Adult stocking fillers, average cost £1

[RockingMyFiftiesNot]

Our adult DCs were shocked when I suggested discontinuing stockings, it's something we've always done and they want to continue as it's part of Christmas as they know it..(They do receive other 'main' presents, this is just fun & tradition).

We've compromised on picking names out of a hat so we each do one stocking for another family member. We've agreed on a £10 - £12 total spend for 8-10 gifts each stocking. Free or 2nd hand stuff is acceptable. Aim should be for items the recipient would use/appreciate to minimise waste. Something funny always goes down well but not always easy to find within the budget.

I've absolutely no doubt that they will all come to me for ideas at some point! Plus I have my recipient's stocking to fill.

Please can you help with ideas for low cost, low tat stocking fillers. Average price should be about £1 - £1.50, getting something for free means you can spend more on another item.

When I was making them all, I'd sometimes pick up multi packs of eg sports socks or soaps and split between the relevant recipients. That can still be done by consultation with a couple of the other givers, so similar ideas welcome.

Examples of things I've put in stockings In the past:
free perfume samples that were given out when walking through Boots.
'As new' looking books when a local charity shop was having an 'everything £1' sale.
Brand new Debenhams boxed photo frame bought in same £1 scale

Jars of herbs & spices
Jars of Marmite/Nutella
Practical things like sellotape, string, glue
Sweets & chocolate
Pringles, nuts, pork scratchings
Herb seeds
Bulbs (the planting sort!)
'Everyday' shower gel / deo
Notebooks/pads
Emery boards
Car air fresheners
Candles
Herbal tea bags
And many more things but you get the idea!

Thank you!

@Autumnleaves4 older boys are THE hardest I think !

Some thoughts;
pot noodle/mugshot sachet/instant noodles - they are always hungry at that age!

Your youngest might enjoy a 'cake in a mug' sachet mentioned up thread?

Pork crackling; Pringles

A pack of their favourite biscuits

Sport Socks - if they are in the same size range you could buy a multi pack and split. Ditto boxers.

Lidl/Aldi usually do Christmas beers, add in a bottle opener

One of my DCs used to love Nandos , I put a bottle of Nandos peri peri sauce in his stocking and he was delighted.
Nutella was always a sumner holiday treat for our kids, a jar in a stocking always went down well.
They loved peanut butter but could get through a jar between them in one go so I stopped buying it routinely. Made it more of a treat in their stocking.
A friend was showing me a book she'd got for her DS reduced in the works, something like 'Things to do while you poo' . Can't see them online but am going to try to get one for one of my DCs who sits for ages on the loo!

I like getting new Christmas tree decorations in my stocking.

Tube of Pringles.

Thanks!! I like the idea of stickers. Will have a mooch in the works today. I’ve seen some reusable stickers which might be good.

Home bargains et Al are my go to for these

Came here to say the same thing, sparked by the chat on the frugal Christmas thread. You can get the nice ones made or just do a personalised one with felt and a bit of ribbon if you're crafty. I also love the knitted ones with a ferrero rocher in.

Flying tiger have loads of useful/quirky bits for a pound or 2

Thanks @Disgruntledpelicanlady

Thank you, have seen a few bits I might order from there. Wish it had been around for stocking fillers when my DC were little!

@Deckthewallswithpaintandplaydough Flying Tiger might have some bits suitable for your DD?

Ooh will go after work, I think there’s one on Oxford street? If there is, I work near there.

Manicure set from home bargains around £2.00.
always useful.

Kenji are good for bits for adults but they don't sell online you need an actual shop.

For kids we have previously got over many many years....

Marshmallows
Funny fingered Gloves
Mini torch
Fan
Chopsticks
Plastic Beaker
Shark tooth necklace
Little kinetic sand treasure box thing
Lego minifigure keyring
Stickers
Smelly Crayola pens
Small Book of mazes from the works
Tub of slime (mum doesn't allow slime so helps the magic of Christmas)
Hot chocolate sachets in flavours
Tube of jelly beans
Little metal puzzles
Chocolate cereal (another not allowed item)
Bright Sprinkles for cakes
Novelty pen
Magic Face cloths
Rainbow bath bombs
Bath slime (this was shit)
Bath crayons
Bath water flutes
Woolly hat
Flying saucer sherbet sweets
Those little magic boxes where you turn a handle and it plays part of a tune
Clattering wind up teeth (a big hit)
Hot wheels car
Mr man Christmas book
IKEA big teddy
Balloon car
Jumping spider
Other joke items like magic box
Spy pen
Cool laces
Little lights you can attach to laces
Those other things you put on laces like faces, pizza, cats etc
Stickers for bike helmet
Lights for bike wheels
Bell or noise thing for bike
Bike bottle or new water bottle
Their own screwdriver
Chinese jumping rope? Like elastic you put around ankles
Bananagrams
Other card games like Uno.
Magnets
Marbles (House of marbles have some great toys online)
Wooden disc on a string where you spin it and it's an illusion
Badges
Bike gloves
UV Face Paint
Ruler with name on it
Door plaque with name on it
Poster for room
Hacky sack? Beanbag thing
Bum bag
Wallet
Waterproof money holder thing
Spoons for hot chocolate that had characters on the end.
Flavoured straws, you put in milk and it's full of like balls and it's like drinking milkshake (kids favourite thing ever costs about a pound)
Chocolate coins of course
A giant chocolate coin (blew their minds at about age 4)
Melting hot chocolate bombs but these were shit really for the cost
Top Trumps
Halloween mask
American candy or other foreign novelty food, loved the Japanese whistle sweets
Mini Nutella packs
Colour changing bubble bath (loved this)
Coloured hair spray
Tattoos
Poi or other circus skills things
Little box that you press buttons on and it makes lots of sound effects (bloody loved this one but still in use and really annoying ten years later!)
Bike repair kit
Money box that made a noise
Camping tin mug
Inflatable pillow for camping
Head massager
Unusual flavour jam or peanut butter
Colouring book
Paint with water little book (loved this at 3-5 years)
Glitter paint (glitter not usually allowed in house, one pound from the works)
Harry potter wand (Aldi sell off potter stuff cheap every so often)
Jokes every x year old should know book
Fidget cubes
Rubix toys (they do all sorts)
Fluffy bed socks
Solar powered nodding creature for windows sill
Mini wind chime or dreamcatcher
Those balls that throw like a frisbee but they then turn into a ball
Nerf bullets

Try to buy proper toys rather than cheaper plastic tat so it can be passed down.

We generally do about four or five gifts and then pad out with a dressing gown or PJ's.
Stockings are my favourite thing about Christmas!

Oops sorry just saw it said adult in the title 🤣

Oh I think I need a mini colander 🤣
Any idea where MIL bought it from?

Wilko do a mini collander for £1. Currently showing as out of stock online, but may be worth a look instore.

That's ok, am happy for people to share ideas for DCs, as long as we have plenty for adults!

Thanks, I’ll take a look.

I picked up a car sticker for my ds 20 for £1.39 in the range - will also add a car air freshener.

this is a fab thread!! I’ve got lots of ideas for ds20 and ds16 so thank you @RockingMyFiftiesNot for starting it!

Glad you are finding it useful @Beautifulsunflowers

Am impressed with how many fab, useful, non-tat suggestions there have been on this thread, and hopefully more to come.

There's no reason adults shouldn't enjoy stockings and they don't have to cost the earth. Adds a bit of magic, especially for adult children who would often prefer money as a main gift so otherwise would have little to open.

Has someone mentioned the Terry's chocolate orange?

Kids list - I quite like a theme so maybe a wooden sheep toy, some wooly socks, chocolate sheep food (or choc sheep poo because maturity levels), sheep shaped bath bomb, Shaun the sheep book/bath toy, and a hot chocolate ball with the little marshmallows on it shaped like a pigeon (baaaad joke).

Sugar mice with string tails.

Bottle opener key rings are always useful and you’d be able to find one for £1 somewhere. Maybe even a novelty one?

Also a spirit level key ring could be useful to some.

The cans of pre-mixed cocktails/gin and tonic/rum and Coke etc can be bought for £1 or less in a lot of the supermarkets.

Bags of sweets/chocolate or perhaps a mini pick and mix?

Bookmark if they like reading.

Candles or reed diffusers (if they like that sort of thing) can be found cheaply enough.

Hand cream is always useful too.

Phone charger cable might be found within budget (or just an idea for those with different budgets).

You can usually get small packs of fairy lights/lights on a wire in Poundland.

I definitely think something Christmas themed - socks, tie, key ring, hair bobble etc or some sort of Christmas decoration.

I’ll let you know if I have any more ideas 😊

Look round Poundland & Flying Tiger

Honestly OP this is super helpful. You have given me so many ideas!

I have younger kids and I am thinking in terms of party bag things that can be adjusted for adults. You can get sometimes on Amazon cool key rings in a bundle and the single one come to around £1. Like this: https://amzn.eu/fNV0NGJ

Other stationary themes stuff: sticky note packs, pencils or pens in multipacks, highlighters...

Also for people with hair that is tie-able... you can buy satin fold over elastic in any colour and do hair bands. I will add some links but this will come in as very cost effective. You can also buy them ready made for ease too.

Fold over elastic: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/123635723443?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=GhtcTIDFQiq&sssrc=2349624&ssuid=K3IU3zo3TyW&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

Hair ties would look like this based on the colours you choose:
Knot Elastic Hair Ties, https://amzn.eu/bMPfKTW

Will keep thinking... my favourite kind of problem

My DS always gets Blu Tack at Christmas. Long tradition, he's 26 now.

@luckylavender I'm now picturing your son out with his mates -
"What did your mum give you for Xmas?"
"Blu tac"
"What? Why?"
"Dunno. She's always done it. I've never liked to ask"
"Your mum is weird"
"I know...."
🤣