Christmas Can Be Expensive; But it Doesn’t Have to Be

Christmas can be so expensive. Presents, food, and other fun can really add up! Not to mention if you’re traveling for the holidays.  One area you can easily spend upwards of $100-200 for a family of 4 is stocking stuffers. I’ve seen store advertise $20 DVDs as “the perfect stocking stuffer”.  Ugh – NO IT’s NOT! That needs to be wrapped and placed under the tree with the other presents! I have a maximum of $5 per stocking stuffer but really try to stay under that if I can.

If you don’t know yet, we (the hubs and I) are always trying to save money on “stuff”. We would prefer to spend our money on memories, activities, and vacations – not items that sit around collecting dust. So this year I went to the Dollar Tree for stocking stuffers and in years past I have also used the 99c Only Store. You can even view the Dollar Tree catalog and weekly ad online! Below are dollar stocking stuffers I found for all members of the family. If you haven’t wrapped up your Christmas shopping yet (I love puns!) then head to a dollar store near you and stuff some stockings on the cheap!

Dollar Stocking Stuffers for Men:

You might be under the Impression that there is no way you could fill a stocking up for your husband or even older teenage son at a dollar store. Well I’m here to prove you wrong. Above are a few of the items I purchased for my husband and brother-in-law for their stockings this year. Below is a list of items you can get for a dollar each! If you buy all 10 items you could fill a stocking for $10 and they would still have a stuffed stocking and you would still have money in the bank!

• Microfiber Car Wash Mitt
• Car air fresheners
• Lighters
• Bungee cords
• Rope
• Phone chargers
• deodorant
• Shaving Cream
• Gloves/Hats
• Coffee Mugs

Dollar Stocking Stuffers for Women:

There are a lot of different options for dollar stocking stuffers for the ladies in your life at the dollar store! I was pretty satisfied with my loot (above) and really had a ton of options to choose from. You could easily purchase more items than you need when dollar stocking stuffer shopping for women. Here are 16 items you can get for your mom, sister, daughter, or friends all for only $1 each!

• Loofahs
• Hand sanitizer
• Lotion
• Candles
• Sewing Kits
• Mini Manicure Sets
• Nail Polish
• Mini Picture Frames
• Gloves/Hats
• Socks
• Coin Purse
• Cosmetic Bags
• Hair Brush/Comb
• Tumbler/Travel Mugs
• Festive Hot Pads
• Make-up
• Make-up cases/holders

Dollar Stocking Stuffers for Babies:

I don’t have any babies to buy for this year so I don’t have an awesome picture to share. But they have a whole section in the Dollar Tree near me with baby supplies. Putting together a stocking gift “bag” for a family in need this year could be a great way to give this holiday season because many of the items are ones that get used every day such as wipes and wash cloths. These aren’t always off-brand options either. I’ve gotten Pampers wipes in a 20 count pack for a buck. This is a great travel size wipe container.

• Sippy Cups
• Bath Toys
• Plush Toys
• Bibs
• Baby Wash Cloths
• Baby Powder
• Wipes
• Baby Books
• Teethers
• Pacifiers

Dollar Stocking Stuffers for Kids:

There are literally 100s of options for stuffing children’s stockings at the dollar stores! Above are some of the goodies I got this year. YES they have FIDGET SPINNERS!!! My daughters have asked for these and I’ve said no a bunch of times because I didn’t want to spend $15 on a trinket. I’m okay with spending one dollar though! They really have a lot of fun options, last year I purchased puzzles from a dollar store for their stockings – they generally have multiple options ranging from mini to regular sized puzzles with 24-500 pieces. We’ve gotten activity books and bath toys from there as well. Check out these 20 super fun kid dollar stocking stuffers you can get for only a buck:

• Fidget Spinners
• Books
• Puzzles
• Activity Sets
• Stickers
• Educational Card Games
• Bath Toys
• Dolls
• Small Toy Cars/Trucks
• Crafts
• Small Sport Balls
• Miniature Figurines
• Crayons
• Play Weapons (nunchackus!)
• Jump Rope
• Play-Doh
• Bubbles
• Stuffed Animals
• Dress Up Accessories
• Coloring Books
• Mini Games

Dollar Stocking Stuffers for Anyone:

The gifts below could be given to pretty much anyone. Depending on their interests and lifestyles. I grabbed some candy – what’s a stocking without candy? – and a few odds and ends to round out the stockings I’m stuffing this year. Would anything on this list be useful for you?

• Playing Cards
• Toothbrush
• Candy
• Candy
• More Candy
• Pens/Pencils
• Stationary
• Flashlights
• Toiletries
• Lip Balm
• Dog Poop Bags (for the avid dog lover of course!)
• Sudoku or Crossword Puzzle Books
• Hot Chocolate Mix
• Snacks

Additional Christmas Fun for a Dollar

If necessary, you can also buy the stocking! Plus they have plenty of cost-effective wrapping paper supplies. Why spend lots of money on wrapping paper that is going to be torn to shreds in a matter of minutes on Christmas morning? They have disposable bake-ware to make clean-up easier and paper plates, napkins, and plastic cups to reduce your dish washing needs/water bill over Christmas as well. There are even some really cute ornaments and other Christmas decor available! Check out this post on organizing your holiday decor and wrapping supplies to make sure you stay organized and clutter-free this year.

There is really no reason to over spend during the holiday season. I hope you enjoyed these money-saving tips for dollar stocking stuffers. If you’d like some tips for buying clothing on a budget check out this post. You might add some budget friendly yet stylish clothing items under the tree. Feel free to comment your favorite dollar stocking stuffers below. Don’t forget to sign up for the Newsletter to obtain more frugal living, money-saving, and other budget conscious tips.  Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!