2017 Update: We still think these are some fun stocking stuffers, but you may also want to check out our latest gift ideas for professionals.
Call me crazy, but I always like to do stocking stuffers as thoughtful little presents that may be everyday, almost boring things — but done better. For today, I've rounded up some small gifts that definitely fit that description.
Our previous gift guides are linked below — note that each one has a Pinterest board that is still being updated as we find more good stuff:
- Maybe it's just my Midwestern upbringing, but a stocking ain't a stocking until it has a ridiculously sized chocolate Santa in it. For those of you stocking healthier stockings, these honey sticks look awesome.
- I always love a gift with a sense of humor. These insult bandages look like the perfect stocking stuffer — they're probably not the kind of thing you'd buy for yourself, but they would bring a smile to your face when you need a bandaid. Along these lines: ThinkGeek has some bacon soap, and The Onion always delivers with mugs and more.
- I've been a fan of the company Minimus for many years now — they sell mini, travel-safe versions for all kinds of things, from salad dressings to sunscreens. They can be a great way to stock someone's travel bag — or someone's desk drawer. They even have a gift set with samples of fat-free dressings. Another good spot for finding mini versions: World Market (where I always load up on the single servings of Nutella).
- They were called the Hairdini in my day, but they're ba-ack… as wraps to help perfect a top knot. They range in price from $6 to $12, and I think they'd be perfect for… well, that person who still needs help with her topknot. Also fun: reader favorite Spin Pins.
- You know how whenever you walk into Bed Bath and Beyond you want to buy all the cool kitchen stuff and then have to stop yourself because you need to FOCUS and GET THE ONE THING YOU WENT IN THERE FOR and not get sucked into the vortex of happy silicone spatulas or whatnot? I tend to go to BB&B and buy all that cool stuff for my mom's stocking. These cool spatulas are from Amazon, but I lurve the ghost vibe.
- Finally: Sometimes you really need boring stuff but a) don't know the product exists or b) don't want to spend the money on it yourself. For example: these cool heel replacement caps look perfect for the stiletto addict in your life; this Hunter boot shine sponge looks great for the rainboot fanatic.
Have you bought some fun stocking stuffers to give this year? What is the best (or funniest, or oddest) thing you've found in your stocking over the years?
My stepmom gets all of us a folding travel toothbrush for our stockings each year. That’s my favorite stocking stuffer. She also throws in things like mini candles, batteries, and a few pieces of candy. I love getting useful stocking stuffers.
Stockings must have chocolate coins in. There has been a furore in the UK that Cadbury’s are not making chocolate coins any more.
You should call up the local places that sell Kosher stuff. There is something called Chanukah Gelt that are golden coins made of chocolate. The chocolate is REALLY good. Dad gave packages of these chocolate to all of Rosa’s kid’s but when I asked for a package, he said I was not a kid any more and my tuchus would NOT like it. I said I wanted some, and Mom wound up sneakeing me a package w/o dad finding out about it. There realy are NOT that many callorie’s in a package of those chocolate’s so I really do NOT know what the problem is. I am NOT goieng to get that fat eateing a few chocolate coins. Dad tho insists that I will NOT find a guy willing to do more then haveing sex with me until my tuchus gets back to a size 0. I think he is being ridicuealous, but so far he say’s the proof is in the pudding, and in my case, the “padding” b/c he says my tuchus is standing between me and the aisle. He even said that Sheketovits would have married me if my tuchus was smaller and I said that mabye that was a GOOD thing b/c who needs to be married to a drunk — with our without a tuchus! Mom agreed. FOOEY on dad for being so focused on my tuchus and comparing me all the time to Rosa and her body. She has a personal trainer and a housekeeper. I don’t. DOUBEL FOOEY!
I’ve been buying all the family stocking stuffers for the past few years (siblings and parents). I like a mix of fun and useful stuff. Some of my stocking best hits include sneaker balls (put them in your shoes to deodorize them), lip balm, bath bombs/travel bath salts, fancy hand lotion, thermopop food thermometer, fuzzy socks and the person’s favorite chocolate/candy.
My mom bought a cast iron pan earlier this year, so this year her stocking will include silicone handle holder and assist handle holder.
I love sneaker balls. I just throw em in my gym bag.
Sneaker balls, brilliant. My teen runners are getting those. I wouldn’t have thought of that, and their stockings are sadly understuffed this year.
I used to get really excited about colorful-designed pens & pencils in my stocking, so I am continuing my dad’s tradition, and putting in fun pencils & erasers in the kids’ stockings.
I get the necessities for hubs: razors, higher-end grooming products and the like. I’m throwing in a really nice ice cream scoop, and his favorite candy. I sometimes add a pound of the best coffee I can afford, because he likes coffee (and I don’t).
Also for the kids, one will get a bottle of bubble bath, and the other will get a tub of colored bath fizzies, and electric toothbrushes this year.
Mom gives me socks & tights.
I also repeat the old tradition of oranges & apples in the stocking.
For kitchen gadgets, I feel like TJM has BB&B trumped by far. I’m doing a kitchen goody-basket for my aunt for her second/weekend “cabin” with really great microfiber kitchen towels, a knife sharpener, and pig corn-holders & a pig spatula (there is a running pig joke with the house, so pig-related items are always included). I have always just been amazed at the quality & quantity of gadgets at TJM.
What is TJM?
Tj Maxx, i believe
My mother always put thank you notes in our stockings (obviously not specifically to send to her, but to send to relatives for their gifts).
that’s pretty brilliant! In a similar vein, blank notes or monogrammed notes would be lovely.
That is brilliant. What a festive way to instill good habits in kids!
I love the stocking my mom does for me usually more than I love my actual presents. There’s usually at least one or two kitchen utensils, good hand and foot lotion (the shea butter stuff from bath & body works), lip balm, a sterling silver snowflake ornament, and then a bunch of random things I would never think to buy but are useful, like fashion tape or fleece tights (yes, my first pair of fleece tights was a stocking stuffer), and of course some candy. And some scratch-off lottery tickets (those are dad’s contribution to the stockings).
My college-age son is getting in his stocking:
A wireless mouse for his laptop
Uniqlo heat-tech socks
Single-pot vacuum packets of flavored coffee
A travel/emergency charger for his I-phone that plugs right in, no cord needed, from Restoration Hardware
Lip balm
Cheap-ish ($10) earbuds because he always breaks/loses them
Travel coffee mug
Little boxes of mini-altoids (the wintergreen — because, PSA for vegetarians, the peppermint has gelatin)
A mini-slinky, because everyone needs toys
A tangerine, because my sisters and I always had one in our stockings when we were kids
And absolutely chocolate coins
Also hand and foot warmers (the disposable ones, not the butane types). I’ve seen them in the dollar spot at target, a great place for stocking stuffers.
Ok fine I’ll say it – I hate this trend-word “lurve.” For no good reason at all. Bah humbug, sorry Kat.
I do think I’ll buy a hairdini though.
If I did presents and stockings, I’d definitely get the Shakespeare bandages for my daughter. I sent her the link just to brighten her day.
I have the Shakespearean insult bandages on my desk right now, actually. Surprisingly useful :-)
My mum has a few standards she does every year: toothbrush & travel sized toothpaste, lip balm, candy & undies.
I’ve adopted my hubby’s family tradition of shopping the cheap-o bins at wal-mart for really random things. Last year I got stick-on hand tattoos to make hand puppets. We don’t spend much on stockings, so we’re always looking for a laugh rather than something super useful.
And how I miss chocolate coins. I haven’t had those in my stocking since I was a child!
undies! Socks, sure, but undies is a new one on me.
We always used to have an orange in the toe of our stocking. I was mystified by this – why take produce out of the fridge and put it in our stocking overnight, only for us to put it back in the fridge later? Only later in life did I learn that this was tradition from the days when fresh fruit was an exotic, hard-to-find, expensive treat in the wintertime.
Also, apparently people put fruit in the toe of the stocking to weigh it down and give it the “right” shape.
Serious question for the hive – if a pair of trousers is a little short in the crotch area (not always, but uncomfortable if you are sitting a lot throughout the day), is this something that can be fixed? Is it something that should resolve itself if I lose a few pounds? I found the perfect pair or work pants, but the seam where the legs connect has become intrusive over the course of the day. Sorry for the imagery.
Lose a few pounds, yes. If you are around size 4, just 5 pounds will do.
I just want to say it’s nice that you all put cheap things in your stockings. It drives me nuts when I see Tiffany jewelry or ipods listed on Stocking Stuffer guides. Just because they’re small doesn’t mean they should be put in the stocking.
Most of our stocking items come from the drugstore. This year I’m including the deodorant (separate versions for Men and Women) that they gave out free at my gym.
Amen! If an item costs more than, say $30, that’s your GIFT gift, not one of the 10 things I put in your stocking! Stocking fodder = $10 or less (and usually *WAY* less).
I have only ever had one stocking in my life – the year I spent Christmas with my sister int he US back in the 1990s! – so I am reading all of your comments with a great deal of envy! And… nicking ideas as to what to send to the nepphews next year because until now I haven’t actually considered including stocking stuffers when I send their gifts.
… and now I miss the headband with the bat bobbles I got in that stocking!
Dh is getting mini spice mixes from Penzey’s and some upgraded jams and jellies and mustards. He does a lot of grilling for us all year round and those help brighten up his rotation of chicken and steak.
Reusable shopping bags! Especially if, like me, you live somewhere with a plastic bag tax.