101 Stocking Stuffer Ideas

A stocking hanging on the fireplace mantle is a long standing Christmas tradition steeped in history. As one legend goes, a poor man had three beautiful daughters. He had no money for their dowry and he was worried what would happen to them after his death. Saint Nicholas was passing through and heard the villagers talking about the girls. He wanted to help, but knew that the old man wouldn’t accept charity so he decided to help in secret. He waited until it was night and crept through the chimney with three bags of gold coins, one for each girl. As he was looking for a place to leave them he noticed the girls stockings hung over the mantelpiece to dry. He put one bag of gold in each stocking and off he went. When the girls and their father woke up the next morning, they found the bags of gold coins and were overjoyed. The girls were able to get married and live happily ever after and to this day we continue the practice of stuffing stockings full of gifts.

Some of my fondest memories centered around pulling endless stream of tiny presents from the recesses of the homemade stockings my Mom made for us. And I’m happy to now be the Mother who gets to stuff my own children’s stockings on Christmas eve. So if Santa has designated you to be the stocking stuffer in your family, here’s a list of 101 ideas, some more frugal than others, to fill up those stockings this Christmas Eve.

Garden seed packets
Homemade coupons ie: back rubs, dessert before dinner, no chores for the day,
Candy
Card games
A Charcoal briquette as coal for those on the naughty list
A thrift store spoon dipped in melted chocolate and wrapped for a flavored coffee stir stick
fingernail polish
Single flavored tea bags
Single-load boxes of laundry detergent for kids home from college
Bubble bath
Candles
Prints of favorite photos
A homemade cookbook or set of recipe cards
Scratch off lottery tickets
Favorite spices for the cook
Copies of old home movies
A hand written love letter
Homemade chocolate lip balm
Bottle of Pain Reliever
Homemade Play Dough
Homemade gingerbread men
A paperback book
Gumballs
A roll of quarters for laundry
A Key-chain with a first set of house keys for your pre-teen
A new toothbrush
A letter from Santa
Golf balls
Tire gauge
A favorite magazine
Nuts
Batteries
Body sprays
Scented soaps
Vitamins
Flavored coffees
Character band-aids
Coloring books
Lint brushes
Crayons
Granola bars
Gift cards
Cd’s
Mittens
A piece of exotic fruit
A Scarf
Flavored popcorn seasoning
Packets of cocoa
Fishing lures
A bottle of hot sauce for those who like it spicy
Stickers
Water paints and brushes
A poster
A jar of homemade cinnamon syrup
Calculator
Puzzle
Homemade Sidewalk chalk
Camera memory cards
Magnets
Maps for the traveler
Small picture frames
Chapstick, lip gloss or lipstick
BBQ or fireplace lighters
USB flash drive
Laptop power cord
Decorated notepads and pens
Personalized return address labels
Perfume samples from the cosmetics counter
Personalized stationary
Crossword or Sudoku books
Ornaments
Paper dolls
Doll clothes
Action figures
Baseball or other trading cards
Fun socks
Small lego sets
Special Coins or Currency ($2 bill, $1 Presidential Coins, State Quarters)
Hair accessories
Temporary tattoos
Juggling balls
Flashlight
Desk calendar
Cell phone cover
Book marks for the reader
Fun pencils
Cookie cutters
Measuring spoons
Pet treats
Crochet hooks
Knitting needles
Tape measure
Padlocks
Car air fresheners
Pedometer
Small baking mixes
Stamps
Personalized M & M’s
Silly putty
Ear warmers or muffs
Rolled up t-shirt

Found on:
The Grocery Cart Challenge: 101 Stocking Stuffer Ideas