how to fill a stocking if you're single

[BeQuirkyMintScroller]

I'm single and live alone. My friends all have children and busy costly family lives etc so we stopped doing presents for each other eons ago. No big deal honestly!

One of them suggested getting absolutely hammered, ordering a load of stuff from amazon and putting the boxes straight under the tree for xmas morning. It's a creative solution I admit!!😂 trouble is I don't get memory blanks from being drunk and the boxes wouldnt fit in my lovely new velvet stocking anyway.

I also wondered about transferring someone money and saying "surprise me" so they're not out of pocket but that's asking for time & effort from them, which isnt fair.

It's totally not big deal and isnt what Christmas Day is about of course! I'll take the dog for a lovely walk somewhere new and be grateful to be healthy. But would be nice to unwrap something with my morning coffee this year

If anyone has a solution...pray do tell...

I don’t have a stocking but I certainly buy myself presents throughout December - its the best part of my Christmas. This year it was gorgeous new make up, a pile of magazines for reading in the bath, couple of pairs of boots and a pair of velvet trousers.

I’m not single, but I only have DH and I learned many years ago not to get my hopes up.

The mystery books are wonderful!

I would order a couple of lovely things online - a book, chocolates - whatever makes you happy.

One year for my birthday I went shopping and bought myself a couple of things as my dd was only little and my parents were overseas.

If I was an assistant in a gift shop I’d feel honoured if someone asked me to do this for them. I might even want to be their friend.

You’ve reminded me that there’s a lovely big garden centre gift shop that I haven’t been to for ages and I’m looking for somewhere cheery to go tomorrow afternoon so thank you!

Some book shops sell wrapped up books as a try something new thing. You would know it was a book but still a bit of a surprise.

I gave my sister some money to buy me gifts the first year I was a single DM, she loved to do it as it wasn’t her money and we know each other so well we love to buy for each other x
i would love to do this for a friend I knew well xxx

What about ordering some things nicer than you would usually have - clothes, toiletries, etc, maybe nice food, jewellery? But don't open the parcels until christmas day, some of these posher makes will come in fancy packaging once you have got into the outer box, and might include free samples or vouchers.

check some brands you like to see if they do mystery boxes, i've seen quite a few doing that type of thing nowadays.

Think you’ve missed the point here

I came on to suggest TreatBox too. For Christmas, I order the 24-day advent calendar but open it all on Christmas Day. Unlike a beauty advent, they have a nice mix of all sorts of little gifts.

Unless you have kids, no need to do Christmas at all. Unless you really want to.

Presumably in the small print it says you might get the equivalent of a cracker favour, nail clippers or something!

There's an idea, crackers!

I've treated myself to a pair of vintage earrings today and I have a family who buy me gifts. Enjoy picking yourself a few nice things.

Well I agree with you but it seems we're in the minority. If I want something and I can afford it, I just buy it when I see it at a good price but apparently other adults want 'something to open' or have weird notions that they can't just buy a book or nice shower gel in October because they need and want it but it's OK if it's 'for Christmas'. Or they want 'a surprise' so they're willing to risk paying a lot of money for a load of crap by taking out subscriptions or buying mystery gifts. Makes no sense.

It's a bit like having good china or or a nice coat, saving it for best and never actually using it. Just buy the thing you want and use it every day.

Yes, the small print says that there are 30000 calendars filled with costume jewellery, crystals or other crap, 40 each of Hotel Chocolat or bath bombs and 20 of the high value ones. The odds aren't good.

https://www.wowcher.co.uk/page/christmas-advent-calendar-mystery-2025.html

Maybe for next year ask a friend if they can do it if you give them some money. I’d be stressed if someone asked me to do it now, as still so much to buy, but it a friend asked me in early December for example i’d be more than happy to do it. Always nice to get some surprises.

Buy a few things that you love and pop them into your stocking. I always keep a list of things I’d like but don’t buy for myself for whatever reason. I always think I’d actually rather buy some of those things for myself to open on Christmas Day than get gifts from the other half. You have the perfect excuse to do just that. Are there any items you’ve had yours eye on or thought you’d quite like but just haven’t treated yourself to? Do it now! It doesn’t have to be expensive or fancy, just something/s that you know you’d love or enjoy. Order them, don’t open them, gift wrap them and open on Xmas day.

Liberty has lovely toiletry bags with a variety of skincare and makeup products around £100. They are a treat to open and discover new stuff. How about one of those and some chocs and bubbly? Sslfridges, John Lewis and others have similar offerings.

Thank you for that, I've just ordered one for my DMIL!

I always like to buy myself some Christmas presents. My DH will buy me some nice things but he is not a mind reader so might not get the exact bag or make up or jewellery that I wanted. He will buy high end though and it is always to my taste. So I just go ahead and buy myself whatever I want and then anything else he gets me is extra! I don’t do a stocking for myself though. Just main presents. The stockings are only for the kids in our household and I’m tired sorting those out! DH and I buy each other 2-3 nice gifts. He has an expensive bottle of whisky, Hermes eau de toilette and after shave balm, and table football this year. We try to make one present a bit lighthearted/fun. My parents and sibling live abroad so I don’t get anything for Christmas from them. My kids are still primary school age so can’t really get much though they did buy DH and myself a present from the school PTA christmas shop. That will be a surprise! 😂

I think buying presents all year round and packing them immediately would mean when Christmas comes around you would have forgotten what you bought! Not a good idea for this year but something to keep on mind for future. If you are into beauty stuff the advent calendars are fab. For the first time I treated myself to the Look fantastic calendar and it has been amazing! So if you can buy any of the ones you fancy and open all the boxes on Christmas it would be a really fancy stocking! If money is no object then there are loads of ideas.

I do.

You seem nice, by the way.

Lovely sensitive post there …

I would definitely buy your stocking presents, if I were your friend.

I hope you have a lovely day abd enjoy your presents.

Thanks for this thread! I’m also a single parent and just ordered myself a “Surprise Me” box from Treatbox.

Hope you have a lovely Christmas OP!

If I was your friend and everyone else had families I would make an exception and buy you one anyway!