I'll begin by saying that 10 years ago I was a broke (and broken) newly single parent, just having secured my first post-sahm/divorce part time job, struggling to make ends meet.
Christmas was looming and to bulk the stockings/gift pile up a bit I decided to save up the everyday essentials from about September time for Christmas. Things like a fancy character toothbrush, packet of pencils, shower gel, packets of generic hair bobbles, pyjamas, socks, leggings etc.
Fast forward to today and I've just done the supermarket sweep - I'm fortunate to not have to scrimp from August onwards now - but my haul is very similar. Fancy Colgate toothbrushes, Lynx shower gel, biros for school/college, socks, leggings, pyjamas, pants. The dc are now old enough for me to have included replacement razer blades, an everyday clear nail polish, face masks, mini coffee sachets and the like, plus a couple of tubes of sweets which may need replacing by xmas and of course, chocolate coins.
Money is still tight but nowhere near as horrific as 10 years ago, and today's haul (though all in one go) wasn't cheap, whereas I could have spread it out for weeks now, but am I being tight? I really have no idea what else I'd put in a stocking, the pjs, leggings and socks will be worn, and there are a couple of other presents to be added, so they're not just getting the everyday bits?
YABU - that's tight, replace stuff when it's needed
YANBU - genius idea, great tradition, it'll all get used rather than random shite
Also, what do you vipers put in stockings?