I don't see how taking what would go in the stocking & putting it under the tree saves money at all. You're still buying the stuff - just putting it somewhere else. I think the stocking concept is just a great part of the tradition, and the stuff in it need not be pricey. We also put 1-2 pieces of fruit in there, then things like a new toothbrush, gum, socks - small items that will fit in there but do not cost much anyway. Candy.

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Stockings are practically my favorite part, and I fill them with a combination of useful things (everyone gets underwear in their stockings) and fun things. I found a tin of PMS mints for my daughter's stocking, and I can't wait to see what she thinks of them.

PMS mints!

I love stockings! My parents still have stockings up for all of us kids and SIL even though Mom keeps saying they are going to get rid of them. They are always packed with lotion, chapstick, lipstick, underwear, gift cards, candy, air fresheners for the car, other stuff for the car, socks etc. I do the same at our home but it's just the two of us and the dog and cat (yes, they have their own stockings!!).

My In-laws on the other hand, have maybe two little things in all of our stockings. The guys last year got a slice of pizza plate with a little gift card to pizza and the girls got the little 'to do list' for the fridge and a piece of jewelry they picked up from Russia. So they always have two things, usually small. Stockings isn't the thing there.

If it is expensive try the dollar store! One year my dad had a bag full of stuff all from the dollar store, from lotion, chapstick, pack of cards, flashlights, batteries etc. and he threw it all on the floor and we had to draw a number and then we would pick what we wanted until it was gone. I think that was such a fun Christmas!!

I don't spend much on stocking some candy new tooth brushes new body poof and usually a small trinket type toy. they love that.

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SILENCE IS GOLDEN BUT DUCK TAPE IS SILVER.

Santa fills the stocking in our house so very little to cut there. I am going to try and make it more of needs this year since money is REALLY tight. I also am going to cut way back on tree gifts.

ita!

Now that I'm flying solo I have to follow a strict budget for the boys...last year I found that there seemed to be nothing under the tree (slight exaggeration but not really)!! I know that it's not supposed to be about quantity but I know when I was little the best part was coming down those stairs and seeing all the loot spilling out from under the tree! The sorts of things that I used to put in the stockings were girft certs, novels, small clothing, small electronic toys, comics, deck of cards (this has become a little tradition), knick-knacks, craft supplies, toiletries, candy, a few pieces of fruit. All that stuff seriously adds up!!!!!!!!

Thanks for all the ideas on how to keep the stocking and have them be more reasonable!

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Santa gets all the credit but I swipe the card...

Rosie
Single mom of 2 boys~ DS#1 (17) & DS#2 (6)
Burn the good candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion...Today IS special.

Those are some pretty expensive stocking stuffers. With what you describe, I'd definately move those kind of items into the "under the tree" gifts and go with much smaller items for the stockings. Also, are the stockings huge? Smaller stockings might help.

Toiletries (which are necessary things to be purchased eventually anyway), gum, mints, toothbrush, nail polish for girls, fruit, snacks/candy, socks/undies, comics you mentioned - that's a good one. If you give a toy or game that needs batteries, put the batteries in the stocking. You might even have fun trying to find inventive ways to fill that sock!

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This might help you for planning next years holiday..but I literally shopped ALL through-out the year for this holiday season. When I saw a bargain on a deck of kids theme cards and some go fish cards on clearance for $0.50/pack I grabbed 2 packs. Last month I found themed socks that had silly prints on them for $0.25/pair! I snagged 2 pairs. Just because I see a sale I don't go nuts...but I get the amount I know that I'll need. I ended up getting the girls each a new outfit to wrap that was on clearance this summer that is a cute jammie set for $3 EACH!!! Another thing I did was purchased the girls slippers at a flea market brand new in packaging still for $3/pr a couple months back. I ended up getting the girls each some chapstick that is flavored on clearance at Walmart this summer for $0.25/stick! I nabbed 2.

So for me I couldn't shop in the just the months of November and December as money is so tight..but as I spread it out over the year it's def. more affordable.

Also I nab extra pencils that are on sale during the school supply sales and give the kids each a pack of new pencils. Same with folders. The ones that are $1.00/ea during the sales but $2.50 when not on sale. They look at this as an extra special treat! I also pick up some coloring books for each of them at The Dollar Tree with some nice school supply clearance Crayola crayons that I picked up for $0.20/pack!

This summer my daughters each got a pack of 6 undies that were clearanced down to $2/pack. So I got them each 2 packs of different prints. Reg. price for those are $6! I've been saving them for stockings!

Also I purchased some jolly rancher candies that were on clearance just last week and I'll be making homemade lollipops with them! The whole bag of candies were $0.50 and the candy lollipop sticks were $1 for the bag I got at The Dollar Tree.

I fill 5 stockings and this year my grand total to fill them to the MAX and stuff falling out has panned out to be....$24!

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Happily married to my geek
Proud homeschooling, cloth diaperin, attached parenting, slinging, simplier, breastfeedin, sewing mama mades, christian and funky mama to my precious daughters and a little BOY

We do something similar in my extended family, except the gifts get wrapped.