Getting Ready for Christmas: Stocking Stuffers

   Christmas is coming -- and not on little catfeet, either.

Media reports suggest that a bunch of people are finishing up their holiday shopping, instead of just beginning it. Where do you fall?

Hopefully, you're not worried about your current position, either.

At the very least, there are all sorts of gift cards -- especially those that you can earn bonuses on. Restaurant cards, like Red Robin, Outback and Panera, are famous for this. Swagbucks is another excellent program that can not only earn you points toward giftcards...but gives you bonuses for purchasing through them. We've been with Swagbucks now for more than five years, maybe closer to a decade -- and every single year, we've earned several gift cards for not only doing our regular work (searches and such), but our regular shopping. Go here, if you want to learn more.

I've already mentioned a number of inexpensive Christmas present ideas. But there's another tradition that just as important, if not moreso, to me: Christmas stockings.





The stocking has been a tradition ever since St. Nicholas supposedly dropped a dowry's worth of gold down the chimney of sisters who couldn't have married, otherwise. (Their stockings were drying on the hearth, and the money just slid in -- you get the drift.)

Maybe he did, maybe he didn't...who knows.

 Things I've put into stockings in past years:

*Samples of food, lotion or shampoo I got free by request.
        Granted, I don't have it down to the sheer artistry this lady accomplishes.
                 (I'm envious, by the way)

*Any small garage sale finds you've squirreled away: jewelry, socks, knitting needles, tools. Remember: this stocking shouldn't cost you much to fill.
*Blank notebooks -- and nice pens.
*Chocolate -- my family prefers dark. If your funds are limited, buy it in the bulk section.
*Flashlights -- the more powerful, the better.
*Tiny tools -- especially those for fixing glasses and in tight spots.
*That person's favorite chips or salty snacks -- small pkgs.
*Imported whatever -- usually cookies, but sometimes preserves or a special sauce.
*Gum. Or bubble gum. Jawbreakers.
*Bandannas. Handkerchiefs. 
                (I may even get creative and embroider monograms on the latter.)
*A can of tuna. Or sausages. Or mushroom soup.
               (Daughter #1 likes to eat these cold late at night, or on camping trips.)
*Candy cane. (Buy a package, and hang the extras on the tree.)
*Little toys. This year, our Remi will have dozens of miniature dinosaurs in his stocking.
*Toothbrushes. Sometimes small tubes of toothpaste, as well.
*Luxury lotions or bath soap. Tiny bottles of aftershave or cologne. 
*Small bottles of wine or whisky -- a buck each at our local liquor store.
*Caramel corn or popcorn balls -- a tin of these makes a fine general present.
            They're very easy to make.  (Or try a longer version - still easy.)
*Maps. 
*Apps (via a giftcard).
*Craps  (dice or playing cards).
*DVDs or CDs.
*A book. Novel or comic book (graphic novel) -- there has to be something like this, to go with:
*A can of black olives, to park on each finger and nibble while you read aforesaid book.
       (A long-held family tradition) And, of course:

*Giftcards.

An orange for the toe, and a banana to stick out of the top, along with a chocolate Santa, and you've got an intriguingly-stuffed stocking...and a pleasure for its recipient.

Oranges were more rare in the past -- thus their appearance as a holiday delicacy.

Make your money go further by buying large packages, then splitting them for your gift list. (This works especially well for toothbrushes.) Check the clearance aisles, and the dollar store. Look for scratch-and-dent spots, like our beloved Friday/Saturday Store.

Brandy over at The Prudent Homemaker advocates smaller stockings, so she doesn't have to scrounge to fill them, and items can stick enticingly out the top. These are good points...especially if you have as many children as she does!

Another thought: in past years, I've sent The Mama a box-worth of small stocking presents, meant to be opened, one day at a time. (I try to fit everything into the smallest Priority Mail box, if that helps.) She lives alone, and has told me many times how much she's enjoyed this little daily reminder that we're thinking of her. If you have friends or family members who live far away, and on their own, you might try this option.

Whatever you decide, make your stocking stuffers fun, meaningful...
                           and personal for the people you love.