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

@OMGitsnotgood these pre-mixed cocktails were a great success.
https://niococktails.co.uk/?srsltid=AfmBOorTMDeSmPv9CNbVpyU9S6tR5FY-mPd6sW5dQmvR69cahSlZrPL-

I ordered a box of 8 as it’s cheaper and selected the flavours. Each cocktail comes in a bag inside a box, think CD case size. As @WWGD said you just sip the corner and poor over ice or refrigerate first.

I ordered a set of 3 minis from YSL yesterday. There are some codes you can apply (shared by another MNetter on a different thread), I’ll try to link.
You can also get minis off Vinted but by the time you’ve paid postage for the various ones, it soon mounts up

Thank you everyone for continuing to add to this thread, really helpful.

I’ve just been browsing a thread about ‘what do you want for yourself’. I’ve picked up a couple of stocking filler ideas from there:

Boots berry lip sleep mask
M&S pistachio crunchy clouds

My hard to buy for DH loves pistachios, so will either put the clouds in his stocking or I might create a mini selection of pistachio nuts, the clouds, pistachio spread and pistachio chocolate.
I reminded myself of this idea when commenting on another thread about difficult DH presents - I previously made a mini hamper of rhubarb goodies as that’s another of his favourites.

Having a duvet day as not feeling great (self inflicted) , using the time for Christmas planning so at least it’s not a complete waste of a day. Hence spending a lot of time on the MN Christmas board today!

@OMGitsnotgood I’ve got those clouds on my Ocado list for me to try. Did you read the stocking filler thread on AIBU? Lol. We don’t have those kind of shenanigans on the Christmas board. Well, not often anyway.

@MulberryPeonyplease let me know what you think of the clouds. I haven’t seen tbe AIBU thread. Will take a look.

A word of warning for the clouds.. they are the most more-ish little clouds of heaven! The pack didn’t even last it the car ride home for us 🤭 purchased the hazelnut ones and they were divine!!!

@MulberryPeonythe ‘MIL wants to do the DCs’ stocking’ thread or a different one?

I will. I got the peanut butter munch tin last week. I don’t think they are going to last until Christmas.

I've been following the thread and getting some great ideas. My contribution is manly soap! I find the men in my family the hardest to buy for. I've just ordered 2 bars from
https://theblackstuff.com/?syclid=534955b5-9f8b-4314-b4d6-b7e819b319b5
and if you stack the codes WELCOME and NATURAL it gives you one bar for nearly free and an extra 20% off. Softens the postage a bit.
Hope this helps someone.

Just commenting to say how useful I found this thread 😀

One trick I’ve used in the past is to buy “gift packs” when on offer and split them up. Good brands do a lot of these sets with miniatures and whilst they exceed my stocking filler limit the individual items split well across stockings. I’ve had some good buys from the introductory type which offer travel size products for customers to try out.

Thank you for the NIO cocktails idea. I purchased 9 for various birthday and Christmas gifts with a 15% off welcome offer. I'll be getting some more - just because 😄

Lost my link when editing typo: https://niococktails.co.uk/

Just wanted to add that I found some nice stocking fillers/small gifts on the ultrabee site so put in an order.

There was a minor issue with one item so I steeled myself for the customer service chatbot - except it was a human who sorted out the problem and sent a replacement asap. Excellent customer service - mistakes happen, knowing you can get them resolved quickly and efficiently is a big plus!

The items delivered were all lovely and will be perfect for Christmas

Thank you so much, I have done some November birthday shopping as well as Christmas based on things here.

If I can add anything I will.

TKMaxx rarely disappoints. Socks, fancy soap, nail polish, earrings, packets of herbs, sweets, Christmas tree decoration, nail files, note cards.

Boots still sell cute mini hair brushes for about 1.00 which were popular with my lot last year.
I split a packet of dwarf narcissi bulbs and wrapped three paper in tissue for kids to plant and they loved it.

Thanks. I’ll look at TKMaxx online as I don’t leave the house.

@TheNimbleAnt Thanks! Dh had manly soap before and I was looking for something small for him. He’ll love these soaps.

thanks Both, I missed TheNimbleAnt post but your reply sent me there.. 3 men to buy for so bundle of 6 soaps is perfect

I‘m making good progress with my stockings, thanks to this thread for some new ideas. Whilst it’s a challenge year on year to think of different things, I have to confess to it being one of my favourite parts of Christmas preparations.
As a main present, DD has asked for money towards some new pictures.for her lounge, which she will buy after she redecorates in the new year. She will be getting a box of picture hooks in her stocking.
I picked up some wash leathers from the pound shop recently, handy for their cars.
We had the DC together last weekend and the conversation turned to favourite biscuits from childhood. Thankfully all still available (party rings, Oreos, jammy dodgers, iced gems, penguins), so added to my shopping list. Might seem like a strange stocking filler but none of them buy biscuits routinely so a nostalgic treat.
This is the sort of thing I note on my phone as I pick them up during the year. Hence the ‘all year round’ in the thread title.

I’ve got 2 of these and I love them!

I've really enjoyed this thread. I'm forever grateful for the Notino cocktails idea. I purchased the taste of Japan box for a colleague who used to live there. Others I've split as stocking fillers for various people as well as little birthday gifts, they're great. I may also have tested some myself, purely for quality assurance purposes 😁

In the same theme I’m about to order a selection of 6 Edmund’s cocktails and split them into the adult stockings. I received their white Christmas last year and it was lovely! Holding off to see what Black Friday offers they have

Oh yes long handled silicone spoons are so useful. As are olive spoons (long handled spoon with holes in to drain as you spoon olives out if jar) - add a jar of olives as another stocking filler.
With the long silicone spoon, think about whether there is a jar of anything you could put with it. DS used to love truffle mayonnaise for example.

Thanks for this suggestion. I agree though that taste testing is essential!

Glad you’re enjoying the thread, one of my favourites. I keep intending to go back through this thread and its predecessor and make a consolidated list, but haven’t got round to it yet.