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

Thanks for the cheese making kit link, that’s a fab gift for the price x

These have just arrived but sadly the expiry date is November 😔

Not sure of the expiry date but Sainsbury’s have mini ones boxed

Beanies Flavoured coffee. Small jars of instant coffee in different flavours.

https://beaniesflavourco.co.uk

My sister got some last year for my nieces. The Range normally have them too

Last year I got my son a personalised bottle of ketchup and a personalised jar of Nutella which he loved.

Love this thread!

F

@Myamoth I’ve just ordered some bits from Cook Serve Enjoy, all in the sale too. Thanks

I've just bought a couple today, thank you so much for the idea.

OMGitsnotgood
Glad you managed to find some - thought they would sell out immediately!
I haven't tasted them...
I am going to put the cassis with a good prosecco to make a gift.

Great idea @gardenmusic . I think a few of them would go well with Prosecco, like the elderflower or orange brandy

My partner and I always do stockings for each other. A lot of the things we put in them are nostalgic, like walnuts, satsumas in the toes, a book, an interesting gadget, socks, a pocket diary. He will buy me the same sort of stuff.

When he was a boy, his mum and dad always put a Cadbury's chocolate orange in his stocking but now he's a grown-up vegan I buy crystallised orange peel dipped in vegan dark chocolate.

Thank you all for lots of great ideas. I usually do stockings for DSs and DH - well small sacks as I found them cheaper to fill when children were small. I usually aim for practical but fun/colourful.
This year I think I will need a few bits for sons partners too so am looking at some of the socks from Fat Face on 3 for 2 and I'm thinking of stainless steel drinking straw sets. There are some on Amazon a bit over the budget for this thread but there are also some on Ebay that start at £5.99 for 1 but come down depending on how many you buy Metal Stainless Steel Drinking Straws Reusable Set with Hard Case - 4 Set | eBay

If you’re not bothered about the carry case, Home Bargains usually do sets of straws, I think they are only around £2 (maybe less)

I love this thread!

Could do with some ideas for DW stocking. She really likes cooking, treat baths, candles, books. (And jellycat toys )

so far I have a book & a gruum set from the bargains thread.

probably have a £30 budget left, our stockings are old pillowcases

I love the ketchup idea! Did not know you could get these! Going to order for my kids

This was posted on the Christmas Bargains thread but thought was worth copying to here as some great jewellery gifts at low prices good for socking fillers/gifts.

Have brought a couple of pieces for the DD Christmas socking and some to put away for gifts.

https://www.carrieelspeth.co.uk/sale

Need to be quick though as think sale ending soon.

heinztohome.co.uk/personalised-tomato-ketchup/14236235.html?_gl=1an0q3k_up*MQ..&gclid=Cj0KCQjwi5q3BhCiARIsAJCfuZms5Fi6AW-JOLM15nqSj8ngmAj59sgByi6l-y17Mi41CmE7P-XgLcYaAhw_EALw_wcB&gbraid=0AAAAAqPxMth9ki61ZU9XNgVXPjVlvWkzH

Many thanks @Thelifeofawife but I liked the idea of a travel case as they would most likely be used when out and about.

@Drawahardline I love cooking too and always appreciate a cookery book to add to my collection, and I don't mind if they are pre-owned as long as in good condition. Jars df herbs and spices which are used in some of the recipes and aren't already in the cupboard.

Herb seeds and small pots to plant them in.

I'll keep thinking

Someone posted about a website called Temptation Gifts, they have some Jellycats in the sale.

Don’t underestimate Home Bargains for pamper/bath things and candles - you can pick up some nice bits there for not much money. Also Boots are doing 50% off certain gifts at the moment, so may be worth a look on their website

Some fab stocking bits on the boots outlet. Boxes of skincare that could be slit. £80 of product for £10 if you use a referral code. I've popped mine on the referral thread if anyone wants it

Thank you to the PP back at the start of this thread for posting the idea of personalised photo printed glasses cleaning cloths.

I ordered one for DH with a photo of one of our dogs - it'll make him laugh because she's forever stealing his cloth, so it might remind him to put it away out of her reach in future!

I bought it from eBay, £2.75 Inc postage. It's a bit smaller than a "proper" cloth (15cm square) but it'll be absolutely perfect.

Last year DH bought a multi pack of colourful thick Norwegian socks and divided them up between our adult DSs and other relatives. One of the most successful stocking pressies ever in our family, everyone loved them!
We've also had success with small emergency phone chargers, glasses and cycle repair kits, nice hair elastics for those with long hair/ man buns, travel size toiletries or refillable bottles, anything from Muji, mini electronics toolkit and favourite snacks ( biltong, posh variety nuts and dried fruits, chocolate covered raisins) .
It gets harder as they get older and can afford to buy whatever they want themselves, but they do always expect underwear and socks, toiletries, a book and a T-shirt- last year we got them Chris Packham and RSPCB ones- nice quality, cool pictures on them, eco friendly and not logo'd.