Cost of filling stockings

[Artandco]

How much on average Does it cost you to fill stockings? And what's in there roughly?

Iv just added up and both childrens are at around £50, dhs £75+... I don't think there is excessive stuff in them either

As an example, ds1 ( age 4) has:

• long sleeved t-shirt -£18
  
• roald Dahl book -£5
  
• mini Lego set -£10
  
• choc coins -£3
  
• small art Stetch book -£8
  
• mini stadtler pens -£8
  
• will add satsuma and walnuts - free from fruit bowl
  

That's similar each year, and ds2 has one of same vibe. I don't mind spending that, but it did surprise me tbh how quickly it adds up. I like them to be useful things that they actually need also due to lack of space!

[SoonToBeSix]

Wow that's loads mine cost about £12 everything from pound shops. Branded lipgloss, eye shadow, nail polish, toothbrush, sweets, chocolate coins, hair clips, face cloth, hand cream, character bubble bath, pen, frozen tissues.

[HiawathaDidntBotherTooMuch]

We have two DSs and this year are buying one main present for each of them. So the stockings are even more important IMO. I have spent about £60 on DS1's and about £50 on DS2's. They are 6 and 2 yo. I haven't bought any tat. Everything has good play value, is something they needed eg socks or pants, or is functional eg DS1 has a mug, and DS2 has a melamine bowl and plate.

[Purplehonesty]

£20 probably for two...

Chocolate coins
Toothbrush
Bath stuff
Book
Orange
Pound shop type toy for ds
Dd has hairband and bobbles

[SpottyTeacakes]

I put proper presents in mine as I can't stand wasting money. Probably about £30 then their other presents add up to £30 again.

£3 is a lot for chocolate coins, they're 50p in tesco

[bogiesaremyonlyfriend]

Not loads but tbh there isn't all that much in their stockings. Dd's will get chocolate and sweets tube, bottle of favourite drink, wind up snowman/Santa, slinky, mini lego set, lego mini figure, socks, bobbles, glitter gels pens, colouring book, £1 coin and satsuma. I make that around £20 each I think your stockings sound great. I only bought the wind up Santa and slinky each as I felt they were lacking 'fun' items and picked them up for £1 each!

[TInselaffe]

Usually £20 is my budget. Have stretched that this year but I tend to buy things in the sales for the following year, e.g. got DM and DMIL Father Christmas food timers for £1.50 each reduced from £6 in Paperchase on Boxing Day last year. Ditto Christmas mugs.

I am wondering where you have shopped to get £3 chocolate coins - Hotel Chocolat?

[attheendoftheday]

Choc coins 50p
Named swimming bag £4
Fun socks £1
Little playmobil set £5
Little books 20p x 3 from charity shop
Peppa pig bath paint £3
Foam plane £1
Sugar mouse £1
Cuddly toy £5
Doll baby bottle £1

So £25.50 here. I'm actually surprised they add up to so much!

[evmil]

Ours cost quite a lot, but its because they have one or two 'main' presents and the rest go into big stockings so DS's(4) this year includes things like a build a bear, some books, a DVD, a dressing up costume, action figures, a small lego set, stuff from lush, sweets ect. But then other than his stocking he's only getting a lego set.

Also, i would rather spend money on things i know he will use/enjoy. He is very picky so I tend to spend a bit more and things that he will use for a long time rather than play with once then discard.

[Nearlyadoctor]

A fortune..but I tend to put similar stuff in the stocking / sack as i would under the tree and only have to do dd (7) as DS is now 21

White company penguin
Onesie
2x Playmobil sets
Colouring books
Joules/ Boden pants
Chocolate Orange
Selection box
Lego furry friends sets
Paddington smellies
Lush bath bomb
Frozen doll
Elsa dress ( hanging over fireplace as Father Christmas didn't want to crease it)

All stuff I know will be used.

[AugustaGloop]

I think it really depends on the approach to stockings. In DH's family, presents (apart from stockings) are not opened until after lunch. in my family, we used to open everything first thing. We have gone with a compromise where they only open stocking presents first thing but they have large stockings (so they are not wishing the day away before they can open presents), so they essentially get some of their proper presents in their stocking as well as the normal stocking fillers. So we spend quite a lot on what we call stockings.

The stocking I used to get was an actual adult sock and it would be difficult to spend much more than £10 or £20 on that kind of stocking because it would not fit in!

[Grumpyoldblonde]

I hate to think what I have spent to be honest - maybe 80-100 on the Santa sack gifts, possibly more, then a further 100 on the main gift. sack/stocking is a mix of bits from poundland (books/lip gloss/chocs) and then stuff for her bedroom (nice throw) clothes, perfume, wii games (2nd hand) cd's but everything was bought on offer, nothing will end up in the bin, lots of practical things such as pyjamas and socks and I enjoy buying it all and thinking about what should go in there and she is always thrilled.
Reading these threads makes me realise how other people do things so differently, some have all gifts from Santa, others leave everything under the tree, some do small stockings with chocolate and tiny bits but then put loads under the tree, I find it really interesting, I guess most of us do whatever our own parents did.

[EldonAve]

About 25 quid for each stocking here

[wildstrawberryplace]

I spend a fair bit but don't generally add up how much - I like robust quality stuff in there rather than stuff that only lasts a couple of days.

Lego top
Match Attax tin
Plastoy figure tube
Divine choc coins
Lindt choc santa
Parker fountain pen
Jelly Belly popcorn box with popcorn flavour beans
A recorder
Couple of books
Where's wally mug
Chocolate orange
Staedtler colour grip pencils
Top trumps
Iwako erasers shaped like junk food

OK so adding it up, yes it's similar to you OP. Easily over £60.

[happsymum]

artandco wat did you put in your dh's stocking if you don't mind sharing? I'm stuck for mine!!! He has a tiny diet coke, pop tarts and a Lego mini figure . That's it :)

[LeBearPolar]

I spend quite a lot on stockings but like others I like nice stuff that I know will be used rather than tat. DS has annuals, lego minifigures, lego mixels, a minecraft calendar, etc.

[Patilla]

Ours cost less than £20

This year DS is having
Choc orange
Book
Toothbrush
Mini microscope from eBay
Lego mini figure
Glow in dark gloves
Etc

DD is younger and getting
Teddy owl
Dragon pencil case and crayons
Stickers
Book
Toothbrush

It's generally small bit of tat that they love more than the big presents

[happsymum]

nearlyadoctor I've asked my mum for a stocking this year . I'm 28 much less mature than your 21 ds
I have done her one too tho. ( also in trying to keep my 9yr old believing in Santa for as long as poss so covering all the potential questioning..). So everyone has a stocking - dog too but he doesn't get Xmas presents, just a bone.

[Heels99]

I go with the soontobesix approach on the second post, stocking is fun cheap bits ( sparkly tights, sweets, snap bands etc) and other presents are separate to the stocking. From above, some people put main presents in the stocking so obviously theirs would cost more. My dd says she is most looking forward to her stocking, she has not asked santa for anything.

[EhricJinglingHisBallsOnHigh]

A silly amount actually
Lego 4
Loom bands 3
Socks 4
Dvd 6
Books 10
Pens 4
Toothbrush 25 (he wanted an electric one like mine and I gave in as it's useful)
Pyjamas 5
Snow globe 3
Stationery 5-10
So £45 ish without the toothbrush and £70 with!

[suz1980]

It think it just depends on each family. My DS (6) only has a small-ish stocking so it's only little things I can get in there! His poor Lego book has been squashed trying to fit it in! I think I'm around £30 for my sons stuff and it doesn't seem much either.

Lego Christmas book £6
Play mobil figures x2 £5
Imaginext figures x2 £3
Marbles £1.50
Fart putty £1.50
Novelty Blow pipe £1.20
Novelty glasses £1.50
Playing cards £2
Chocolate coins £2
Star Wars top trumps £4
Star Wars stationery set £4.

[PesoPenguin]

I'm surprised at the price of quite a few of the things you list ( in the nicest possible way) I'm sure you could have got them cheaper. DS (5) is having a very expensive main present so is having less in his stocking:

Tube of jelly tots (£1)
Magazine (£2.50)
2 mini lego sets from the newspaper (£1.20)
Christmas socks (£2 for 2 pairs)
Travel mug (£5)
Hot chocolate (£2)
Push pop (?50p)
Mini can of coke (?50p)
Keyring (£3)
Chocolate coins (50p)
So less than £20 but actually, I'm surprised how much that has added up to!

[pigwitch]

How big are some peoples stockings

I wouldn't be able to fit a onesie/several books in ours!

[Artandco]

Ah ok so a mixture of costs then. Tbh mine will only get 3 other main presents so I suppose the stocking has ' actual' gifts inside

Happy - dhs stocking has shaving soap and bowl ( he's just started the whole fancy razor/ shaving brush thing), some aftershave, choc coins, ski socks, will add nuts/ satsuma.
So again not much, but I suppose pricier few things.

[eastmidswarwicknightnanny]

We have a max £2 per item n no more than £20 on whole stocking started when husband n I got together n continued fir ds1 n now ds2 has arrived obv some items are less than £2 n occ odd item maybe £2.50


I look out through the year for good stocking bits n wrapped the boys stocking Today n had too much couple bits kept for next yr n ds1 bits kept to wrap as part of a bigger craft present.

[eastmidswarwicknightnanny]

Sorry

Ds 1 aged 4

Choc orange -£1
2 x small playmobil sets £2 ( brought in asda sale)
Mini Simpson lego person_ £1.50
Ben 10 surprise bag- 30p
Fake wilko mini lego set - £1
Small toy car- 50p
2pks toy story stickers - 80p (reduced in Sainsbury)
Glitter glue set - £1
Disney planes mini art set - £1
Spiderman flashing yo-yo -£1


Ds 2 will be 5weeks old on Xmas day

Set 6 nuby spoons £1
Set weaning pots £1
3 different rattles from kiddicare sale - £3
Little rabbit teddy £2
Little ball animal 75p