How to Choose Stocking Stuffers offers tips, tricks and advice on choosing the right stocking stuffers for your loved ones this holiday season.
Picking Stocking Stuffers
This video offers an overview of picking out stocking stuffers, beginning with the importance of knowing the recipient's interests and preferences. Suggestions include purchasing small, but necessary items for the stocking, such as small kitchen items or office supplies. Including gift cards is also an idea, both for stores the person likes, or for new stores to broaden his or her horizons. Another tip is to include at least one really nice gift, and to put the most expensive item in the toe, so it is discovered last.
Introduction
- You thought you were done with your Christmas shopping, but you've still got those stockings to fill. Traditionally, Christmas stockings were filled with fruit, candy and nuts. Nowadays, stockings contain all sorts of small, thoughtful gifts. Nothing's off limits—toys, gadgets, fancy soaps, household items, etc. Who knows what you'll find in your stocking? Hopefully, it's not a lump of coal.
Step 1: Shop According to Interests
Who are you shopping for? This is the first question you should ask yourself when choosing gifts for a stocking. What does the person like or dislike? Do they have a particular hobby such as collecting pex dispensers or coins? Brainstorms for ideas by analyzing these interests.
Step 2: Purchase Small Items
Since most stockings are longer than they are wide, it is important that you do not purchase too many medium to large items. Stick to small gifts. This does not mean they have to be cheap, just that size is something you should consider. Ideas might include:
Step 3: Buy a Nice Gift
It is always a good idea to purchase at least one or two items that are nicer and more expensive than the others. Many people spend a lot on stocking stuffers, while others spend as little as possible. Even if you are in the latter group, consider spending more on at least one item. This may be a $25 gift card or a DVD.
Stocking Stuffer Suggestions
- There are no real rules about what makes a great stocking stuffer. They have to be small and are typically inexpensive, but other than that, you've got free reign to stuff that seasonal sock with anything from walnuts and oranges to crazy gadgets and gag gifts. Here are a few stocking stuffer suggestions to get you started:
- Practical Items: Maps, All-in-One Tools, Cooking Utensils
- Toiletries: Fancy Soaps, Herbal Bath Powders, Sleep Mask
- Gag Gifts: Party Mustaches, Bigfoot Action Figure, Pirate Mints
- Small Toys: Kid Robot Mini-Collectibles, Personalized Rubik's Cube, Rubber Duckies
- Edibles: Bacon Salt, Prescription Chocolate Nibs, Chocolate Truffles
- Paper Goods: Mini Photo Albums, Composition Notebook, Journals with Vintage Covers
- Classic Paperbooks: A Christmas Carol, Nutcracker and Mouse King, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
- Arts and Crafts: Colored Pencils, Moleskin Notebooks, Watercolor Paints
Resources for How to Choose Stocking Stuffers
- Surprise.com: Stocking Stuffers
- Gifts.com: Stocking Stuffers
- RedEnvelope: Stocking Stuffers
- Real Simple: 10 Stocking Stuffers for $10 or Less
- FredFlare.com: Stocking Stuffers
- Perpetual Kid: Stocking Stuffers
- Inhabitat: Green Stocking Stuffers
- Plump Stocking: Stocking Stuffers
- The Container Store: Stocking Stuffers
- Crave: Stocking Stuffers for the 21+ Crowd
- Cool Hunting: 2007 Gift Guide: Stocking Stuffers
- Mighty Goods: Stocking Stuffers for Grown-Ups
- That's Fit: Fit Stocking Stuffers
Stocking Stuffers for Kids
Family Education: Top 10 Stocking Stuffer Gift Ideas
Yahoo! Shopping: Stocking Stuffers for Kids Under $20
Discovery Channel Store: Stocking Stuffers for Kids
Gifts.com: Stocking Stuffers for Kids
