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

Rooted Spices tins are about £5. Look smart, fit nicely in the cupboard <glares at round supermarket spices> and are really good. Some slightly more unusual blends if you have confident cooks to buy for, as well as the normal ones.

Last year I got DP a stocking made up entirely of random stuff from the Chinese supermarket. It was fabulous and we discovered a few things that are now in our regular snack and meal rotation.

Random flavoured crisps from there might work well.

You sound like a very thoughtful present buyer, OP. I love it.

Mini Panetone.
I have been looking for some with a long date, and preferably boxed. They seem to be coming in at under £5

I bought my first stocking fillers this week for my teens. I got sweary croc jibbitz!

@OMGitsnotgood ~ they still do the popping candy chocolate oranges but they sell out FAST. I’ve only seen in ASDA the last 2 years. When I see them go on sale I’ll try and remember to add a comment here!

They also do the grab bags of little popping candy chocolate orange pieces, which unfortunately for my waistline I can pick up year round at our local ASDA petrol station 😋

Thank you @Whataweirdsituation, definitely would go down well for a couple of my stocking recipients

I recently bought an American sweet hamper from Amazon you could buy it and split the contents.

Does anyone have any ideas on lightweight, British items I might have forgotten? Doing stockings for my brother and sister in law in Australia! I have twinings, chocolate on the list so far (as well as various craft items etc).

@Blessedbethefruitz - you've got to include some Penguins, surely (to spark the old Penguins vs Tim Tams debate!)

... what is a Tim tam?!

An (inferior) Aussie version of a Penguin

@Blessedbethefruitz if you or anyone you know are staying in a hotel anytime soon you could pick up some individual plastic peel pots of marmite? They had them in a Travelodge we stayed at recently at breakfast time. A jar of marmite would be too big, but the tiny portions in plastic would perhaps work.

My mam always puts one of those little hair towels in mine, the turban style ones.

They are so handy and I now use them all the time for my daughter too, fab for after swimming etc

Inspired by another thread
£1 coin holders
I can keep one in the car, give one each to DS and DD - each holds 15 pound coins , I'd have to fill them , like a purse or wallet it's unlucky ti give one empty as a gift

Great idea @HolyMoly24. Shower caps are also really handy, as are the mini boxes of silk scrunchies/hairbands.

Oliver Bonas have quite a few cute things in their online sale at the moment - things like trinket dishes, individual hot chocolate kits, mini games etc.

This was just posted by Famousthehero on the Christmas bargain prequel thread, might be a good adult stocking filler: Cheese making kit for £3.49 on Amazon

So many great ideas on this thread, thank you everyone

Love this!
Starbucks gift card
Phone case

We do stockings for each other (me and partner)

We tend to do things like :
Deodorant/ body spray
Bubble bath / shower gel
Can of drink - usually beer for him
One silly thing - Christmas duck , racing sprouts etc
Lip balm
Socks ( Christmas or often family matching so everyone has this in their stocking)
Drinking glass / mug
Hot chocolate/ tea / coffee
Car air freshener
Keyring

racing sprouts?? This I must investigate...

This thread is fantastic - I have just gone through the whole thing and have a huge list of ideas. Thank you!!!!

FinaleyDee, agreed!
OMGitsnotgood, thank you for this thread - I have this underlying Christmas excitement going on.

It’s a bit niche but we’ve just put our bins out and a friend got me personalised wheelie bin stickers after neighbourhood bin wars… I know you can get the numbers in places like Poundland too, but these are still pretty good value on Etsy.

It's my pleasure and it has brought me so much joy too

I've just posted this on the Christmas Bargain Prequel thread, but in case it's useful to any of you GoodServeEnjoy have an up to 70% off sale on at the moment, lots of lovely bits, water bottles, egg cups, and this joyful range of tea towels reduced to £3.99 each, have bought a couple of these for stocking fillers for the ones that have their own house😀Tea Towel