Stockings are so fun! Everyone in my house gets one from the oldest member of my family down to the youngest. I collect small things year round from dollar stores, to clearance bins, and everything in between including Ibotta deals. Some of the stocking items are samples that I have gotten free from ordering beauty items online. Even the smallest of samples gets added into stockings. After all stocking are about small trinkets and treasures. I view them as a treasure chest of sorts.
What you see pictured is enough items for 6 stockings with the recipients aging from 70 down to only 5. Stockings can be very costly or very cheap. They are one of the most flexible things about Christmas. What saves me money year after year is by preparing all year long. I don’t wait for the fancy displays in holiday sections of stores to pop up. At that time small trinkets that usually cost around a $1.00 will be marked up double or triple.
My goal is to spend $25.00 or less per stocking. For a grand total of $150.00. The only items that are taken from my Christmas budget are items that I have bought during the holiday season. Most of these items where bought months ahead of time or out of my regular grocery and gift budgets. Below will be a break down of what each item is, what I paid after all discounts and rebates, and if it will be deducted from my Christmas budget. Starting at the top and working my way down. All of the items purchased by my Christmas budget have already been accounted for.
Stroopwaffles – $2.99 – Grocery budget to cover the cost.
3 packs of Ferrero rocher candy – $9.96 – Grocery budget to cover the cost.
Playmobil Ghost Busters Set – $1.17 – Christmas budget in summer Target Toy Clearance.
Harry Potter Puzzle – $2.99 – Christmas budget – Walmart Clearance.
Walker Shortbread cookies – $1.99 – Used grocery budget to cover the cost.
Castle Puzzle – $5.00 – Christmas budget in summer Target toy clearance.
Harry Potter Watch – $3.75 – Christmas budget – ThinkGeek going out of business sale.
2 Tin’s of Gum – $6.00 – Christmas budget – Target
Kinder Eggs – $3.00 – Christmas budget – Local Grocery Store
Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray – $12.50 – Christmas budget – Part of a double pack deal. The other went as a gift for Chloe.
Urban Decay Eye Shadow Primer Potion – $7.50 – Christmas budget – Part of a double pack deal. The other went as a gift for Chloe.
2 Playdoh Canister Sets – $1.60 – Gift budget – Target summer toy clearance.
Frozen 2 reusable sticker set – $1.99 – Gift budget – $0.99 cent store find
Various beauty samples – FREE
2 Soap and Glory bath bombs – $5.00 – Christmas budget – $2.00 each back from Ibotta.
2 Lego Creator Santa kits – $8.00 – Christmas budget
3 Harry Potter Jewelry Sets – $25.00 – Used Christmas budget – Helped me earn Kohls Cash.
Harry Potter Pin – $1.99 – Christmas budget – $0.99 cent store find
Orgins Sample Set – Bought with a gift card that was gifted to me.
2 Jelly Beans – $1.98 – Christmas budget
Buxom Lip Kit – $14.00 – Christmas budget
2 Ghost Buster blind kits – $2.00 – Gift budget – $0.99 cent store find
4 Unikitty blind packs – $2.00 – Gift budget – Walgreens clearance find
3 Dove Candy Bars – $2.80 – Grocery budget – Grocery store clearance find
Animal Charging cover – $1.00 – Gift budget – $0.99 cent store find
Soap and Glory Mask – $2.00 – Grocery budget – Ibotta gave $2.00 back.
Soap and Glory face wash – $2.00 – Grocery budget – Ibotta gave $2.00 back.
Wonder woman Wallet – $0.80 – Gift budget – ThinkGeek going out of business sale.
Harry Potter clips – Free used Kohl’s cash.
2 Turtle Candy – $1.60 – Grocery budget – Target circle offer
3 Revlon cosmetic razors – $3.00 – CO51 gave $5.00 each back.
Not Pictured
Coleman Flashlight – $11.00 – Christmas budget
Total for all 6 stockings – $143.61 or $23.93 each stocking.
The candy and gum will be taken out of the original packaging and distributed to everyone. My two boys age 11 and 5 are getting lots of wrapped larger items. For that reason their stocking won’t have as much. It is just the age they are at. They like large toys. Chloe will have more in her stocking. She doesn’t have as many wrapped presents.
I do the same thing as you.. collect things all year long. I also get a lot of my “stuff” from the freebies you can get from CVS or Rite Aid after the rewards bucks. My children (grown) get toothpaste, shampoo, razors, etc. in their stockings. I also pick up things like koozies, key chains, etc. from trade shows (Home & Garden, etc) that I attend. It’s easy to find “cheap” items if you know where to look. Additionally, I do some mystery shopping. If I do a retail store, I usually have to buy something, so I use those items for these stockings too. Thanks for all your ideas. I love your website.