 Filling the Holiday Stockings
How's that holiday gift list coming along? Have you ever added up how much those
stocking stuffers can cost when you pick up a little bit here and a
little bit there? YIKES!! So I added "stocking stuffers" to our
family's list of gifts to buy for the holidays (check out
the "everything you think you need for the holidays checklist on our
home page). I have one rule for our family's stocking stuffers –
everything has to be consumable – no clutter! Here are some ideas
that focus on "DOing":
- $5.00 gift certificates from our local movie theatre. We only
go to the movies a few times a year. Usually, we try to take in one
of the holiday movies between Christmas and New Year's Eve, so these
certificates make a real family treat.
- $5.00 Bowling Passes: when's the last time you have gone
bowling? If you have kids, then you have an instant team. Even pre-
schoolers can manage to get their ball to the other end and knock
down a few pins (it's amazing how sloooooowww a bowling ball can move
LOL).
- Toothbrushes: this is a must. Apparently we are supposed to
change our toothbrushes every three months. In our homes we time this
for just before Halloween, the end of December, spring (the Easter
Bunny hee hee), and just before school starts again. Boring I know,
but it fills the stocking.
- Shampoo: this is the only time of the year that the kids
get "their own" bottle of special shampoo. Since we have
been "shopping at home" for the past few months, our supply of
shampoo and conditioner is starting to look a little thin (we even
ran out of dog shampoo – so they will get a new bottle under the tree
as well).
- Writing paper: we are trying to encourage our kids to write
more letters to family (especially those thank-you notes for holiday
gifts!). To motivate them, I occasionally add a cute writing tablet
with matching envelopes (available in most dollar stores). This year
I am going to add some holiday postage stamps so they will have
everything they need to mail a letter.
- Craft supplies: by December, our kids have typically run out
of glue, tape, stickers, colored paper, and other crafting "raw
materials." This is when I go through the stash of stuff I bought
during the "after - back to school sales." It's been hidden in my
closet since the end of September. There are even some new gel pens
to add to their stockings.
- Candy and chocolate: to go with the new toothbrush.
- Tools: when my daughter's turned eleven, they each received a toolbox with a tape measure, safety glasses and a hammer. The first daughter's tool box helped her dad build her basement bedroom. The second daughter's toolbox built a rabbit hutch (to convince her skeptical mom that a rabbit would be a good addition to the family). There is another toolbox to go - who knows what it will build! Once each child receives a toolbox, they also get a new tool (screw driver, level, clamps, pliers, etc) in their stocking each following year. The goal is to send our kids out into the world with a complete toolbox (and they'll actually know how to use the tools too!).
That's going to be it for this year. And it still won't be cheap.
Even though most of the stuff will be bought on sale, each stocking
will still add up to over $30.00. If you don't have a plan, this
$30.00 will quickly climb to $50.00 or more. It is amazing how
quickly those $3.00 and $5.00 purchases can add up!
A few more ideas ...
- Gift certificate from the local bookstore (especially for
those kids who may need a little more incentive to read).
- A prepaid gas card: for the drivers in the home.
- Bubble bath: for the mom in the house who has run out of her
favorite bubble bath (me – hint hint!).
- A new wooden spoon or other small cooking utensil for the
chefs in the house.
- New spices or condiments for the spicy food lover in the
house (that would be my husband – I have plans to pick up some
jalapeno jelly from one of our local holiday craft markets).
- Pipe cleaners, feathers, Popsicle sticks, googly eyes,
stickers, and other crafty things for the creative craft types in
your home.
- Film for the camera buffs.
- Hand lotion.
- Candles – for mom.
- Winter mitts or touques.
- Window frost scraper for those who live in the colder
climates.
- Fishing lures, golf balls, tennis balls, badminton birdies,
etc for the sporty members of your family.
- A pedometer for the walkers.
- Guitar picks, a harmonica, shakers, or castanets for the
music lovers.
- Batteries.
- Home made cookies.
- Christmas orange.
- A flashlight.
- A fun colored facecloth and special soap.
- A lump of coal. Hmmm - maybe not LOL!
Happy holiday planning,
Cindy
PS: Even though there are some gorgeous stockings in the store right
now (I know, I found one that is just beautiful), remember, the
stockings you used last year will hold just as much stuff this year!
You are planning a Cash Christmas. You can do it!
Happy Holidays Everyone!
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