TizzyLizzy mentioned in another thread about samples at Walmart that she used coffee samples as stocking stuffers for her adult children. I had just been thinking of going through my samples stash to see what could be used, so now I'd like to know if anyone else uses things like that for stocking stuffers? What else can be used that I'm overlooking? All ideas welcome! (It frosted night before last and I'm ready for Christmas. )

.......lets see....normals in stockings imy house is.....crayons or markers bought during school sales,  a few of those clementine oranges, a small bag of nuts of sorts (peanuts, pistachios, almonds, pumpkin seeds) a packae of fruit snacks, a few pieces of beef jerky, a pack of pop tarts adn a juice box, a small 4 piece box of chocolate, and 1 candy cane (if you cant tel- idont cook breakfast on xmas, the kids eat thier breakfast out of the stocking)......then a toothbrush, and toothpaste, a body wash puff, small body washes, and stuff like new gloves and hats and scarves....by the time all ths in in the stockings...theres no room for toys usaally,  but playing cards, coloring books, hair ties,key chains , cars, or a new ornaent will be added this year..........

when  i was a teenager, mom always had deodorant, new razors and shaving cream and shampoo and conditioner, new body puff, and body wash were always in my stocking

• Grocery list pads or cute/functional sticky-note pads
• Custom notepads from your computer - take to Kinko's to bind 
• Pens/Sharpies
• New keychain
• Coffee mugs, especially fun designs or odd shapes (I find these for 25 cents or less and clean them) -- would go great with those coffee / tea / cocoa samples
• Pictures of the kids in garage-sale frames

My all-time favorite was a little refrigerator magnet that my sister made - it says, "My house was clean yesterday - Sorry you missed it!"

 

 

 Ok... but what's the cheapest way (I'm not shy) to come up with these things? Do you use samples or other freebies to fill stockings? Make your own? I'm looking for the most frugal ideas I can find!

well, oriental trading company, is kinda neat, and goes usually for a lot of stocking stuffers  (xample rubber duckie 5.95 for 12 is 49cets per stockingstuffer......)  and they have a clearane secion as well not sure how many you would need, here we have a place called westwood discount......really neat store,  here are all kinds of things there, from baby gifts to shampoo and whatnot, maybe there is a store similarto that where you live? i did m friends entire gift basket filled with odds and ends for about 8.00........not sure what the budget per stocking is....samples from the site i posted this mornng (under favorite sites) are really good......yard sales thrift stores, markdowns at stores....couons for services are good too.....or meals or get out (blank) chore copons.. home made herbal sachets are good (assuming you have cinnomon sticks, a vanilla bean som orange peels, lavender...... some fabric and some tme) my mom sometimes for xmas would give me a box of golden grhams cerealname brand, not generic wraped sometimes......frank gets little misc things for free  all the time from work, we use those too....who cares if its got some companys logo on it?.......and shopping all year with about  about a 10 budget each month for xmas things helps me.......its  much easeir to snag a cool toy/sweater/garen item/gloves/pencils/ after holidays and what not, and store it for a year or till needed......ive donethis  before on a  good x mas, was able to have 3 average  sized totes filled for then  120 , for gifts for my mom, sister, dad, gradnma, auntuncle, stepdad, and stepmom and my kids and a handfull of friends.......on other years, its one tote fr 40 for everything....and home made pancake mix and sryrup, with a bowl and a wooden spoon found at good will for 75 cents.......and whats your budet? i hve filled my first tote of gifts for less then 25 this year.....some of which were items that i have no use for, that someone else will like/can use/or enjoy......books have alwys been a favorite of mine as well (you know i like you lots if you get a harcover book--found for less then 2.00)

We only do actual stocking stuffers for the 2 kids and each other.

Books (garage sales/thrift stores/$stores)

puzzles

crayons/markers/pencils

candy

chapstick

deoderant

shampoo

conditioner

body pufs

lotions

cards (magic ones this year)

hair brushes/combs

play dough

gloves

hats/scarves

socks

underwear

razors

whatever fits in the stocking

I've used samples, but the best way I've gotten frugal about it is to buy things on deep sale throughout the year. Sometimes I break up sets to distribute among other stockings, or repackage myself (for example, I got a deal last year on some candy, but the bag was way too big for one stocking, so I wrapped up a smaller amount myself for several stockings/gifts). 

If you have a gardener in your life, packets of exotic seeds are a cool, inexpensive stuffer.  I've saved my own for gifts as well.  I've put in my own fudge/candy, too.  A girlfriend of mine makes neat soaps and uses those for stuffers. 

I buy the individually-wrapped Russel Stover, Hershey's and other name-brand candies at Walgreens on coupon when they go 3 or 4/$1.00.  That's also a good place for xmas pencils, cups, mugs, stretchy gloves and peppermint stix, even scuffy-type house shoes - but you need to watch for coupons, otherwise Walgreen's is high.

If you want xmas themed chapsticks, watch for Avon's sales on theirs, about .69 each.  But the ones at Aldi's are .49 or .59 (sorry, I only remember they're cheaper) cents and smell just as nice, tho they're not xmas-decorated.  And speaking of Avon, their lipstick samples are nice stocking-stuffers.  If you don't get enough given to you, you might ask your rep (nicely) if you can buy a pack or two of samples from her.

If you can buy bulk packages of things cheaply enough, open them and put one in each stocking - sox are in this category, along with Play-doh cannisters, sticks of modeling clay, combs, cheapie toothbrushes, body poufs usually come in multi-packs, undies, razors, etc., etc...Liz

 

 

I have used samples before. There were no complaints that I heard. I also buy mixed Christmas candy, a couple of the Cadbury Oranges. The kind you whack on the counter and they break into slices. They have raspberry now too. We do socks, small and cheep gizmos, whatever we can come up with. I try not to go over $20.00 for both my son and husband.

 Lots of good answers, thanks! I usually shop year 'round for things like this, but just haven't much this year for some reason. I'm making a list of things to look for now. Today I found a package of Hershey's "chocolate sticks" at the salvage grocery that I'll divide up for the stockings. I have three to fill, so it's not too hard, but last year I felt really generous and made a basket for my daughter's roommates and they're expecting it again this year. I intend to make some candy and maybe a special loaf of bread to go with a small jar of plum butter. I have some samples to sort through so maybe I'll find something there. I'm glad I woke up while there's still time to work on it!