Gigi:

We never really have had stockings to stuff. When times were hard, we bought the children one main present, and the rest, dollar toys. We bought those type of toys for many years as they looked forward to it

I've bought those dollar toys, too, and knitted mittens and hair bands and things like that. My kids are adults now, so the stockings have changed quite a bit over the years.

Dollarama opened on the weekend in the local mall and I am stunned at what is available for $1 ! I can't believe the toys, book, halloween stuff etc that they sell. Thankfully it is at the end of the mall so we don't have to go by it. Those rows of toys will get the kids going grandma can I have it? often!

pat if you paid less then 3.50 *american* for the stephans cocoa, you did relly well, averge price here is 4.99, good sale for it is 2 for 7

 I paid $2 for it. It seemed like a good price, because even Hershey's costs more than that here. I'm glad to know it was such a good deal!

I am on several mailing lists and I get freebees that way. Last year, I gave my mom laundry soap samples, hand lotion samples, and some WildLife Federation blank note cards.

 My dad was more difficult. He got some granola bar samples, a power bar sample and some pens.

 DH got a computer mouse pad and pens and a water bottle from a trade show I had attended.

Trade shows are a good way to get freebees. Pens, pencils, mouse pads, water bottles, keychains, t-shirts, food samples/goodies., etc.

BTW, I don't go around "looking" for trade shows for this reason, lol. I just happened to attend one and they gave you a bag at the door and vendors handed out lots of stuff! DH is in education and may go to one this fall.

mamasjob:

Trade shows are a good way to get freebees. Pens, pencils, mouse pads, water bottles, keychains, t-shirts, food samples/goodies., etc.

Another one I used to do and had forgotten about this year: Grand openings of almost any store will hand out freebies like pencils, pens, notepads and other goodies. One year I got a five gallon bucket from a new Ace store. (Wouldn't fit in a stocking, though!)  

Hi Pat, Bet you know what I'm going to say! You can buy a three pack candles for a buck and divide them up among stockings. I just found some votives that come in glass holders. My dollar store here has all kinds of neat candles and sometimes you can find really nice ceramic ornaments (depending on who the stocking is for, of course.) I also found candles shaped like hand soap and some delicious-smelling chocolate-shaped candles. What about socks and scarves?

Marlene Alexander:

Hi Pat, Bet you know what I'm going to say!

I had a pretty good idea it would be about what you could find at a Dollar Store.   Good idea, though. I'll have to look and see what I can find here. Socks and scarves might not go over too well, unless they're hand made. My kids are spoiled.

 Just remembered one, I needed a new baby gift. Went to the dollar store and found a cute First Christmas ornament. It was for the previous year. I just used craft paint and matched the color then painted in the correct year in a matching color. Cheap and cute. Babs

Since I have been practicing frugality I have been trying to keep the cost for stocking stuffer items to a $1 or less. I only have my DD to fill a stocking for, my DH and I don't do this for each other. This year I would like to get as many make up samples for DD as possible. She loves to experiment and I don't mind if she doesn't get too crazy with it all. Still, these things can add up.