Budget-Proof Holiday Stocking Stuffers for the Whole Family
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During the holiday season, retailers love advertising stocking stuffers priced at $20, $30, and even $50 (or more), but these high-ticket items are better placed under the tree than in your family’s stockings. True stocking fillers are typically smaller, more affordable trinkets that add to the holiday fun instead of breaking the bank. If you’re looking for budget-friendly ways to fill your stockings all the way to the top, we’ve compiled a list you can use for every member of your household.
King-Sized Candy
Bigger candy bars and other king-sized confections take up extra room in a stocking and can delight little ones. You can go for traditional candies, such as peanut butter cups and chocolate bars, for affordable stocking fillers. Ghirardelli chocolate bars or peppermint bark make perfect additions to a stocking for mom or dad. You can also order bulk packages of full-size candy bars to fill everyone’s stocking.
Another option is to give everyone a bag of their favorite candies. Stores often run deals on two or three bags for a set price, so you can stock up on Hershey’s Kisses, gummy, bears, Sour Patch Kids, or even milk chocolate Santas. Depending on the size of the stockings, full boxes of candy canes also work as stuffers.
Hair Care and Beauty Gifts
Discount and dollar stores are great for finding low-cost hair and beauty items. Manicure essentials, such as emery boards, clippers, and nail polish, make great fillers, and you can pair them with matching mini eye shadow palettes or lipsticks for even more fun.
Little ones who are maybe too young for makeup but love a makeover can appreciate fun flavored lip balms, hair clips, and bath bombs. Look out for holiday deals on hair and beauty products packaged in ornaments, which add a festive touch and help fill stockings more quickly. These ornaments sometimes include collections of nail polish, lipstick, mascara, or face masks, and they’re often relatively inexpensive.
$5 Gift Cards
It can be harder to find stocking fillers for adults and teens, but $5 gift cards can be a great solution. Gift cards for fast food restaurants are perfect for family members who might want to treat themselves to a quick lunch during the workday, while coffee gift cards are great for morning pick-me-ups. An iTunes gift or Google Play card might be just the thing for a teen who wants to download new music or make an in-app purchase for a favorite game.
Stocking Stuffers for Babies
Some parents find stocking stuffers for babies harder to come by, but there are plenty of options out there for your tiny tots. Board books and small stuffed animals keep babies entertained and go a long way toward filling up a stocking. If your baby is old enough for finger foods, you can also add in bags of his or her favorite treats, including yogurt melts, snack puffs, or teething crackers. .
Collectible Cards and Blind Boxes
Kids and even some adults can appreciate collectible cards or blind boxes in their holiday stockings. Baseball, football, and Pokémon cards are easy to find and don’t cost a lot for a single pack. Blind boxes and bags exist for a wide variety of toys and licenses, including Squishville, LEGO, Disney Tsum Tsum, and Nintendo. The best part of buying these collectible gifts is that you don’t know what’s inside. You won’t have to worry about other family members buying duplicates or having to return items to the store. Even if your child receives two of the same collectible card or toy, one can be traded with friends or other family members.
Remember that fruit and nuts can also be used to fill the bottom of each stocking, and these treats can be used later in the day for holiday cooking or kept in the kitchen for non-candy snacking options throughout the rest of the holiday season.
