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!

We spend a lot, around £100 on each of the dds so far. Less, possibly £50 on ds.
But they are pillowcases rather than stockings as they also contain some of the things they've asked fc for.
They don't also get a massive FC haul downstairs, usually one further 'main' present from him. This year, roller skates.
Their pillowcases always have a pair of slippers, a pair of pyjamas and a cuddly toy too, which helps bulk it out a bit - have you ever tried to fill a pillowcase?! They're bloody huge

There's a really cheap srall on our market where you can buy pens, rubbers, sticker books etc for about 10-20p a go. It's marvellous. Helps keep tbe stocking cost to about £10 each.

I think about £25-£30 on each child (we have 4). Less on DH. Have done stockings for my parents, DSIS her DP and my gorgeous squidgy nephew which are around £15.
However the bargain thread has served me very well and have managed to get loads for my money. DD for example has a Benefit make up set with an RRP of £25 but I got it for £5.

£10 max (middley size)

This year for the 5 and 3yos contain:
character socks £2.50
blind character bag £2.50
pot of playdoh 50p
Christmas shaped cookie cutter 99p
2x finger puppets 33p
Kinder chocolate selection £2
Satsuma!

Bargain thread brilliant for stocking fillers.

Damsel you've made me feel all nostalgic. I used to get my presents in a pillowcase if we were at GP's I used to spend ages looking through my Grandmas linen chest comparing sizes. I can almost smell the lovely clean smell

Ah NotSo, that's sweet
The dds decorated theirs about 5 years ago and every year they come out, they cringe at their drawings and spellings but I insist on using them again!

Ds1 has:

Toy story interactive woody (bought as a set with buzz which is going to be wrapped up and come from his auntie and uncle in the USA) £45 set so £22.50 each.

Chocolate coins 50p
Wilko binoculars and funny face disguise £1 each I think
Small pack dried mixed fruit 50p
Spiderman electric tooth brush £5
Jake and the neveland pirates magic flannel £1

Then I got his auntie in america to ship over a hot wheels colour change gift set that he really wanted and I couldn't get over here. That's his only other present from us.

He is getting a tractor and trailer from my parents and a Spiderman figure from my in laws. that's all.

Ds2 is a baby so is getting teethers and clothes in his stocking! And nothing else.

So around £35 stocking.

I think the dcs stockings cost about £25 each. They are from santa and include mostly pound shop goodies - bath bombs, bubble bath, socks, pens etc. Then I add some goodies - candy cane, sweets, choc coins etc. plus a few nice gifts - official rainbow loom kit (2.99 from amazon! ), primark handbag, annual etc.

Oh and I have just remembered that I ordered Anna and Elsa rag dolls from the Disney store to peek out of the top with a choc santa. So maybe they cost about £40 ish each. They also have santa gifts under the tree .

Well thanks to this thread I've now added a scooter bell to each of their stockings at a cost of £6 per child.

No more now!

Its amazing how it quickly adds up! In my DDs (20 months) is;
Frozen Book
Pop Up Book
2 x That's Not My Books
Peppa Pig Book
Belle & Boo Wash Mit and Bubble Bath
3 DVDs (Up, Finding Nemo and Happy Feet)
A dress for her new dolly
Malteser Reindeer
Smartie Penguins
Kinder Set
Thorntons Angel
Chocolate Coins
Satsuma
I think I've spent about 50!

We open our stockings first thing on Christmas morning, usually all snuggled in bed. Then we go through to see what Santa has left us in the living room. Presents from Santa (and each other) on the Sofas, presents from others (family, friends) under the tree. Its lovely to hear what everyone else does!

Our stockings are really small!
DD (5) will have:
Rubber chicken that she always wants in a local shop and I always say is rubbish.
A book
Some festive hair tat
A little trinket box shaped like a cake
A Lindt Santa or reindeer
Chocolate coins
Satsuma

DS (2) will have:
A small helicopter
A new toothbrush
A book
Chocolate Santa
Chocolate coins
Satsuma

Maybe a couple of other small items if I see something this week. DD could manage more pens, I'm sure.

Stopped doing Stockings when my eldest was 25 and brought a partner home for Christmas for the first time-didn't really want him on the end of my bed for the Opening Ceremony (and I wouldn't know what to buy a boy). Quite sad really, as it was the best bit of Christmas Day (sobs quietly). DH, who is Bah Humbug about Christmas, and had no idea what was in them, would do a brilliant job of ooing and aahing and saying how clever Father Christmas was... I digress.
I always tried to put in useful but nice things they wanted or needed , never 'crap' . Plus chocolate (usually strictly rationed).Trouble was the number grew to about 25 things each as we got better off/older, until I was spending up to £100 on each DD by the time they were mid teens (they got only one 'main' present, in addition , price varied from year to year) . One reason I stopped.
However they now of course get a hefty cheque , or, as yesterday, spent £117 on younger daughter for a rucksack and various hiking related gear. But it is her Feb birthday gift as well. So I end up buying little presents to unwrap 'on the day' as well. Probably about £50 each...but I love getting them surprises as well as books etc I know they will like. You can't win . !
DH and I don't 'do' big presents as we travel a lot and spend a lot of money on it. But this year I have bought him, to unwrap (despite the Bah Humbugness, he loves presents)
Electric Razor (Tesco vouchers, doubled, £45 -in effect free.Needed for travelling on cheap airlines with hand luggage. He usually wet shaves)
Slippers (at his request. £25 Fat Face-the half way up your leg fluffy lined kind)Not what I call 'old man' slippers( he is 63).
two Cds about £10
Some 'posh' whiskey £25.
and, because he rather mournfully said he'd like some chocolate ( I ration him too), I am putting together a little hamper of as many different bars as I can find, including one or two 'posh' ones . The hamper was £10 but will remain 'in the family'/reusable . The contents however will probably cost me a small fortune but I'm not going to add it up. Hey, it's Christmas

Stockings (sacks) are a big thing in this house (my fault for starting the tradition). I collect little gifts for them throughout the year and each daughter ends up with about 40 small presents in their stocking. Some are tiny and cheap (chocs, sweets, craft paper, lip balm) and some are more expensive. There are usually a couple of joke presents. I have probably spent about $500 (NZ) so 250 pounds on each stocking by Christmas eve. It's a big ritual, they absolutely love them and sit on the end of my bed opening each present slowly. It's the best bit of Christmas day.

When they were little, the presents used to be quirky, hand made toys. Now there's a lot more make up, clothes and gadgety things. Just one main present under the tree.

Probably about £75, though it is things they tend to need,

Stationary set
Toothbrush
ITunes voucher
Chocolate coins
Socks
Pants
Smellies
Dvd
Cd
Book
A game for wii

It is definitely getting more expensive as they get older!

I admit I spend quite a bit, but I absolutely love Christmas and enjoy giving pressies. I spread the buying out so it doesn't kill us (I am a sahm and dp is on a moderate salary) and I tend to decide after I have bought everything what goes in the Santa sacks and what goes under the tree. More goes into the sacks than under the tree (from us), obviously they get other stuff from family.

This stems from my childhood I think, we hardly got any gifts from extended family so mum and dad bought us more to make up for it. They were not well off, but always made our Christmases so magical and I try to do the same for my children.

Blimey, my kids stockings contain a tangerine, some nuts, a few chocolates, about 6 chocolate coins each, a small wind up toy costing 25p, a sparkly pencil and a few bits and pieces left over from party-bag stuff.

How do you FIT all of that stuff into a sock anyway?

How do you fit a Christmas jumper, pjs, books and DVDs in a sock?

I blame the marketing departments of superstores. I never did understand the whole 'range of stocking fillers from £10' or whatever. If it is £10 it is a present, not a stocking filler which has the sole purpose of occupying the kids so the parents can have a lie in and should always be full of things the parents don't need to witness their kids opening.

Dd 16
Perfume set 42
Makeup brush, plasters, tissues, erasers 4
Jelly beans 6
Mac makeup 30
Cake in a mug 9
Blogger book 13
Total 104

Just totalled the others and its between 104 and 130 each. Mix of sweets and silly things but mainly proper things.

really really at the amount spent on stockings. My 6 just have chocolate and cheap stuff. I don't spend over 10 pounds per child. Mind you I've hardly got any money anyway so my whole life is lived on a budget.

I spend roughly 30 pounds on their main presents now. In the past when I had more money I suppose they used to get more, however, I don't think more is better. It simply creates the expectation that they SHOULD get more and more.

This year less than normal, the usual fun Christmas small toy stuff wasn't getting used. We had a chat about this. We use actual socks - stretchy big ones - so things need to be smallish. Not sure on cost but it's looking like this (DS 11 Ds13)
Choc orange
Satusma, walnut
Choc coins
Candle 75p
Whistle keyring to find keys £4
Minecraft thing £3
Multicoloured ink cartridges £1.50
Toothbrush £2
Xmas boxers or socks if I find some £3
Pen £2
Iron-on initial patch 60p
Sweets £3
Tibetan prayer flags £3
Soap £2

They will also get a main gift c£35 and dressing gown, game, top, book, hobby related bits.
Actually am finding it hard to cut down, that comes to nearly £30! 11yo told me that when he wakes in the night at Christmas and feels his stocking on the end of the bed he brings it in to bed with him and cuddles it until morning. heartstring twang

If I get around to it Dh will get toothbrush, choc orange, socks, lip salve, tin of butter beans - he loves them.

My kids get a main present of around £30 each, and then about 2 more each of around £10 each and then a couple of around £5.

Their stocking usually contain stuff I already have in the house plus a small wind up toy or note book or something.

I believed that our kids were absolutely spoiled by the above and justified it by the fact that they don't get toys or any additional clothes to necessity during the year at any other time and that Christmas is supposed to be a time of indulgence as much as can be afforded.

I do things like buy a pack of 4 playdough tubs and wrap them individually for various kids etc. to make more of a stash.

I thought my kids were so lucky and felt proud of my ability to give them what I felt was an outstanding and amazing Christmas.

Now I feel positively deflated. We aren't poor. Where do people GET so much money?

I didn't mean to do a bold heartstring twang, that was an error of inexperience. I thought I was on twitter. It was asterixes.