Stocking Stuffer Ideas

Stocking Stuffer Ideas, Holiday shopping depends on being streetwise, so if you’re strapped this year, buck up. That’s right. Get notions of Calvin Klein and Ralph Lauren out of your head. This year, bare-bones shopping is in order. Luckily we can help you with a few tricks.

One of the best ideas is to play up the stocking stuffers and buy fewer bigger presents. Kids, after all, are often most impressed with quantity.

With an eye to the stocking stuffer, we made a trial run and found some amazing bargains in places that are likely under your radar. Chains like Walgreens and CVS offer steep discounts and creative loot to boot. Another smart place for the frugal shopper is Santa Rosa’s Grocery Outlet Bargain Market.

At Walgreens some inexpensive items that catch the eye include a flashing necklace with eight blinking lights for $2.99, socks for $9.99, a 7-ounce Hersey’s Kiss for $5.49 and Roasted Almonds for $1.29. Of course the best bargain for the dog-lover was the Dingo Dental Bone, daily dental chews made of chicken and rawhide with powdered baking soda.

At CVS, Godiva chocolate never seemed so accessible, with 3.5 ounce bars for $3.99. Mind you, these are pretty fancy bars — White Chocolate Vanilla Bean, Salted Caramel and Milk Chocolate Fruit Infusion. There was also a brush and mirror set in the Cool Coiffure Collection for $1, and four cans of Play-Doh for $4.99. Yet another steal, Walkie Talkies, a classic, were priced at $10.49.

Stocking Stuffers

Stocking Stuffers,Stocking stuffers can eat up a hefty chunk of your Christmas shopping budget, and we often don’t think about the expense until just days before Christmas.

Stocking stuffers in our home used to be quite costly. I fill (and I mean “I” since my husband is no help whatsoever in this department!) 13 Christmas stockings for people, and 1 for the dog. That can add up quickly.

The following are a few frugal ideas for stocking stuffers that have been hits in my family in previous years.

Frugal Stocking Stuffers:

1. Coupons. Don’t roll your eyes! My daughter and daughter-in-law-to-be LOVE coupons for diapers, wipes, and cosmetics that they can’t afford to splurge on as stocking stuffers. They especially love BOGO coupons.

2. Magazine subscriptions. Amazon.com has had some great magazine subscriptions for $5. Magazines.com has had a few as well. Pay $5 for the subscription, then pay $3.95 for the latest issue. Roll it up and put it in the stocking. For less than $10 you’ve practially filled the whole stocking!

3. Free samples. I scour through bags and boxes that I tuck away throughout the year and assemble my stash of free samples that I’ve received via mail for use as stocking stuffers. My boys and hubby get the razors and shave cream; the girls get the feminine hygiene products (hey, it saves them from buying them!) and the lotions, shampoo and perfumes.

4. Babysitting coupons. I put coupons for a free evening or afternoon of babysitting into two of my kid’s stockings as stocking stuffers and they’ve usually redeemed one within the week!

5. Got tea drinkers? Buy a big box of tea bags and divvy them up among the stockings as stocking stuffers.

6. Dip plastic spoons in melted chocolate and wrap in cellophane. Tuck these in as stocking stuffers to be stirred and enjoyed in coffee or hot chocolate.

Stocking stuffers needn’t break the bank to be enjoyed. The key is to personalize the items for each recipient; then sit back and watch them enjoy’s “Santa’s” generosity and clever ideas.