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

One thing I'm thinking of for my dad is one of those twizzler things for breaking up mince

For stockings, I tend to buy products that I know the recipient will use. It avoids clutter.

Treaclemoon shower gel. They sell a Sol de Janerio dupe and a Snow Fairy (Lush) dupe. They retail for £1.99 in Boots and Tesco.

A moisturiser and/or cleanser. The Aveeno oat range is lovely. They sell them at Amazon and Boots.

Cotton hair towel (hair turban).

Sanctuary Spa Wet Skin body lotion. You apply the lotion straight out of the shower and then towel dry. It’s a game changer. They do other scents, rather than just the signature Sanctuary Spa set. I think they cost £8 at Boots, but are frequently on sale.

A trolley coin keychain has been a game changer for DP and I because we don’t carry cash! Good for gyms too. We got ours from Home Bargains.

Small pack of chocolates, fudge or sweets.

Nice Socks.

Stockings are always my favourite part of Christmas Day. Something about the way a knitted stocking bulges out and crackles with the oddly shaped presents.

I do stockings for my DH, DC (tween and teen) and last year started doing it for my DM too.

Things I like to include:

Something unusual to eat - for example Korean or Japanese snacks/ chocolate.

Bookmarks - I really like leather ones

Keyrings - sometimes with a photo in them or a cute/ daddy toy on them

Smellies - a bath bomb, a body spray, small perfumes or aftershaves

Jewellery - small earrings/ bracelet or brooch. Not expensive just from shops like fatface or little boutiques

I don't set a budget and I often buy things when I see them all year round

I bought a few bits in the Rex London sale, playing cards, mini sewing kit, small food flask.

For young adult DC I buy beauty bundles on vinted - from all the people who are selling the bits they didn’t want from their advent calendars 🤣 I have got loads of great items this way and not paid very much. Maybe I shouldn’t be sharing my secret 🤫

Think rolled up magazine was mentioned? It's over budget but Radio Times do a magazine guide of films with 5 star reviews you could roll up and stick an elastic band round.

I bought a music magazine for the first time in years this month because it features one of my favourite artists, partly for the "free" cd compilation of his work, and it struck me as a decent stocking filler type add on. You can probably get old back copies on eBay if there's a favourite to search for. I remember having one with a cd that was made up of songs from artists who influenced of one of my favourite artists. If that makes sense!

That’s a good idea. I’ve bought reduced beauty boxes from Boots in the past with items from some really good brands. One year I got their Mothers Day box really cheaply in about November and another time their summer box.

I often include a magazine, related to the recipient’s hobbies or interests.

Re over budget: if one or two items are a bit more expensive, it doesn’t matter if it balances out across the stocking. For some people, ‘stocking filler’ means something small, regardless of cost eg perfume at £100 or so. Not for me, that would be the main present.

For us - and this thread - it’s more about well thought out, lower cost items that can be used and enjoyed.

As four of my recipients have moved house this year, and all to old 'character' properties, I am going to go for a poke around some antique/junk shops for some little old pieces - nothing expensive but with a bit of history behind them. They all want to bring out the character in their houses, so, for example, an old silver spoon or a carved light pull, anything that will reflect the ages of their houses (mostly Victorian) might be nice.

I love that idea @Vroomfondleswaistcoat

@Vroomfondleswaistcoat you have reminded me - wooden carved love spoons. I think they have different meanings in different carvings but I mainly like the designs.

I like a coaster too, with something personal on like a favourite landmark or scene.

Apologies if I’ve already posted about these wallets but it has been the best gift I’ve ever bought for DH. https://amzn.eu/d/gMQxqmg

I only bought it because he had been after a slim wallet for going out with but it has been in daily use since he got it last Christmas and still looks smart (I bought it in the blue).

I was ordering some unusual fidget toys for a couple of kids in the family and it occurred to me that some of them would suit some of the adults too. Such as my dad, who sits at the table after meals messing with the coasters, lining them up and tapping them about and is fidgety in general. I ordered this for him, and a sensory roll. Can't vouch for quality as not come yet but since it's female run company so I was inclined to give them a go

https://www.flexifidgets.co.uk/products/star-shapeshifter

I am also fidget, can't sit still and end up doodling in long meetings....I got myself this doodle book (not for in meetings!) and am really enjoying it. They do a range of them such as shapes in clouds

https://blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/product/Hirameki-by-Peng-artist-Hu-artist/9780500292488

If you have any Lego loving family members worth checking out Aldi Special Buys as I found some little sets for under £3 that will fit in a socking.

There are also various Pokemon items such as figures in Pokeballs which were all under £10.

The only Lego sets I found in my local Aldi were still £7 or £7.99. Was it the small boxes you found in yours?

I often include a magazine, related to the recipient’s hobbies or interests.

i buy old ones off eBay. Like old kerrangs and whatcars related to a car or band they like.

https://www.lakeland.co.uk/46737/lakeland-3-in-1-mini-vacuum-cleaner?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=20891625552&gbraid=0AAAAADtoD6NCRzbBCIACdYpsZS0M65rGK&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIzLii7uG8jwMVvaJQBh0etCJLEAQYBCABEgKA9fD_BwE

dh Got me one of these for the car, I don’t know what he’s hinting at, but it’s great.

There were some of the sets that you found at that price in store.

However the ones I found were in poly bags hence why cheaper and good to squish into a socking.

Ah, I didn't see any poly bags. Thanks for your reply though, at least I know now what I'm looking for if I go into any other Aldi stores!

I've just found this thread it's eactly what I need. Stockings are not the problem for me but rather advent calendars. Have large fill your own calendars with different size boxes to fill and am looking for inspiration.

Boxes range from one big enough to house a canned cocktail (that's for 24th) but the others are smaller. Any suggestions welcome.

Thank you.

Some ideas I’ve used in the past:
nice bar of soap
beard oil
trolley token

I didn't know there was such a thing. Hate breaking up vacuum packed mince. If you find them, please post a link

My son got some beard oil from his ILs a couple of years ago. He said he was sceptical until he used it - now he loves it! So another vote for beard oil from me.

The shower caps from Primark are the best that I have found. Waterproof with toweling inside but don't leave a mark around your head and don't have the frilly edge that gets wet when washing your face. I think they are about £3.

I bought one from Dunelm the other day - works brilliantly: https://www.dunelm.com/product/handy-kitchen-handheld-meat-chopper-1000242197?defaultSkuId=30893437&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Cook_Cook_%5BGOO-PLA+PSB-COOK-COOK%5D&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=1713414636&gbraid=0AAAAADGqyX0iEQLnL9WZgXfElGaSsIPhY&gclid=Cj0KCQjww4TGBhCKARIsAFLXndSXoaHLfrE5HPOYZPTdD-zyGa3xzUvqHBFyZ-0y-eXZ14VwJaIx-tsaApU5EALw_wcB

My mum has got my dad a spaghetti measurer for his stocking, another good idea.

One year I got DH a meat thermometer in his and last year a rechargeable head lamp - both big hits.