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

I got wooden ones with a magnet for my DParents .
They lived on the side of their fridge which was near the toaster .
I inherited them , they live on the side of my toaster .

My Dad would use a metal knife in the toaster ( that and eating out of date food , he must've been part cat with nine lives )

What a great idea - never seen wooden tongs before!

M&S do a similar range of posh beans. IIRC they were about £2 - £3/jar and in flavours like BBQ / chilli / curry. Bold bean co products are quite hard to come by in my local supermarkets so I picked up a few to put away for DH's stocking.

M&S olive jars are beautifully packaged and have been well received by my DH in his stocking previously.

For those who were talking about pre-mixed cocktails, M&S also do a range of these and carry cocktails that aren't as common in the main supermarkets. Individual cans are around the £3.50 mark, and they often have a four can selection pack for about £10.

In keeping with the foody theme, chilli crunch has also been a hit (store carefully - it leaks like nobody's business) as has mezze style products.

Toast tongs are used more than I expected them to be.
Another useful kitchen item picked up off this thread but so long ago I’ll repeat - an olive spoon, drains the brine back into the jar. I’ve also used for pickled onions. Pickle forks often get a mention on these threads but wouldn’t be of interest to any of my lot

For an older neighbour last year, I made her a kitchen hamper with a difference.
Got a small wooden chopping board and partly wrapped it with a nice apron. Then tucked in several useful kitchen things I knew she didn't have.
A silicone spatula, a jar opener, a bottle opener, a new whisk, etc etc.
I put them in a nice hessian bag and put her (unusual ) name on it.
She loved it.

Sorry, should have posted a link! They’re bamboo with a magnet. Can get them in Dunelm/Lakeland etc but I’ve just ordered these ones off eBay ebay.io/m/pTqLT5

People were going mad for these at a craft fair I went to on Friday. I wanted to get some but the stall was too busy every time I tried.
https://www.spatularium.co.uk/

Those ones don't appear to have a magnet though.

You’re quite right! 🤦🏼‍♀️ Thanks for pointing it out, have cancelled the order and will look again.

No problem. I was looking to get 3 sets for DH and DC and they looked a brilliant price so glad I read the info before ordering.
Toaster tongs are a great idea though. Perfect for fishing out hot cross buns!

Silly question on the ice cream shovels. If you are getting one for Jane, do you put ‘Jane’ or ‘Jane’s’ in the personalisation box?

I suppose you'd put it as Jane's, because it belongs to her, but it might look better with just her initials, or Jane's scoop, Jane's ice-cream, Jane's treats maybe.

I would just put the name personally.

I put Jane's and it says 'Jane's ice cream scoop' on it.

I've just ordered toast tongs for me, genius!

Im sure ive seen them mentioned on this thread, but wasnt sure what to Google - does anyone have a link to the candle lights that you put the candles under? Searching candle lights wasnt very helpful 🤣

@OntheroadtoHaggerstonI‘m trying to think what you mean. Can you add a bit more info?

@OMGitsnotgood a candle, bigger than a tea light but smaller than the big yankee candle jars sits on a small base, then what appears to be like a glass light shade sits over the candle, the candle melts down without burning and you get a lovely glowy light and smell.

Is this what you mean?
Candle warmer

@OntheroadtoHaggerston its a candle warmer lamp. Theyre brilliant.

Yes thats exactly the type of thing im on about! Oh you guys have helped my caffeine deprived brain! Haha.

I‘m so glad you found your answer and hopefully a present idea for others on here

@Scout2016 those are brilliant! I will be ordering some. Thanks ☺️

Thank you, exactly the kind of different but useful thing I like to put in a stocking.