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

barnardos.org.uk - lots of gifts in the Christmas section:
William Morris glass candle plate 10cm dia,£1
William Morris coasters x4 £2.00
Christmas Donkey ditto £2
William Morris coin purse £3.00
3 pk kids Christmas socks £2.80
Ditto ladies £2.80
Grooming/anti shedding glove £2
Lots more under £5.
Postage is £2.99, but acceptable, I think if buying several gifts.
I have never shopped here before, so cannot vouch for the quality, but was looking for William Morris coasters, and the site popped up

Also if you have any who like things like marvel or batman, brick a brac do bags of mini lego kits on 3 for £10

Miniature bottles of alcohol
Juice bank for phone charging
Lip balm
Face masks
Nail clippers
Vitamins (they were in my husband's last stocking! He loved them!)
Comb/small hairbrush for handbag
Sewing kit
Hot oils for hair
Earrings, bracelets etc
Mini board games
Gloves
Packets of luxury hot chocolate
Socks
Gifts cards for a coffee Starbucks/costa
Nails files
Compact mirrors

Reed diffusers
White Rabbit sweets and Kopika (addicted)
Hair clip (claw type)
Scarf
Earrings
Nail strengthener
Eyelash growing mascara
Spot stickers (the clear overnight ones)
Those vitamin mouth sprays

Oooh following this! Thank you. Feel I’m running out of ideas for DP (no DCs but Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without opening a stocking in bed with a massive mug of tea in hand)

IDontLikePinaColadas you are welcome.
Please tell me if I am posting too much, just trying to think of items for 'tatless' stockings. Difficult, one person's tat is another person's treasure.
I hate pattened socks. As my mother once said when she saw a dress she thought I'd like - 'It's just you dear, plain and simple'.

Just as one person's idea of 'cheap' is not another's.... and some people give stockings as a 'main' present rather than as a little fun addition, so I think ALL ideas are welcome here! What one person thinks of as a 'filler', another person might seize on as an excellent present.

For those who stay in hotels, a portable door alarm.
Sorry, a bit off price here, as the cheapest I can find (and trust) is a wedge type from B and Q. £7.95

I think ALL ideas are welcome here!

Absolutely! And all appreciated. I've picked up a couple of ideas for little presents for other occasions too.

I will sling in another, then!
E bay and Amazon have Heinz cans, spaghetti, tomato soup and beans, which are really stashes. The bottom comes off and you hide your bits and pieces in there. £4.95 which is a bargain, as I bought mine from a security company and it was £20!
They also do unscrewable hairbrushes for £6.95. There was a wax candle, bit more expensive, and that had a false bottom.

Rocks and Rubies, online or there is a shop in Colchester, so perhaps someone has first hand knowledge.
Crystal chip bracelets - depending on the crystal chosen (and there are many!) they start at £3, and don't go above £8.
I am sure they will be on a thin elastic, but seems quite a bargain if someone is into crystals, I am thinking of one for a 9 year old girl's stocking - very into jewels and pink things!

I've just bought personalised travel jewellery boxes from Etsy. Without personalisation they are currently under £5. There were also compact mirrors that could be personalised too.

Sorry, can't copy picture, but Millets and Blacks have Peter Storm Boot bags for hiking boots at £4 - that's on line, for £6 they have a 'tall' boot bag.
Bit classier than the Tesco plastic carrier I have been using!

I am loving all these suggestions, thank you all

I was reminded last night that the best stocking filler I got my DP last year was a mini back scratcher. About £2.50 from Santa’s favourite shop, Amazon.

just bought the soup and beans tins. Genius, thank you!!

Bit niche, but if you have muddy people they may appreciate a boot brush with a pointed end. I can brush and brush, but then I need a knife or a teaspoon to get the mud out of the cleats, so this will save the cutlery!
Outdoor GB do the Grangers Boot Brush at £3.95 - unfortunately postage is £2.95.

Lumiere long lighter. Waitrose have them for around £3.75. In a packet, so easy to wrap.
They are refillable. Saves trying to get your hand and match into a hurricane lamp.
This one has good reviews, not all lighters are as good.

Thanks for this bought these and bizarrely large wipe clean tablecloths I needed 6 for an event ( will be used afterwards as well) and these were so cheap. Extra discount on almost everything on website BANK20, which covered the postage cost.

Glad you liked them Polominty.
I will continue with my random thoughts!

Loccitane have free postage for a 'limited time'.
10% off for new sign-er - uppers.
There isn't much around the £5 mark, but there is a useful looking cosmetics bag at £3.50.

I love threads like this !!

Will read later but I suspect that everyone has come up with some good ideas

Mine are a bit pricey but maybe useful for someone-

For bakers, a mini lame https://www.amazon.co.uk/Retractable-Magnetic-Bread-Dough-Scoring/dp/B0CRKLQ2H4/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?crid=87OQMMRY86L4&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.kd6qM3WsuTHZFxDWARU-Y5kVCvjaH5UAKlk0pwOGByT-EhT0y4kfUouTPvwSLPXj3frtpi_zEsdypn2qPm89NGlYy0EEKu4Qb9Vwq6zBXQGGbd6mxUTl1QLeFW5o2QgS9S3zwJi_s-dbbjup1NlG8VrTi0rg7HXjnqCvuCPfYX058aiJJrUi5PB3akW1az6CfzEvj_awXjSaGRvUlpwVzqaxfibon9uNHmn--XoWBz5C5rKRnfHeQVaZVqJFFFg5r3DdgZGQQrvs1YHAXpswM4YbWr9Oq0Qtrj--s-xxVCA.bJjds-aq0g8Eagzwa9dUl9p_dIr9Y-9tt509ueZorH0&dib_tag=se&keywords=lame&qid=1716832008&sprefix=lame%2Caps%2C95&sr=8-2-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&psc=1

Archivist matches https://archivistgallery.com/category/matches

I am an adult and yet I would love a Maileg matchbox mouse, Might just be me. https://www.bluebellsburrow.co.uk/collections/matchbox-mice?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw3tCyBhDBARIsAEY0XNmYkfMrqMp1tvzWZ-7y6cYyhsCdBOr56w00wTTS3H7GD3VWAXsM6f4aAtVVEALw_wcB

Christian Dior make up - if you order online they can engrave it with the recipient's name

Beautiful glycerine soaps from Ortigia

Cashmere gloves.

For gardeners, a folding knife https://labourandwait.co.uk/collections/outdoor/products/folding-knife

Beautiful copper hand tools from https://implementations.co.uk/shop/

Seeds and gardening string, reusable seed markers

Bottles of flavoured syrup for coffees (or cocktails)

Instant noodles

Foof from the foreign food aisle (esp from the US) are pricey to buy with your weekly shop but a good price for a gift. I’ve seen cereals and sweets that get mentioned on tv but we can only imagine what they taste like If you can get to an East Asian supermarket then they have some fun looking sweets like speciality KitKats, Pokemon etc When my teens were younger they enjoyed videos of people making “Japanese DIY candy”

Lighters with a long nose so you don’t burn yourself lighting a candle that’s not got much left

When people come round they like using our latte spoons (we don’t have tea spoons) Kids in particular associate it with coffee shops and dessert restaurants so find it special and are enthusiastic about using them.

I love tote bags. Didn’t imagine myself as a reusable bag kind of person but it makes me happy- even corporate ones. I live down South so would be happy to receive a Booths shopping bag from “up North”

Mini plant pots - the teens and I have some succulents and we can change them seasonally or for aesthetics. My Bulbasaur one is my pride and joy

Dd has some cute figures that attach to the aircon vent in her car. It spins when the aircon is on

I walk a lot so would appreciate a compact umbrella. I know that’s probably closer to the tenner end but I’d think of you every time I used it

I’m a sucker for a seasonal or limited edition edible items like sauces and sweets eg I am all over the Christmas teas.

My teens are a sucker for condiments. They’d happily accept some interesting dips for their Doritos

Novelty/colourful etc versions of

Socks
Boxers /knickers
Gloves
Those Bic 4 colour pens
Phone case

Pringles
Paperback
Marmite/Nutella/Ketchup with their name on (there are usually offers on in the run up to Christmas)

Shower gel
Lipsalve
Handcream

Weird American cereal/chocolate

Weird flavour Japanese Kitkat

Paper bag of their favourite childhood sweets

Something for a hobby - guitar picks, violin strings, climbing chalk, cycling gloves, water bottle, knitting wool

Sparklers

Bottle of wine/beer
Miniatures of spirits

Mugs

Notebooks, I love these (I realise they are more than your budget, but l love them so much)

Quirky jewellery, shops in Leeds and Manchester

Small plant

Turkish towel

Spork

Lego minfig!

Rex, House of Disaster and Dot.com gift shop are all good for stuff like this.