This year I decided I would try and fill the HH’s, The Girl and Monkey Boy’s stockings for all under $10. Partly as a challenge to myself, but mostly because none of them really needed anything and I wanted to save any gift cards or gifts I was planning to give them to place under the tree.
Anywho…. Here’s what I’ve come up with:
The HH $1.79
2 pairs of socks from Kohl’s {I used my $10 off a $10 purchase coupon and didn’t have to pay a cent} 1 bottle of soy sauce {because he complains about the giant Costco soy sauce jug we’ve been trying to use up for the past 2 years} and 2 Lindt chocolate truffles from the sweet lady who was passing out samples at Costco. Plus, 1 package of crispy M&M’s {they were a Fred Meyer friday freebie item}.
Monkey Boy $1.29
The Oreo’s, Airheads and Reese’s Dip were all Fred Meyer friday freebies. The Skittles came from Amazon and where are whopping $1.29. He loves candy and junk food so I’m sure he will be happy with his loot.
The Girl $3.08
Do you get the LL Bean catalog? Well on the back of it there should be a $10 off any item coupon code just underneath your address label. Water bottles are $9.95. Translation: use the coupon to get a free water bottle shipped to your house. 🙂 I filled my daughter’s water bottle with some hershey kisses {$1.79} because she loves chocolate. I also bought her a bag of Skittles off Amazon {$1.29}. The gold wrapped deluxe hershey kisses were a Fred Meyer friday freebie and the perfume sample was a freebie from my Philosophy order from Nordstrom.
Total out of pocket for this year’s stocking stuffers $6.16. Not too shabby if you ask me. Maybe next year I should try for under $5. 😉
What are YOU stuffing in your peeps Christmas stockings this year?
~Mavis
P.S. Do you think I’m being too cheap? Should I be stuffing more in those stockings?
OneFamily says
Pretty much looks like the type of stuff I put in the stockings, except I include some Lottery scratch off tickets 🙂
Jane says
You did great! Now, I want to live near a Fred Meyer 🙂 I always end up spending more on stockings than intended.
Jenny says
My son’s favorite stocking stuffer was a set of little green army men from the dollar store. He loves those things. Two bags filled his whole stocking. Gift giving is easier when they are little.
Jennifer Jo says
And who fills YOUR stocking???
Mavis Butterfield says
OH PLEASE. Maybe 1 year out of 10 the HH will put something in there.
Karin Carson says
you must have a po box your CaNaDiaN Santa can send your stocking too.
Jeri says
A couple of years ago, I bought stockings for my husband and I and told the kids (28&23) that it was time for them to start filling ours. It is hands down my favorite part of Christmas morning. Those kids put so much thought into our stockings! There were vertu unique and personal items like fishing less for my husband and fat quarters of quilting fabric in mine. Maybe challenge your children to do one for you, too!
AlysonRR says
My mom and I always conspire to fill each others’ stockings.
Also, I have been known to put small items into my own stocking, like the <$10 earrings that come around on Amazon deals.
And my husband has the occasional surprising small gift – fun!
Earlene says
This year I will break the bank and spend $50 each stocking, just me and the “hub”. Just because I can and enjoy every minute of it! I buy what I know he won’t for my stocking and then I get what I want! Like perfume, earrings, kitchen gadgets. This year we aren’t buying each other a gift as we want to travel later. His birthday is the 26th and he will get a haul that day from me!
Donna in VA says
LUCY??????? Where is her stocking???????
Mavis Butterfield says
She has one… don’t worry. 🙂 🙂 🙂 I wasn’t dare going to set her stuff out with her watching me take pictures on the couch.
Cathy says
A couple of days before Christmas, Cost Plus has a 50% off all “mini” food items day. I’m holding onto a $10 reward, plus a 15% off coupon (good thru 12/24), so I will stock up on mini-sized summer sausage, Nutella, truffles, and other various mini foods for my husband & two teen boys’ stockings. They love it!! Fingers crossed they’ll have the same sale this year.
Karin Carson says
We have the stretchy Castco stocking and lots if years they dint contain anything, we celebrated both Christmas Eve and had usually 20 plus for huge smorgasbord dinner and my mom did stockings for all and then we had the traditional ones Christmas morning , so I go all out, it’s in my DNA , don’t keep track it’s just what’ve do and always will. If I had to guess I would put 50 plus for each .
Karin C says
Think I need to learn how to type and spell , the stocking usually over flow in to Santa Sacs we have just for that ,
Karin Carson says
Need to learn how to type and spell. Our stocking usually overflow, we had Santa Sacs for this reason.
AlysonRR says
We spend ~$150-200 per kid on gifts, $75 for grandma, insignificant amounts for me and DH (we tend to upgrade electronics instead), and $10-20 per stocking. Each year the number of stockings vary based on the attendance – brother gets carhart stuff, SIL gets jewelry or scarves or kitchen stuff, grandma gets chocolate, and kids get preferred candy and a surprise or two. DH and I get a little candy and whatever small gifts fit into our stocking from our current stash of gifts. Yes, nail clippers and tweezers and socks have appeared in our stockings 😉
We’re pretty frugal, I think. Our problem is that the kids’ birthdays are in January and February, so we don’t have a reload window…
Nancy from Mass says
Thanks for the LLBean reminder! I completely forgot about the code and for a moment, went into panic mode because my hubby threw a bunch of stuff in the recycling bin for trash pickup this morning. phew. crisis averted!
i did order the water bottle for my son (although it’s BO’d). i have the 32oz i got for free a year ago (on sale for $10 and used my $10 code) but he complains it’s too big for him for MMA. I use it all the time. The 16oz one will work much better.
I think you did well on the stockings. I usually do dollar tree candy, chap stick and a funny type of gift. usually spend less than $10 on each stocking. (this year my son and I are putting a Chevelle matchbox car in hubbys stocking because he kept telling my son he wanted a ’70 chevelle as a wish car. well, we found one! – he just can’t drive it anywhere! 🙂 ) Hey, that’ll save on gas and wear and tear! Frugal win!
Mavis says
That would have been a crisis! So glad you caught it! And I love the matchbox car idea. Ha!
Debbie N says
Stockings are one of my kids favorite things so I do spend more. I try to buy stuff year round when I see a good deal so I am not spending too much right before Christmas. Our grocery store always runs a buy one get one free on big packs of batteries this time of year so everyone gets a pack or two. batteries and school supplies are the only practical things then the rest is small fun stuff. I also add a little candy and either a mexican coke or a special ornament shaped coke that they sell at walmart(not sure if they have this year).
Ashley says
I usually spend around $5 each. My kids are young, so it’s easy. Plus, they get lots of candy from grandparents, so Santa does not feel the need to put much junk in them. They’re each getting a little bag of animal crackers and splitting a bag of dollar store candy. Plus they each get 3 things (cheap toys, socks, playing cards, pacifiers). My daughter was eyeing some $1 cookie cutters the other day, she thought it would be fun to have a B since that’s what her name starts with. So I might add one of those to each stocking, too.
My husband always gets Hot Tamales, a beef stick and a small bottle of booze. Sometimes Santa brings me some special chocolate (like Lindt or Dove), but he often forgets about mine. I don’t mind, but it does amaze me that he could forget….I mean, the stockings are there every year….lol.
Mavis says
I have a friend whose husband forgot what day Valentine’s Day was for the first 8 years of their marriage. Sometimes men are clueless! And I love your small budget for your stockings.
Butterflyweed says
The stockings are the highlight of Christmas for us so I go all out. I made some extra big stockings for us because I could never fit everything in. I keep my eye out all year and pick up little things wherever I go. That said, mine is totally lame-my husband hates to shop for anything.
Mavis says
That’s so funny you had to increase stocking size. So awesome!!
Lauralli says
Well, I see I am in the minority here! The stockings are a huge gift within a gift within a gift for my kids! 2 college age and one almost-teen. Lots of junk food/candy, but also needs like socks, underwear, gloves. Little gadgety stuff they need like tire pressure gauges, earbuds, etc. A few toy-type items like card games. Usually a movie. But, the main thing they love: gift cards! Sonic, movie theater, coffee shops rank high. We don’t spend much on our kids during the year except Christmas, Easter basket, and their birthdays, so I go all out! We only spend about $250 for all other Christmas gifts combined–no cars or huge, expensive stuff. Probably easily $100 each stocking.
Ashley C. says
Stockings were my favorite part of Christmas! My mom wrapped every gift in there every single year and it was always stuffed with the neatest little items! Now that i’m a mom of four (almost five) it is getting quite expensive and time consuming but it is still so worth it. I love stockings!! Luckily my kids are all five and under so i’m sure it’ll get more difficult as they get older.
Ellen in Clackamas says
Stockings used to be my favorite at Christmas time because we got to open them while the folks were getting dressed and getting coffee. We would always get an orange, some loose in-the-shell nuts and candy and then some little things like card games or hair stuff. I did the same for my girls. Always an orange (I think this was probably started because in the Depression my Mom’s family did not get a lot of fruit in the winter time ). There was lip gloss, lotion and a can of hair spray for each of them (in the 80’s you know!) Fun times
Julie F. says
Stockings are my favourite part of Christmas. As a kid I liked to get a couple of presents under the tree but I LOVED to open my stocking and examine all the little treats and treasures. As an adult, I could happily skip all presents as long as I still got a stocking.
The hubs would get me stuff if I wanted him to…but I just buy stuff for myself! My mom and MIL often give us a stocking and there are always good things in there, so I still get the joy of the discovery from those.
In terms of budget…we have always had $25 for each of us (hubs, myself, and 2 kiddos) and I used to find that not enough. This year I got a bunch of things from Dollar Tree, some wrapped candy from the bulk store and then just a couple of non dollar store items for each stocking. It made the money go a lot further.
I do love the idea of picking up little things throughout the year and squirreling them away though. I see awesome and amazing deals all the time but never thought to buy them and put them away for stockings. I think I’ll make that a goal starting in January.
Now, if I can just figure out how to score some freebies here in Canada…
Cass says
You don’t have to have a sewing machine. There is a glue that hold well and is intended for glueing fabric products together. Just in case you have a wonderful sweater for this project and don’t sew. (Your local fabric/craft store should have it in stock. Mine did)
Deborah from FL says
This year, my family decided to make this holiday season different. We aren’t exchanging gifts. We’re focusing on special spending quality time together. A few weeks ago my 26-year old son said, “But I’ll still be getting my stocking, right?” I had to laugh. Each year he gets one of those chocolate oranges, a lot of mixed shelled nuts (which he’ll munch on throughout the day), and peppermint candy. I didn’t realize how important this tradition was to him.
Growing up, we always got an apple and an orange down in the toe, and little items (often new toothbrush and toothpaste, etc), and one small wrapped present. We got to get into our stockings while Mom made coffee and Dad got the camera ready (think mid ’60s through the ’70s). Presents were off-limits until my parents were in place with their coffee.
When my son was younger, I always included something that would keep him entertained while the adults were waking up. Those little Lego kits were always a hit! Great memories. 🙂
Janice says
Our first grandchild was born this year so it will be an exciting Christmas. He is only 7 months so I’ve been thinking about what I could put in his stocking. I’ve picked up a few sippy cups, children’s spoon and fork set as well as a small soft toy. I’ve decided to start a tradition of giving him a cookie cutter and one of my recipes each year, rather than an ornament. I have picked up a few good ideas from this thread – like the animal crackers – loved that idea. For the adults I usually get things like nail files, polish, brush, emery boards, hand cream, stretchy (cheap) gloves, etc. Also, small travel size items (shampoo, soap, hand sanitizer, Q-tips, cream, etc.) are always appreciated as most of the adults travel for work. It wouldn’t be a Christmas stocking without some form of chocolate..
Margery says
Ours are a little bigger this year, youngest is getting a small lego kit, the bigs a new book, plus the normal socks, candy, new tooth brush, mainly since my husband has to work Christmas and he leaves to early to wake before he leaves so all the gifts under the tree will get not be opened until the afternoon.
Amanda says
Growing up, our stockings were pencils, toothbrush/paste, some candy, nuts, orange, chapstick, that sort of thing. Usually one little thing that was a fun extra – a perfume/lipstick/eyeshadow sample, a pretty little handlotion, or a tiny lego kit. So, fun stuff, but mostly useful and not terribly exciting, especially considering all the other stuff we had already gotten. (We always did gifts on Christmas Eve and stockings on Christmas day, for various reasons)
However! My husband remembers stockings as being the best thing about Christmas. So, at our house we’re making stockings a big big deal. And pretty much, if it fits in the stocking(ours are pretty big!) that’s where it will go! So lots of the small treasures, plus candy, breakfast worthy snacks, toothbrush, etc. I do wrap some of the stocking stuff to slow the event down a little bit haha.
We set a budget total for gifts and stockings for our three kids(3.5, 2.5, 8 months) of $130. And thanks to an awesome craigslist deal for one big gift and a generous hand-me-down from family for another big gift we’ve stuck pretty well to that number and they’re still making out like bandits. 😀
Stockings for kids this year include juice boxes, tiny pretzel bags, applesauce pouches, 100% fruit leather, a bag of M&Ms, a biggish plastic dinosaur each, slippers, hair clips, an “eyes car”(from the Cars movie) each, toothbrush each, wooden road sign set(to go with hot wheels or the new train set), a set of little wooden pets(to go with the new wooden dollhouse), character bandaids(dollar store!), growing washcloths, glow sticks, and maybe other stuff I’m forgetting, haha.
I also do a good stocking for my husband(though I definitely cheated on my total budget for him, whoops) and he does one for me.
Stocking items for my husband this year – starbucks coffee, funny t-shirt, a gift card to our favorite family dinner place(bought with a black friday discount), a tricky metal ring puzzle, a few kinds of his favorite candy, a book, toothbrush, a new wallet(if I can remember where I stowed it!)
Last year I got candles, a necklace, a couple bags of chocolate, steak sauce(lol), and a couple other little things in mine. He’s good at this, yay!
I love the idea of older kids contributing to parent stockings, totally should hit your kids up for that one, Mavis! 🙂
sounds like everyone has different stocking budget ideas! And your <$10 for all of them is awesome!
Mavis says
Your stockings sound like so much fun, and I bet your kids (and hubby) love them! And I think that’s a great budget for all that stuff!
SINCERELY says
YES!! TOO CHEAP!! LOL!! BUT GOOD DEALS