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

*Nio cocktails - not Notino...

Does anyone have any recommendations for alcohol free or very low alcohol cocktails? I have a family member who doesn't drink, but I still want to add something to their gift pile so that they aren't the only one without a cocktail on the day. I'm going to browse M&S as they might have some AF minis, but if anyone knows of any other brands that might do I'd be grateful for suggestions. Nio low alcohol ones are around 10%, so too high in this case.

@keepincool have a look at Waitrose for low alcohol cocktails https://www.waitrose.com/ecom/shop/browse/groceries/beer_wine_and_spirits/alcohol_free_and_low_alcohol_drinks?cat=429581&sortBy=PRICE_LOW_2_HIGH

i think several brands do a low alcohol G&T, but Waitrose also have Funkin Passion Fruit Martini, Non-alcoholic Italian Spritz (which I assume is like Aperol), Paloma (my favourite) and an Aperitivo Spritz (no idea but worth a try!) amongst others

Just the kind of info I needed - thank you 😊

@OMGitsnotgood

"a box of picture hooks in her stocking" command hooks would be even better, won't ruin her lovely new sitting room walls 😉

Where are the spoons from please?

@timoteigirl the silicone ones? Here

Just remembered I discovered sleeping bag liners this year and they made such a difference and are very small, if you have any campers or festival goers to buy for.

Phone holder, that you sit your phone in so you can watch things. I've seem 3d printed animal ones that are cheerful and do the job.

This website has some great trackers, charging leads and plugs
this keyring charging lead seems a brilliant thing

https://rollingsquare.com/products/incharge®-xs-240w-4in1-keyring-cable

blooming links playing up

I've ordered DH one of these mini model kits - some are within stocking price range in my book.

Other ideas I've done over the years that might not have been mentioned:

• Fun shaped soap - have a look on Etsy - got a cat and an elephant one last year
• Veg savers (stretchy sillicone covers to put on chopped ends of veg in the fridge)
• Chopsticks
• Spaghetti measure
• Eco bits - reusable makeup wipes, cloths, natural sponges
• Mini crafting kits - Sostrene Grene has lots this year (and various other things good for stockings - they are like a more chic version of Flying Tiger and better quality)
• Always do foodie bits - recommend White Mausu chilli oils

I used to get hair accessories, sugar mice (favourite sweet), novelty mini bubble baths, nail polish or cheap makeup, keyring, inexpensive jewellery, brother would often get a joke book and a mini aftershave, little meccano kit. Always got a Christmas decoration each; this tradition was started by my Mum cos her first Christmas with my Dad, they didn't have money for decorations, so to avoid this situation she wanted us each to have a good collection when we left home. I have kept this up with my husbands stocking, i usually put in a little bottle of port and try to fund an unusual food, got marmite popcorn once. Last year my husband put in a pink case for my blue badge, one year he gave me a personalisable snow globe to put a photo in. A pandora ring. One year when we were very short of money he went to the local market, bought a little organza pouch and asked the haberdashery stall to fill it with £5 worth of random buttons; I love buttons. This year o gaye got a him a rubber duck wearing a Masonic apron, it's not the first rubber duck I got him.one year I got a mini Miami Dolphins themed one.

@ToadRage I love the tradition your mum started🥰. I tend to put a Christmas dec in ds stocking too.
other things I’ve done are personalised love hearts, always something useful, so a porridge spurtle one year or those fab Lakeland spoons that get the last bit out of jars, Christmas teatowels, I try to find unusual/ nicer condiments so Brussels sprout ketchup, chilli
honey, local farmers market stuff, sweets I know they like so eg coal from fortnum and mason, nice artisinal chocolate or florentines etc, I try to put something we can all get involved in in our stockings, so wind up santas, reindeer/cars for after lunch and maybe a card game in each. Also nice toiletries. Our stockings tend to be smaller things and we always have them after lunch as something to look forward to. They’re my favourite part of Christmas and I love doing them!

If you light candles/fires/bbq then this is a perfect socking filler for your gadget loving person - a rechargeable usb lighter!

Can get 2 for less than £12.

www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08PQ9QCQ6?ref=cm_sw_r_cso_wa_apan_dp_1WWCXHH9YEPJCA5YRZXG&ref_=cm_sw_r_cso_wa_apan_dp_1WWCXHH9YEPJCA5YRZXG&social_share=cm_sw_r_cso_wa_apan_dp_1WWCXHH9YEPJCA5YRZXG

I can't remember who posted about the black garlic company but I ordered the twist crusher and a few condiments and beer to go in DR'S stocking.
He loves unusual treats like this so thank you. 🙂

I've begun starting again in the boots sale, just a few hand creams, but it's a start.

Boots have had some great stuff in and so have Sainsbury’s. I just bought a
Lynx set for £12 which was originally £40.

They also have smaller Lynx sets for £2.60 and £3, originally about £9 or £10

https://www.thecrackercompany.co.uk/

Found some great bits in the sale here

My DH loves chocolate, but generally doesn’t eat it as he tries to watch his what he eats. We were at friends over the weekend and they opened a massive box of hotel chocolat ‘dessert style’ chocolates. DH had several and raved about them. Now on my list for next Christmas - either a large box as more of a main present or a small ‘taster’ pack for his stocking.
it really does make sense to make notes of things like this all year round, I’d forget otherwise.

I think Moonpig still has some hotel chocolat gifts in their sale if you want a potential cheap valentine present?

Thank you @boobybumill take a look