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

Love that Monster website. Some very funny descriptions.

have just bought from Am*zon a portable / bluetooth / rechargeable karaoke machine with two microphones. (sorry if it's a massive link below, cannot work out how to do a quick link)

www.amazon.co.uk/PHNIXGAM-Wireless-Microphones-Bluetooth-Microphone-Black/dp/B0DC1PFPP7/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=U9NYNSH6Q1R2&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.mSRkzjRlaW9W09bZ8IfGQJVNAye0zud8WVcxxJ2zRaQSs99vtp_4pyWSKR16Ie_RFwLPOzDz3ka79vZem6FLc78nu36QXsJM0GNTqTa6DD7jJNOd1tYN3qWz_a1CysrSK6sN9rfFFPAKWZWIovEPYI_o8IkkPihYKQDaUYq7ZmuyEaFcJdOdamGoHaGev8etAyeKUrKZkeURSD8ymqi4Et5an47E3LXKOwnsLLGu4NYlafhuaZLESZH7ROiygXFhBqOWLHBM2fyulOzjN_CqI3NMiflQB3Ul4qv46oFtDcE.XeW09wJhDoH0RmLOMy3c3Qd9KMWGlUUcGdsF-uj84tk&dib_tag=se&keywords=rechargeable%2Bkaraoke%2Bmachine&qid=1758023714&refinements=p_36%3A-3500&rnid=405443031&sprefix=rechargeable%2Bkareokia%2Bmachine%2Caps%2C332&sr=8-1-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&th=1

DH put a marmite spatula in my stocking last year. Very useful when you get to the bottom of the pot as I did this morning. It can also be used for honey and jam.

He also got me Charlotte Tilbury lipstick which was thrilling.

If anyone likes to include books in a stocking, I can highly recommend the latest Robert Galbraith for fans of the Strike series, it's the best so far IMHO.

Posh food worked really well last year for my 20-something, eco-minded kids. Small tin olive oil, olives, posh spaghetti (good shape,🙂), expensive cereal bars. Plus I trawled eco sites for natural pan scourers, floss and solid shampoo bars. Stockings ended up being quite functional but they loved them as they will use everything and currently don't want any more 'stuff' at their stage of life.

Ooh yes, a lovely lipstick is a great idea. I've also bought the penhaligons minis before for stockings. Victoria Beckham Kajal eyeliner would be great for a posh stocking.

Thankyou for this amazing thread! I have loads of links saved to an "appointment" in my outlook calendar set for pay day in October / November - as a pp said, it's the ideas that are the problem for me :)

Decided to start buying posh snacks when I spot them each week from now onwards so my first Xmas stocking purchase are [[Cooper Lutkenhaus
these posh nuts]] on offer from Waitrose.

Try again posh nuts

I‘d not seen that brand before, and don’t normally shop in Waitrose (we have every other supermarket closer and then the Waitrose is tiny)…. But these would be a good idea for the ‘difficult men’ - thank you

I’ve tried them, they’re lovely. I got them in Co Op and I’m sure I’ve seen them in Sainsbury’s too.

An ear bud cleaner for the ear bud and case. The guy in the shop said they are also useful for cleaning out gunk in the charging hole in your phone. I’ve also bought a little car tool that I hope they never use as it’s to cut your seat belt if it’s jammed in an accident and it also contains a little hammer to smash the window.

@Ahwig Ooh I like the seat belt cutter tool, thanks!

Found this thread yesterday and was so happy!! It is a gold mine of excellent ideas that hit the perfect balance of fun, quirky and practical, thanks all. So glad it's resurrected for this year - here are some weird and wonderful suggestions that will hopefully help someone (some may be more than £5):

• metal candle snuffer, there are some lovely decorative ones although they vary wildly in price
• colour changing egg timer, £3 John Lewis
• novelty or pretty spoon rest
• plant mister
• origami craft kit
• dice rolling tray (for dnd'ers or regular board gamers)
• 150ml mini can(s) soft drink such as appletiser/cola (for the non tea/coffee/alcohol drinkers like myself)
• small novelty salt and pepper shakers for the table (easy to theme to any giftee's likes/interests as there are lots of options)

I bought DH a black and white Lego block salt and pepper set last year and I consider it my most successful stocking filler - we still use them a year later (in addition to the larger mills we have for cooking)! They even look quite stylish on our white kitchen table 🙂

Happy hunting!

@OrganisetheChaosgreat suggestions, thank you.

I’m buying the Lego salt and pepper set, thanks @OrganisetheChaos

Slightly over OP's budget but the magic key is great as a stocking filler- helps squeeze the last drops of that expensive make up out of the tube. The L'Occitane version I have linked obviously has a bit of designer cachet and the packaging is quite nice but there are cheaper versions on Amazon.

You can get cheaper generic ones on Amazon etc

In Tesco in the seasonal isle yesterday I spotted a small Tim with screen/tech cleaning kit. I've grabbed it for my teen. Think it was just £4

She literally said that 😁 I’m gonna get one for me and for my SILs. Cheapie for me, fancy for them!

If anyone is near an outlet centre that has a l'occitaine they often have the magic key on an offer (the Ashford one definitely has it)

i don’t mind if things are a little over the notional £5, if that means something quality that will be used, as long as it averages out over the same person’s stocking. It’s not that I can’t afford more, it’s just that it’s part of the challenge.

Not somewhere you might normally look for adult stocking fillers but in the Hamleys sale there are mini puzzles (about 50pcs) of Pringles, mentos and various Kellogg cereals for less than £2 each which might be a fun filler.
Also some Harry Potter themed stuff like keyrings

Lots of little bits in The Range near me this weekend. Cable covers/protectors in various animal shapes 29p, Xmas socks £1, keyring bottle cap shooters 67p plus lots of other games and toys for younger ones.

Sorry if I have already said this, but Barry M have colour change lipsticks that are both fun and decent to wear. The final shade alters depending on the wearer's skin apparently. I won't pretend to understand.

There is a Wicked one too which my DD and her friend put on and it did come out a different color on each of them.

One thing a dd always liked was a tin of black cherries, to scoff all by herself.

I’d enjoy ditto of lychees

For dh I always get a bag of mixed ‘select’ nuts, not one of the ones that’s half peanuts.
Packs of dried mango always go down well - the bigger ones from Grape Tree are good, if they’ll fit into a stocking. Ditto their chocolate covered various nuts, raisins and cranberries.

In the past I’ve done small stockings for adult guests, consisting of half a pair of nice socks (not 🎄ones) with the other stuffed inside, and whatever other bits I can find.

Plus always a satsuma in the toe of all stockings! It’s the law in this house. B