A stocking stuffed with fun and delightful gifts is a Christmas must, but oh my those litttle bits and pieces can add up!
Just when you think you have your gift buying list sorted, along comes that budget busting bulldozer - the stocking fillers!
Boy, can all those little goodies add up fast!
Read on to find out how to save money on stocking stuffers so everyone has a full Christmas stocking but your wallet doesn't need to suffer.
How Christmas Stocking Fillers Add Up
Why is it that the smallest gifts can sometimes be the most expensive?
And how does throwing stocking filler gifts in a basket (real or online) suddenly add up to high double figures?!
They're only little tokens after all!
If you want to stay on budget, keeping those little extra gifts and goodies in line is crucial to balancing your Christmas budget.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not going to Scrooge it out with one candy cane and a tiny gift!
I LOVE choosing stocking filler gifts for the girls, almost more than buying their big gifts.
Lara summed it up yesterday when she said, "I love my Christmas stocking because you just never know what you're going to get in there!"
Heck, we even fill stockings for the cats!
If you're with us at Christmas time, you get a stocking.
When Should You Open Christmas Stockings?
We are definitely first thing in the morning stocking openers.
Especially if it buys me a tiny bit more time lying down in bed while the girls open their stockings around me!
When they're up any time from 4am onwards, those few extra minutes of rest are GOLD!
I hear some people open their stockings after the presents which I just don't get.
Would you eat your starter (appetizer) after your main course?!
Stockings first, gifts later (much later) in our house!
If the stocking fillers are fun enough they buy you time to get Christmas breakfast - and that all-important coffee - together too!
Should Stocking Fillers Be Wrapped?
Heck yes!
I love wrapping all those little gifts up and seeing the joy and delight as people open them.
Yes, they could be unwrapped and you just reach in and grab something, but where's the fun in that?!
Part of the excitement of gifts is speculating and anticipating what lays behind the wrapping paper, so wrapping every gift is essential in my opinion!
But I don't want to spend a fortune on them, so just how can we fill those Christmas stockings for less?
Here's how to save money on Christmas stockings this year.
How to Save Money on Christmas Stocking Fillers this Year
Over the years I have found a few creative ways to fill those stockings while not spending a fortune.
Over the years I have found a few creative ways to fill those stockings while not spending a fortune.
If you're looking to fill a child's Christmas stocking on the cheap to make Christmas on a budget easier, you've come to the right place!
1. Start Early
The earlier the better if possible, so if you can pick up some cute stationetry and school supplies in August's back to school season, grab them.
The earlier the better if possible, so if you can pick up some cute stationetry and school supplies in August's back to school season, grab them.
Or if you see things in the January and summer sales. Ideally, keep your eyes open all year for bargains.
But, if you can't even think about getting organised that early, fear not. Just start early in December and do some research to find some cute stocking stuffers for less.
Take note of all the things your lucky stocking recipients like as the year goes on so you can slip their favourite sweets, pen or foodie gifts in their stockings come Christmas time.
2. Go For Bulk
Choose a couple of items per person that are quite bulky. A tub of hot chcoolate for example, a ball or some bath toys.
Choose a couple of items per person that are quite bulky. A tub of hot chcoolate for example, a ball or some bath toys.
Larger items can sit well in the centre of the stocking to give it a good shape and they fill it up too.
3. Organize as You Buy
3. Organize as You Buy
Keep a large paper bag for each recipient and put the gifts inside as soon as you get back from the shops, that way you won't lose track of what you've got for whom.
Make sure you write their name somewhere on the bag so you don't forget who's who!
This saves you time as you won't need to track everything down as you get closer to Christmas and means you can check regularly to make sure everyone has the same number of gifts in their stocking.
So it saves you money too as you won't be over-buying for one person or another.
4. Don't Wrap Too Soon!
Resist the temptation to wrap stocking gifts too early, unless you have them all written down somewhere, as these tiny gifts are even easier to forget what's what than the big presents!
I keep mine in a computer document and use red type for 'planning to buy' and green type for 'bought'. It's simple but it works!
Follow these tips to get your Christmas stocking fillers organised early with minimal stress - a large chunk of your Christmas shopping done and plenty of savings: win-win!
Need more inspiration? Check these Christmas stocking gift guides out:
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