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

My husband uses his to hang the washing out at night, he loves it!

I’ve also bought him one of these before which went down well:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Starvortex-Rechargeable-Waterproof-Inspection-Household/dp/B0G3WNJKB8/ref=asc_df_B0G3WNJKB8?mcid=0cc7433c9f203a8ea884f0f24fb70644&tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=787908551431&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=13522313511168407933&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9230613&hvtargid=pla-2468693987501&psc=1&hvocijid=13522313511168407933-B0G3WNJKB8-&hvexpln=0&gad_source=1

And one year I got him a meat thermometer which was also great!

Last year I bought DH some electric shoe dryers. I wasn't sure whether he'd use them so didn't want to spend a lot but managed to find them in the middle of Lidl for £10 rather than the £20 equivalent on Amazon.
He's a cyclist and they've been very useful after a wet ride!

i know a woman who will LOVE this. thank you.

Do you know what size the holder is as I'm also looking for some nice candles to give with it?

I have these. I use mine all the time after dog walks etc. Have also been known to put them in my slippers to warm them up.

This is a really great thread, thank you Op. I have a DD21 and a DS15. I too find the DD easier to buy for. Last year she was at Uni so we had lots of things in the stocking to support that which might give some ideas. Charger, Juice Bank, a drain cleaner (joke as she has long hair and the plugs always blocked 😂), teabags, coffebags, luxury toiletries and makeup.
I find DS so much harder as he doesn't drink hot drinks. He loved the multi tool pen and also a lock picking set.

So far this year, I have some perfume and aftershave miniatures and Uno Extreme. I will be looking for ideas!

I think I’ve finished DH’s stocking, unless I see anything absolutely amazing between now and Christmas.

Muscle balm
Beer can cooler sleeve
Katsu curry meal kit
Novelty ear pod case (Heinz baked beans)
Meat thermometer
Escape room puzzle book
The Traitors card game

He hasn’t got as much as usual because The Traitors card game was a bit more than I’d usually spend on a stocking item.

@Forgottenmyphone, a meat thermometer is a great idea, I love mine and have found it essential not only for meat & poultry, but fish is now cooked to perfection and brownies have the perfect degree of gooeyness. Just don’t forget especially for meat, the temp will rise by approx 5 degrees after you take it out of the oven

These jars of fermented lemon, ginger, turmeric etc (and the other variants) make lovely hot drinks and good for you, fermented food and very little sugar https://aguademadre.co.uk/products/remedio-infusion-3-pack?gad_campaignid=23358489509&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAACNEbjg65Yqksff0-Jan6LOKatPvo&gclid=Cj0KCQjw8JPVBhD-ARIsAO691sGKwgTD_Jqjp8HyqoHYt0wxUmnEtQ3p4wuJI6iPLBERQPThQ_rRlkkaAqM-EALw_wcB

Stockings in our house are really small pillowcase size, stemming back to when DC were little and cheaper items tended to be too big for the stockings I had originally bought. A number of items are repeated every year. Now adult DC's include a pack of undies, socks of some description (or for one DS these may be replaced by shin liners (hockey player), a calendar, a small game (Hive, Monopoly Deal), Chocolates (last year's Pigs in Blankets from Choc on Choc were a hit), and some toiletries. I used to get a gift set but neither used all the items so last year I bought a couple of gift bags and added a nice shower gel, a shower scrunchie and some electric toothbrush heads. Then one or more random items spotted on the Christmas bargains thread like wine bottle stoppers, headphone cleaning kit, crimpets, Ototo crab utensil rest or Spicery Curry kit or some other items they may have requested.
DH's stocking always has a Viz annual (this was first published in 1988 and I think I've bought it every year since then), an M&S box of shortbread (seems to have the best variety), chocolates and socks (usually cycling ones). It also used to included a cycling themed t-shirt but got to the stage where he had a few unworn ones so I stopped for a bit. He's now retired and wearing them more often so may need to re-instate that. He likes gadgets so bought him an endescope a couple of years ago and a tyre glider - both very useful. A cordless bicycle tyre inflator was recommended last year - but he bought that for himself!

Picked up these The Traitors sweets today, they also have a spinner game version for any fans of the show

Edit: link doesn't want to work, but they're at Tesco

The candle plate is 7" across, so a large 3-wick candle would fit, or a smaller one surrounded by pot pourri, which is nice at christmas.

ETA - the candles i bought to go with the sets are a bit small, so I'm going to purchase some larger ones when I find a good offer

thanks so much!!

Re: head torches, I got DH a beanie hat with a headtorch in after seeing the site supervisor at work with one. He loves it!

@OMGitsnotgood thank you so much for this thread!

Please could someone explain the Maldon Pinch Pots to me?! Are they only available on Amazon, and not from Maldon direct? And do you buy a gift tin with four different varieties? I know this sounds very basic, but I got really confused when I was looking at it last night. 😄

Just seen that M&S have released a new product, Custard Cream Spread. Might be of interest to some!

Well it's of interest to me anyway 😁. DH can't stand custard creams, whereas I, on the other hand....! Going in to town tomorrow so will have a look, cheers.

This is exactly the kind of stocking filler I love, but sadly not a match for any of my lot. I hope someone on this thread has a custard cream lover they could buy it for! Thanks for posting

Sainsbury's have 'custard creams' but in different flavours. A three pack, which I think were, peach, raspberry and strawberry. Very nice.

For those looking for older teen boy or men stocking fillers, these Boyle cap guns seem quite fun!

www.amazon.co.uk/Beer-Bottle-Opener-Cap-Gun/dp/B082CN6B8Q/ref=mp_s_a_1_2_sspa?crid=NAJI7BZV730Y&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.T-h5gOr7_q2nDFCMv9NHUu3AP593xkG79m-PaI405W2f156WtTkwCarxOnbNaRg3Z0wtdxiyNHvq-vpYwWTHcdTAHkwM1zaSFOLyF2KPtPKyvT6MQNGV4pK07mZW4vATTqHuDIcXIWBUadPvB4fYbKlaKKqYsNBZtHlgYz3TTApJnnMB3bcID_ujKCK9OSsnJMfbnisNkn2-FeVQAKrtGg.D53Z0167HxZ9DlB9TgBUXI3zzSE1t3v7WPRq43djefw&dib_tag=se&keywords=bottle+cap+opener+gun&qid=1789402222&sprefix=bottle+cap+opener+gun+%2Caps%2C135&sr=8-2-spons&aref=2jn68JMkIG&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9waG9uZV9zZWFyY2hfYXRm&psc=1

Meant bottle cap!

Got DS the personalised ice cream shovel recommended on here, thank you!

These personalised toiletry bags are lovely for my nieces! £7.57 delivered.

That was me that mentioned that. Have you had yours yet as I haven’t ordered one yet?

Thank you for the toiletry bag idea - I've just purchased for my nieces too 😀