Adult stocking filler ideas - all year round!

[OMGitsnotgood]

If you're anti Christmas until December or don't agree with stockings for adults, please scroll past.

Our adult children absolutely refuse not to have Christmas stockings, it wouldn't be Christmas without them apparently. Their main present is either something they've asked for or cash. I try to get a couple of other small gifts I know they'd like as a surprise but stockings are here to stay.
I know people have different approaches to stocking fillers, here are the criteria for ours:

Small enough to fit in a stocking (shop bought type not a sock).
Anywhere from 0 - £5 per gift (£0 could be a perfume/aftershave sample)
Must be practical, fun or consumable to avoid wastage.
Can be pre-owned (eg like-new books from a charity shop).
Usual ideas are foodstuffs, snacks, toiletries, DIY bits n bobs, stationery items. All get used but a bit dull, another reason for not leaving it too late to think of things.

I keep a 'Christmas note' on my phone and note ideas all year round. Generally I won't buy until later in the year, it's the ideas that are difficult. I sometimes pick up on things in conversation and add to the note to buy later (eg DS1's girlfriend mentioned how much she loved a certain chocolate bar - now in the list).
Obviously if I spot something that I probably wouldn't be able to get again - something unique or a real bargain, I will buy when I see them but don't go actively looking. Sometimes they are things I stumble across (I recently bought a trolley coin in aid of a charity one of my DCs supports when there was a stall in a service station).

Just been ordering a couple of slimline European usb adapters to take on holiday (see pic) and have ordered a few extra as stocking fillers. Which is what prompted me to start this thread. By starting early, collecting ideas even if not buying, I think you do so with a clearer mind and end up with better stocking fillers than leaving the thinking til December when there is so much else going on.
Not sure if anyone else will be interested in this thread but just in case, would be good to share ideas or things that you've seen that are not the usual everyday items.
I'd appreciate it we could keep this thread for adults stockings only please

Chunky tape dispenser
Colourful themed plasters
Home made truffles/hot chocolate balls
Water bottle in favourite colour (full of chocolate coins)
Magnetic notebook and pen for fridge
Nice quality biros or fine tipped pen/charcoal pencil if arty.
Colourful post it's.
Useful key rings, knife, mini torch, float (if equatically inclined), beeper that responds if you whistle.
Clip on book torch
Silky scarf/hanky
Build your own birdhouse kit or a fancy birdhouse made of grass/colours paper.

I saw it mentioned somewhere on here recently about a pickle spoon - I’d like one for spooning pickle onions/baby beetroot out. It’s a spoon with holes in it. Random I know!

Great thread OP I will be following. I've been on the Christmas thread for years so will rack my brains of popular bits and bobs, as I also have a list on my phone of bits through the year for DH. For now I have A beanie hat with a light on, good for runners, dog walkers etc for the winter. An endoscope for your phone (for tricky places to fix etc behind radiators, cars) I got one last year for a few quid on Amazon.

Love your style OP, I’m a Christmas planner too. Stockings- wise I think mini cans of alcohol, glossier products, a special soap (I got the chateau du Saxon recommendation from MN and they’re very good), ‘weird’ foods, like not inedible or anything, but small pack of mini gherkins, or something else unusual because it’s mini. Japanese chocolate, or generally something international that’s a treat and interesting. Prestige products, like a jam from fortum and mason, that they wouldn’t usually buy. Insert any product they particularly love…

Great thread, OP, and I love the Christmas ideas list, I'll be making one right away. So my stocking filler go-to list consists of:
Scented candles
Home perfume (like this mist, for example)
Personalized desk calendars
Various lip balms and butters
Skincare or hand creams
Bath bombs
Funny gloves and socks
Chocolates or other sweet treats for those who like them

@JenniferGreenHat
This is brilliant
A dd and dil will love these !

Some of mine are teens but I've one adult.
I always do fluffy socks, chocolate orange, tube of smarties (or after 8s), gold chocolate coins (they still insist on them), a perfume & things like a keyring or pin if they have a special interest.
A bit over a fiver but I'm going to give them one of the slim 30ml edp from Zara each this year.

Last year, I had a stroke of genius and did a sock Advent calendar, as I was sick of seeing the teen, open up a calendar and throw the tat in there away. This year it will be pants... socks and pants are picked up during the year, from sales in TK Max, Sainsburys and Primani.

How about also adding in some of the mini jams and the little phone stands from IKEA.

That's exactly the sort of thing I would put in a stocking - along with a jar of olives! Thank you

Great suggestions thank you

'Weird foods' - perfect suggestion, especially for the men as I find their stockings harder to fill. DDs are so much easier

Hadn't realised there were so many suggestions so won't carry on thanking everyone individually - THANK YOU all, wasn't sure this thread would take off, 'think I've found my people' to use a MN cliche

Garden twine, the hairy sort - about £1.00 a small roll. I find it strangely attractive.

This! Best thing in my stocking last year - long silicone spoon with bendy spoon head so you can scrape things out of packets and your ninja blender glass etc.

Depends on how old the adult children are but tiny hands went down well here last year, it is apparently an insta thing. Face masks too. Tupperware type containers if they are taking lunches into work.

Novelty door wedges www.meetthewedgies.com My lot loved these! Also trolley token on key ring, silver cloth for jewellery, a back scratcher

Take away reusable coffee / tea cups
fancy Paket of coffee from their preferred coffee shop
cookie cutters
hot sauce samples
fridge magnets
seeds for growing unusual herbs / chilies
fancy cupcake sprinkles
hot lunches thermos
bubble bath
sleep mask
small umbrella

Superman socks/Star wars socks.
Large Toblerone
Star Wars car air freshener. Darth Vader a favourite.
Key ring Marvel character
Car cleaning kit
Car windscreen scraper with a glove hand
Harry Potter travel drinks cup
Chocolate orange
Top Trumps of some kind every year my 2 adults sons like to play this.
Bottle opener can get a Homer Simpson one
Bar of handmade soap
Little bag with initial on use for medication or coins for parking.
Gloves
Tin of shortbread
Beer glass with bottle of beer
Tube of Smarties
Box of After Eights
A Book. I look for an autobiography of a sports person in a charity shop. I've often found a footballer or cricket star one.
A DIY tool. Screwdriver or metal tape measure.
Joke gift washing up brush and a tea towel because they'll need one each to dry dishes after meal. 🤣

Following for ideas:

Packet of seeds
Moisturiser with spf
Trainer wipes
Lottery ticket
Magazine, although hard to get under a fiver
A book
Anti freeze tablets for car
Hot chilli sauces
Shower gel

For my DD
Face masks
Hot oil conditioner
Hand made soap
Craft item. A stamp. Scissors with fancy cut.
Xmas Pen
Xmas Bopper things on a head band to wear to Xmas events.
Lip gloss
Spot cover up stick
Flannel
Wash bag
Travel sewing kit.
Travel mini spray deodorant
Shampoo bar
Conditioning bar for hair
Xmas bauble
Lindt Xmas reindeer
Xmas Hair bobbles
Key ring with initial on
Charity shop cookery book

Fabulous thread!
I've just ordered the European usb adaptor.

M&S have really nice mini fragrances (men and women) that are around £5 - they also make great cracker prizes too if you make your own crackers.

We also do the little ninja window climber things (I have no idea what they are actually called) and of course have a few races.

Great idea for a thread. I also have two adults who refuse to give up their stockings from Santa too 😂 following with interest

I have found my people

Fancy tea bags or coffee
Tea Pigs fruit tea
Mini umbrella
Make up bag
Small sketch book and pencil
Diary
Keyring
Essential oils
Bubble bath
Lush bath bomb
Fancy soap
Washi tape
Luxury shampoo mini
Box of 100 William Morris postcards
Colour change light bulb
Incense sticks
Hairbrush
Stickers
Massage bath sponge
Art poster
Vintage cup and saucer from 2nd hand shop
Flower press
Sun catcher
Lace fingerless gloves
Thermal tights
C.D
Coin purse
Tin of frankincense resin
Egg cup
Unpainted nesting dolls
Art pens
Piggy bank
Beeswax sandwich wraps
Wildflower bomb
Acrylic paint pens
Bookmarks
2nd hand vinyl 12” single
Tin of plectrums.