix kids' toys and hard to reach things all the time. I recently saw them at Sears.

Stapless stapler. My grandparents had an antique one that I was fascinated with as a kid.

[DarcyLongfellow]

These are all awesome ideas!! I feel like I stress out over stockings every year.

[Deleted]

Great list! My parents always do batteries, flashlights, pens/highlighters/markers, small muitl-tools, hot drink mix, chap-stick, stuff like that.

[curbsideprophet]

I already have nail polish and hair clips for DDs stocking. I just bought DS a pair of overalls that I was planning to roll up and put in his stocking.

I like the bandaid idea. DD has some colorful ones but we need to get more.

I was debating getting her some pouches. We put some in her Easter basket and she loved it.

[bugandbibs]

This is pretty much my list, lol.

Plus, bubble bath, bath toys/paints, hair bows/chalk, nail polish, make-up, magazines/coloring books, toothbrush, mouth wash, gloves/hats, etc..

[changedname]

Talk to me about those silks. I looked on Pinterest and it seems complicated to dye them. Has anyone actually done it? And where did you get the silks from?

[pierogigirl]

Nov 11, 2014 20:19:47 GMT -5 changedname said:

Talk to me about those silks. I looked on Pinterest and it seems complicated to dye them. Has anyone actually done it? And where did you get the silks from?

Hearthsong has them in many colors.

[anna7602]

We've never done stocking stuffers for grown-ups. Is this common? 

[curbsideprophet]

Nov 11, 2014 20:44:40 GMT -5 anna7602 said:

We've never done stocking stuffers for grown-ups. Is this common? 

DH and I fill each other stockings.

[scribellesam]

Nov 11, 2014 20:44:40 GMT -5 anna7602 said:

We've never done stocking stuffers for grown-ups. Is this common? 

Stockings are my favorite part of Christmas! DH and I aren't even exchanging gifts this year other than filling each other's stockings.

[spunkarella]

Thank you for this! I love stockings and my earlier conversation with DH about Santa reminded me that he tends to struggle with them since he didn't have one growing up.

I just forwarded that to him, I hope it helps!

anna7602 and curbsideprophet We also fill each other's stockings. Except DH's is typically packed full and mine is...not, lol. Am I a jerk for wanting DH to figure this out and do this for me? The non-stocking gifts he chooses for me are usually fantastic and very thoughtful. He just doesn't "get" stockings, even though he always really likes his.

[pierogigirl]

Nov 11, 2014 20:54:03 GMT -5 spunkarella said:

Thank you for this! I love stockings and my earlier conversation with DH about Santa reminded me that he tends to struggle with them since he didn't have one growing up.

I just forwarded that to him, I hope it helps!

anna7602 and curbsideprophet We also fill each other's stockings. Except DH's is typically packed full and mine is...not, lol. Am I a jerk for wanting DH to figure this out and do this for me? The non-stocking gifts he chooses for me are usually fantastic and very thoughtful. He just doesn't "get" stockings, even though he always really likes his.

Buy some stuff for yourself.  DH is pretty good at stockings, but I usually find a few small things I like and justify it by calling it a stocking stuffer.

[spunkarella]

Nov 11, 2014 20:58:29 GMT -5 pierogigirl said:

Nov 11, 2014 20:54:03 GMT -5 spunkarella said:

Buy some stuff for yourself.  DH is pretty good at stockings, but I usually find a few small things I like and justify it by calling it a stocking stuffer.

I have tried that in the past, but my stocking had the 3 or 4 things I bought myself plus like, a candy bar from DH. I typically come out a little better when I leave it all to him. 

[curbsideprophet]

Nov 11, 2014 20:54:03 GMT -5 spunkarella said:

Thank you for this! I love stockings and my earlier conversation with DH about Santa reminded me that he tends to struggle with them since he didn't have one growing up.

I just forwarded that to him, I hope it helps!

anna7602 and curbsideprophet We also fill each other's stockings. Except DH's is typically packed full and mine is...not, lol. Am I a jerk for wanting DH to figure this out and do this for me? The non-stocking gifts he chooses for me are usually fantastic and very thoughtful. He just doesn't "get" stockings, even though he always really likes his.

I don't think that makes you a jerk. I can understand wanting him to do a good job since it sounds like you put a decent amount of effort into his. Hopefully the list helps.

[spk926]

Who's keeping track of all these awesome holiday gift posts? Can we get them all into one document and sticky it or something??

[Jalapeñomel]

What are play silks?

Stockings are my favorite part of Christmas!

[Deleted]

Nov 11, 2014 21:08:57 GMT -5 spk926 said:

Who's keeping track of all these awesome holiday gift posts? Can we get them all into one document and sticky it or something??

Most of them are on the MM board in the gift guide.

[spk926]

Nov 11, 2014 21:10:57 GMT -5 @tokenhoser said:

Nov 11, 2014 21:08:57 GMT -5 spk926 said:

Who's keeping track of all these awesome holiday gift posts? Can we get them all into one document and sticky it or something??

Most of them are on the MM board in the gift guide.

[isabel]

For adults, H's family often does a packet of free washes to the local car wash. In the past, H and I have done concert tickets for one another (usually an inexpensive local band that we both like), hand lotion, and chapstick.

[anna7602]

Nov 11, 2014 20:54:03 GMT -5 spunkarella said:

Thank you for this! I love stockings and my earlier conversation with DH about Santa reminded me that he tends to struggle with them since he didn't have one growing up.

I just forwarded that to him, I hope it helps!

anna7602 and curbsideprophet We also fill each other's stockings. Except DH's is typically packed full and mine is...not, lol. Am I a jerk for wanting DH to figure this out and do this for me? The non-stocking gifts he chooses for me are usually fantastic and very thoughtful. He just doesn't "get" stockings, even though he always really likes his.

Hmmm, put me in the I-don't-"get"-stockings category, then. My whole life, it has just been for kids. I learn something new from MMM every day!