OK, I’m the queen of procrastinators, so this post is for me! If you’re looking for a way to fill your kid’s stockings with as little out-of-pocket as possible, just hit your stockpile closet (or bin or shelf)!
Here’s a list of 10 items you can grab from your couponing stockpile that can be used as stocking stuffers on Christmas morning.
1. School Supplies — Do you have leftovers from your summer buying adventures? School supplies play the part of art supplies for younger children (crayons, glue sticks, watercolors, colored pencils). School aged children would also love for new school supplies to replace the used ones.
2. Band-Aids — What kid wouldn’t love their very own box of bandages?
3. Toothbrush — Pick the right character and you’ve got a winner!
4. Toothpaste — This might be a better suggestion for a smaller family (I’m just imagining my sister-in-law’s family of 7 boys — 7 tubes of toothpaste seems a bit much). Again, fool kids into thinking you’re giving them something extra special since it has their favorite character on the front.
5. Hair Accessories — Hair bands, bobby pins, bows, brushes. What girl doesn’t love hair paraphernalia?
6. Socks — I know, you can’t get socks for free. But you can get them for super cheap, especially if you hit the Fred Meyer Black Friday sale or scored at a past 50% off Dollar Spot sale at Target.
7. Shampoo — My kids loved it when they received their own bottles of children’s shampoo two years ago. We only use one at a time, but it’s super fun to say, “We’re using Nathan’s shampoo now!”.
8. Mints, gum, hard candy — It’s easy to get these items for free throughout the year and kids feel special when they have their own stash.
9. Filler items — Give your kids the stuff you throw into coupon transactions just to make your order work. I’m thinking of all the pencils, candles, stickers and small toys.
10. Cereal — OK, cereal won’t fit into most stockings. My husband used to get sugar cereal wrapped under the tree. His family never ate sugar cereal, so this was a real treat. And no one got to eat the other’s cereal, so it was extra special!
I realize that many of you are just starting to build your stockpile, so keep this list in mind as you coupon your way through 2011!
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my son is only one, and he is getting a free toothbrush i got and toothpaste.
my husband is getting candy, shaving cream, deoderant, soap, peanuts and etc. i think the useful stocking stuffers are the best!
Saw some lip gloss sets at target for $3.50 on clearance today. Has 5 or 6 in a box and I’m thinking o could split them as stocking stuffers.
Every year After Halloween I buy cheap candy and use it in their stockings. Then after Christmas I buy cheap candy and use it for Easter. Etc. Kids don’t care what color the wrapper is.
We love to buy the variety pack of Christmas red/green/and gold Reece’s peanut butter cups on Dec. 26th: Red ones are used for Valentine’s Day, green ones for St. Patrick’s day, and the the gold ones go for next Christmas:)
Don’t forget barely touched books from garage sales. Or Dec. 26th purchased Christmas candy (yes, it freezes fine), freebie stickers & notepads.
Try “Breakfast in the stocking” : individual serving of “treat” cereal & hot cocoa mix & fruit.
Oh, and careful on the “cheaper” toothpaste: check expiration date & what “market” they are for. Our US toothpastes, made for foreign markets, may not have the same safety & chemical regulations.
I picked up some individual servings of Fruit Loops and Lucky Charms at Target the other day for $1 a container. I also have some individual applesauces to go along with them.
My son loves egg nog so we are putting a note for egg nog in his stocking. It will be in the fridge for Christmas morning. If I could just stuff that egg nog in, I could really fill that thing out. 🙂
My kids always got a toothbrush in their stocking. When my youngest got married and had her first Christmas as a married couple she cried when she didn’t get a toothbrush because she was homesick. Her husband has not forgotten since 🙂
I am wrapping these items up in baskets for family members (sister in law / nephew etc…) for a gift! My nephew (17 years old) is getting his favorite cereals and body wash and shaving goodies! I am excited to wrap it all individually in a box which will be wrapped too! should be fun / funny and something that I could do with little OOP. but lots of love and memories!
kari
I always buy our toothpaste at the DollarTree… all name-brands and sometimes they have kid-friendly flavors. 🙂 (The clerks always look at me funny because I buy them about 10 at a time!)
Fruit is still a good one too, oranges, especially. I remember my mom doing that. And she always did a pomegranate (as I’m starting with my toddler this year).
I remember getting toothpaste for stocking gifts – it was often bubble gum or something we never had the rest of the year.
Also consider elf lip gloss and such – $1 each and they come in great flavors.