Stocking fillers.

[CishAndFips]

I'm stuck on stocking fillers for 3 year old DD and 8 year old DS. As cheap as possible.

Do you have a Tiger store near you?

Tiger is a great shout

Yup, TIGER is the best!

Every few weeks I visit Poundland, where I have found some brilliant finds (all for £1 each):

• Jurassic world stationary
• playmobil blind bags
• Barbie mini dolls
• Dino trux diecast vehicles

EBay - Pokemon figures and you can also get the cheap pokeballs but they tend to break so if you want pokeballs, get a couple of the more expensive ones with a bunch of the Pokemon figures.
And "Lego men" (from China but you cannot tell the difference) in big sets and work out around 50p each usually.

I usually use the Lego figures to make their Christmas crackers and then stick a bunch on their stockings.

Wilko has quite a good pocket money toy section too. I got yo-yo's, soldiers, dinosaurs, binoculars. All stuff thebkids actually want to play with. They have a lot of junk too, but you can find stuff that will actually be enjoyed and not wasted.

Thank you all. I've never heard of tiger I'll have a look into that. I'll definitely have a look in Wilko and pound land, I hadn't thought of those. Ds isn't really into pokemon or lego unfortunately. He's not really a toy person at all.

Perhaps a bit young for this: Victorinox Swiss Card

toolazy he would love that. I don't know how much I could trust him with it though. Will definitely keep it in mind for a later date though.

I bought the best book for my bf as a teenager but I do not remember the name. It was a how to guide to useful life skills, such as how to change a light bulb, and just generally survive adulting.

ThinkGeek.com is expensive but great for inspiration

The range is good for notebooks/pens/felts/small crafty stuff/stickers

Same with Wilko's

Saw some nice craft kits for a couple of quid in Hobbycraft a couple of year ago

Supermarket/pound shop for small packs of chocolate/sweets/coins

When ours were little and money was tight we filled stockings wtthings they needed anyway rater then lots of overpriced tat. A few bits of rubbish but socks, underwear, pencil cases and colouring things, activity stuff - ballet pumps, book of music, swimming goggles etc toiletries like Matey, hair scruchies, a book and comic, a DVD, then gold coins, cheap nail varnish or lipstick for dressing up, little flying things or jumping plastic animals, magic tricks.
It’s much the same now they’re adults!

Not necessarily the cheapest things but mine always get pants and socks (and when little babies dummies/bibs) ie things they get anyway. Magazines/comics rolled up are good (I never usually buy my kids those). I avoid getting loads of tat now because it just makes me guilty when it inevitably goes straight in the bin.

If you’re aiming at getting an extra half hour of sleep this is a good stocking formula:

Orange in the toe (they don’t have to like it; it’s traditional!)
Rolled up comic/ coloring book/ sticker book/ joke book/ puzzle book (great space filler and might keep them busy for a bit. Be sure to include some crayons or a pencil if needed)
Socks (in the hope that they will put them on straight away and not get cold enough to wake you for an extra few minutes)
Chocolate/sweets (so they don’t get hungry)
Small toy

I stupidly thought it would be cute having a teddy peeping out of the top of the stocking which is now a tradition even though we’re completely overwhelmed with soft toys.

Around about now I start to take a keener interest in what they’re playing with and talking about and hope to get inspiration that way. My DS is hooked on Nutella so i’ll get him a personalised sticker from eBay and put it on a jar. Both DCs will get a voucher for their favourite milkshake shop in town and a set of personalised felt tips. I’ve also bought them some nested snack boxes for their lunchboxes. Father Xmas always bring pants and this year I’ll anticipate the inevitable and put some gloves in too for when they next lose one.

They’ll both get a book and some pick and mix from Wilkos. They might also get a new flannel and some fancy bath stuff.

I tend to go more for stuff that gets used up or nicer versions of things they need anyway so that the tat mountain in our house doesn’t expand by too much.

Tub of bubbles.
Slime.
A yo yo.
Rubik's Cube.
Soap on a rope.
Small box of their favourite cereal for breakfast.
Can of fizzy drink (especially if they are not normally allowed it!)
Juggling balls.
Dressing up accessories for the little one, eg sunglasses, jewellery.

I am a saddo and collect throughout the 3yr mg boys will be 4 and 8 this xmas.

We try to stick to a max of £2 per item and not over £20 stockings are from Santa.

Mashems have been down to about a pound in Tesco sale so have a few of those
Lego blind bags 99p currently in Argos
3yr old shaped crayons broight cheap from a supermarket
3yr old some playmobil figures again Amazon bargains for £1.49
Playmobil blind bags currently in Poundland
New character boxers I do a big sports direct shop online few times a yr often get a fun pair each for £2 and got dh matching bat man ones last yr too kids thought it was great
Chocolate

Other things they habe gone down well are mini books, key ring torches, funky pen sets

Check out toysforapound online as lots good stuff there

Not a stocking filler, but I thought might interest 8yo:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ravensburger-Thinkfun-Rush-Hour-Junior/dp/B00GRV5JNY/ref=mpssa115?ie=UTF8&qid=1535179101&sr=8-5&pi=ACSX2366SY340QL65&keywords=rush+hour+game&dpPl=1&dpID=61Aie7WuKXL&ref=plSrch

(I linked the junior version, there is also an adult one)

Have a look at the Toys for a Pound website.

Ah someone beat me to it, I was also going to say the Toys for a Pound website, I've got loads for 4yr old DD from there and postage is reasonable too.

Since they started school, they get bright coloured, patterned socks. DS’s only issue with starting school was having to wear grey socks! 5 years later us a bit of a tradition.

I’ve tried to move away from too much novelty crap and instead have fun items of things DS will use.

This year he’s having:

• Bath crayons
• Minions toothbrush
• Lego cutlery set
• Chocolate Orange
• Octonauts slime pot
• drink bottle (not chosen which one yet)
• magic flannel
• Spot the Difference book
• CBeebies annual
• kaleidoscope
• story torch

@BangingOn
Be careful with the bath crayons, I got some given to us a gift and then marked my bath 🛀 I can't remember what make they were but it was a nightmare as we were about to move out of a rental I had to hire a steam cleaner!!!!!

Some great ideas tho everyone!!

Oh no, that’s not good! We’ve had these particular crayons a few times and they’ve been fine thank goodness. They are a Japanese brand and they aren’t the cheapest but they don’t stain and last for ages.