I know that we had threads like this in the past but perhaps a "refresher course" will bring some new and creative ideas. I'm starting the thread by dividing it to make it easier. And, though this might not be the stretchiest approach, I'm doing my best to list "useful" things. I know we could do extremely frugal stockings but I think that you can keep the price down by the "less is more" approach and getting things that you know will be used (which is dependent on the person and family). Also, most of these items are inexpensive in nature anyways and/or can be found on sale.

Anybody/Fillers --> Gift Cards, Samples, CDs, DVDs, Socks, Handmade/Homemade Gifts, Magazine Subscriptions, Gloves, Cell Phone or MP3 Player Accessories, iTunes Gift Card, Orange (or any fruit), Nuts, Candy, Pocket Bibles, Ornaments, Prefume/Cologne/Body Spray

Toddlers --> Colors, Coloring Books, Sippy Cups, Bubbles, Flash Cards, Books, GoldFish or Cheerios Snack Holders, Board/Cloth Books, Tube of M&M Minis, Baby Spoons

Young Children --> Sidewalk Chalk, Coloring Books, Name/Personalized Items, Playing Cards, Travel Games, Books, Yo-Yos, Jumprope, Stickers, Bubble Bath, Cool Toothbrushes, Play Dough, Wind-up Flashlights, Glow Sticks, Sunglasses, Binoculars, Crazy Straws, Disposable Camera, Pez Dispensers, Silly String, Personalized Name Plates for Bikes, Watches,

Young Girls --> Hair Accessories, Chapsticks, Journal Books/Cute Notebooks, Purse Accessories, Bangle Bracelets, Craft Kits (small ones can be found in craft section), Friendship Bracelet Supplies (embroidery thread, etc.)

Young Boys --> Hot Wheels, Comic Books, Plastic Bugs/Snakes, Action Figures, Magnifying Glass, Tools (real things like tape measurers, etc.)

Teens --> Gas Cards, Movie Passes, Gift Cards for Game Rentals, Car Air Freshners, USB Flash Drives (great for school), Flip Flops

Teen Girls --> Lotion/Bath Items, Fuzzy Socks, Makeup, Hair Accessories, Desk Accessories (cute postit notes, pens, etc.), Jewelry, Nail Polish, Manicure Gift Certificate, Makeup Bags

Teen Boys --> Shaving Items, Wallet, Pocket Knife, Belt, Sports Memorabilia, Car Washing Items, Baseball Caps, Boxers

Men --> Shaving Items, Flashlight, Wallet, Small Tools, Pocket Knife, Belt, Ties

Women --> Lotion, Bath Salts/Beads, Small Kitchen Gadgets, Magnetic Notepads for Fridge, Candles, Flavored Coffee/Tea, Fuzzy Socks/Slippers, Mini Notebooks (for purse)

By Hobby --> Fishing Lures (the fisherman), Packets of Seeds (the gardener), Camo Items (the hunter), Golf Balls (the golfer), Hand Warmer Packets (outdoorsman), Wine Bottle Opener or Glass Markers, Scrapbooking Supplies, Small Thermost (outdoorsman), Travel Mug (for the worker), Beef Jerky (outdoorsman), Cookie Cutters (for the baker), Sports Memorabilia (for the sports fan), Guitar Picks & Holder (guitarist), Drum Sticks (drummer)

Have a blessed day!

Julie

Mom used to buy us a small tube of toothpaste, a new toothbrush, and we'd get a il file (emery boards). She would add tangerines and mixed unshelled nuts. We (all 4 of us) had to combine our nuts and tangerines so Mom could use them in our meals.

Those sample sizes that you see at places make nice stocking stuffers.

Brian and I always do toiletry items for our stockings. Shampoos, deodorants, toothpaste, toothbrush, etc. I add bootlaces, disposable handwarmers, hankies, and usually a bag of those double dipped malted milk balls. He'll put razor blades, gum, chapstick, hand sanitizer, etc. in my stocking as well. The kids usually get candy, shower gel, crayons, Fun Pads, a pack of pencils with their names on it, and a Christmas ornament. Sarah will get some hair doo-dads, and Andy will get some Hot Wheels or maybe a small Lego kit.

Growing up, though our family were middle-class & not "poor", we did not get many extras throughout the year. There was no candy every time you went to the store, toys were reserved for Christmas/birthday, clothes were bought as needed not as wanted, etc. We didn't get much throughout the year so most items were reserved for Christmas and birthday. Therefore, especially at Christmas time, we got TONS of stuff but it was never expensive things like $400 for a game thing! LOL. Even with the bombardment of toy commercials in our face and even when comparing what we got to what our friends got, we NEVER felt deprived. We were always appreciative and felt like we "racked up" for our birthdays and Christmas. Our parents, however else they fell short, did a great job of teaching us to appreciate what we got and that we did. Sure, we got toys for gifts but it was only a fraction of what we got and the toys we got were based more on creativity (i.e. art supplies, learning toys, outside play, board games, etc) than just the "hot item of the moment". We got new shoes, underwear, socks, pajamas, bath items, hair accessories, etc. We also didn't get candy a lot so for Christmas, having candy in our stocking was a big deal!

That said, our stockings were big deals to us. We got full stockings but they were filled with things we really used! And we didn't get these items throughout the year like some so we really looked forward to them.

I plan to do the same with my kids. I see my younger cousins and all the loot they got throughout the year AND for Christmas and Birthdays and I can't see how their parents afforded it nor do I think it benefited the kids at all. They didn't even play with half that stuff! I find we were much more appreciative of what we got and took better care of our things. Plus, I want Jesus to be the reason for and focus of the season, not the goodies that we get. I want to encourage my kids to give and not just get. I like the idea of having baking days where they not only learn to bake but use it as a way to "give" to others themselves. I like the idea of "adopting" a needy family through church (when single, I did this a few times), volunteering, etc. as a family holiday activity.

Have a blessed day,

Julie

Until about 3 or 4 years ago the dk's stockings consisted of one thing and one thing only tons and tons of candy usually bought the year before on clearance. Recently I've been cutting back on the candy (too heavy to lift the bags out of the freezer) and started adding small gifts like a coloring pad, a pencil, a small scratch pad,  a bar of novelity soup, a small book or small stuffed animal and of course lots of candy (my dks all have inherited their parent's hyperactive sweet tooth).

 This is a great list. I have found that the dollar store holds most of the stuffers for me. When I was a kid we also got stuff we could use. I do the same with my kids. My oldest is 14, he is just starting to shave on a regular basis so small bottles of colonge and aftershave for him. nice pens and pencils for school, magnets for his locker, boxers (I find on clearance throughout the year), a goofy puzzle (my mom always put one in for us too), a deck of cards and a pocket bible. My 6 year old is the easiest, coloring book and a small box of crayons, a bag of army men, small dinosaurs, small decks of playing cards, and a soft cover children's book (christian based, once he is reading better I will put a bible in his too). My big splurge for the stockings is a christmas ornament for both. I  buy each one of them a "good" christmas ornament each year (lenox, gorham, ect.,) I have done this since their first Christmas and that way when they are grown and start their own families they will have these ornaments to take with them. I can usually spend about 20.00 each on the ornaments and I try to get them either dated and/or with something of interest. One year my son got a lenox rocket (he was very interested in the stars that year). They really do appreciate them each year and they will even more when they are older. 

For my Mom (in her 70's) nail polish, emery boards, box of nice tea. magnets for the fridge, funny cocktail napkins to use at her next luncheon, and a christmas ornament.

 I agree that children today are given way too much for absolutely no reason. My nephew is in the habit that he expects to receive a gift every time he see's his grandparents, he sees them EVERYDAY. Beacuse his grandfather brings him a new toy eveyday he has no appreciation for birthdays and Christmas. My brother can not figure out why his son doesn't seem so excited about christmas as my children are. If you ask my kids what is the best part of christmas they wont tell you presents they will tell you they love spending time with family.  They love the gifts, they are kids, but they really like getting together with everyone more. Kids have to understand that stuff is just stuff!! 

Since my parents are dutch, we didn't grow up with stockings.  you were suppose to put out your shoe out with carrots for the pony.  Your inital in choc is the big xmas thing. choc letter, mandarin, some special candy, maybe ginderbread type of big cookie of a boy or girl. another traditional thing.  Our xmas's weren't fancy.    a few gifts mostly toys.  same with birthdays.  

Dh side of the family gives more presents at xmas then birthdays. something minor for birthdays and lots for xmas. They don't go overboard but I would prefer that it was it was more equal at birthdays and xmas.   Birthdays are special all about you and xmas is about everyone.   instead of 6 presents for both occasions 1 for birthday and 5 for xmas. I prefer 3 and 3.    it gets too much!

I only get special candy like choc letters at xmas or certain choc like choc covered cherries for dh.  something you don't get the rest of the year. Because they get enough candy during the year especially at halloween!     I started doing stockings.  I will have to do my own I am sure.    

I am not big on toileties or underwear for stockings. guess it was the way I was bought up. not present stuff.   socks and underwear if it fancy or special.   I got funny spongebob tube socks from the dollar store for dh and our student.

I have some dvds for the kids, socks, a stuffie, a craft kit plus a couple of other small things for them. still have to buy choc letters.

I agree kids get too much especially with birthday parties, loot bags etc.     The kids were already singing xmas songs halloween morning!! and now starting on easter!

I reminded that easter wasn't about choc bunnies!!

 This is a great thread. I always have trouble filling "stockings" for my grown kids. They're not really stockings any more but I try to make up a box or some kind of container with the same sort of things you'd find in a stocking. I've given laser pens, unique note pads, key chains, special salt and pepper sets, packages of hot chocolate mix, packages of tea bags, small gift cards, knitted wash cloths, flash drives and gloves in the last few years. 

It's always the gift they reach for first, while we get set for the more official gift opening.  

 I save up my freebies from all year. Also what ever things I think they'd like from the clearance bins. I'm an all year Christmas, birthday planner.

cyn

filling stockings for our girls (ages 10, 16, 16) is a pretty easy task. It's the guys' stockings that give me stress!

My expectations of stocking stuffers differ greatly from my husband's. My idea of stocking stuffers would be inexpensive mini-splurges! 

I can't fill DH's stocking with cheap tools & gadgets - they will not stand up to the rigours of his work!  It doesn't help that he also has two expensive hobbies - cycling and photography!   The cheapest hobby related thing I could buy for his stocking is probably a bike bottle or moisture wicking socks!  As for photography - I wouldn't even attempt to buy the stuff he'd like.  Too technical for my limited know-how, way beyond my stocking stuffer budget!

DSS is 19 and it's pretty boring putting in the same stuff year after year - of course, he'd like to think an iPod is a stocking stuffer! NOT!!