Inside: Searching for minimalist stocking stuffers? You’ve come to the right place! Fill your stockings with items from this growing ideas list, so you can enjoy the Christmas stockings without all the cheap crap and clutter.
Halloween is over, and the Christmas countdown is on. At least now Christmas décor has a semi-legitimate reason for being out and about at every major retailer.
There are really no excuses for bringing it out before the end of October. For SHAME, people.
Even though we still have Thanksgiving to go, Christmas shopping and preparations are on the brain, at least for those of us who want to stay sane during the holidays. And if you’re planning to shop beyond big box stores, starting early is a must.
And you know the Christmas shopping that often gets pushed off until the last minute? The stocking stuffers.
Hopefully this list of 30+ minimalist stocking stuffers will help you get a head start! Buy them now, and stash them for the big day.
Related: 40+ Gifts for Minimalist Moms That Won’t Cause Anxiety
Christmas Stockings Don’t Have to Be Filled with Clutter (Minimalist Stocking Stuffers For The Win)
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In my new-to-minimalism days, I briefly considered ditching stockings altogether because they seemed to be a magnet for random clutter AND added a ton of extra spending that stretched our Christmas budget to the max.
Stocking spending can get so carried away! Before you know it, each stocking is costing upwards of $50. Multiply that times five kids – not to mention the parents – and you get an ungodly amount of dollars.
And more stuff on Christmas? Just, why? When you become a minimalist, you ask “why” a lot more frequently than you did before.
But then I realized that hey, I was in charge of what stockings looked like for our family. We could keep stockings as a tradition but change what went in them. We could choose useful, minimalist stocking stuffers instead.
Stockings don’t need to be filled with clutter if you don’t want them to be.
More Minimalist Christmas Posts:
- 5 Simple Steps to Decorate for a Minimalist Christmas
- I Hate Christmas! A Grinchy Parent’s Holiday Survival Guide
- 7 Christmas Traditions to Skip This Year (for Yourself AND the Planet)
- 31 Minimalist Yankee Swap Gifts You’ll Feel Good About Bringing
- 15+ Second-Hand Gift Ideas (+ What NOT to Buy)
30+ Minimalist Stocking Stuffers for the Whole Family
Even supposedly useful stocking stuffers can be clutter, depending on the person. As you make your stocking stuffers list, make sure your choices reflect things the recipients actually need and/or will use.
The best minimalist stocking stuffers will always be consumable. No, not just food, but anything that will get used up, like bandaids or markers or hand lotion, or things that need to be replaced every 3-6 months, like hair ties (seriously, where do all the hair ties go?!).
But runner-up useful stocking stuffers can also be smaller, inexpensive items that you know they would appreciate and/or need – like book lights or umbrellas.
You know what also make great stocking stuffers? Things people hate spending money on themselves, but they need, like batteries or umbrellas.
P.S. If you want opening stockings to last even longer with less stuff, wrap each individual item in the stocking, too. This is perfect for younger kids who seem to enjoy unwrapping gifts even more than the gifts themselves!
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1. Toothbrushes
Our kids get new toothbrushes twice a year at their dentist appointments, and once a year in their stockings.
We save the special electric ones for stocking stuffers and buy fun themed ones like this one that generally last 3-6 months until the next dental cleaning.
Maybe when our kids are older, we’ll spring for higher quality ones with replacement heads, like this one.
2. Character Band-aids
These are ones little kids LOVE, but you NEVER buy because they’re so dang expensive!
Make it a special stocking stuffer tradition.
3. Hair Brush
Hair brushes that are cleaned regularly can last a long time, but even a carefully maintained brush can lose its bristles with heavy use.
If you have a child with a sensitive head and fine hair, try the W.E.T. brush! It’s been a life-saver, and since we started using it, hair brushing sessions are quicker with a lot less screaming.
4. Lip Balm
Lip balm is another thing that tends to go missing during the winter. Regardless, I love having a few back-ups, especially for those times when kids get a hold of one (buh-bye chapstick).
These Burt’s Bees ones are my personal favorites, but my boys seem to prefer plain old ChapStick. Rosebud salve is another great choice for women, and then there are classic LipSmackers for girls – so fun!
5. Gum or Mints
A not so sweet stocking stuffer that is perfect for teens and adults. Get a three pack or gum and split it up, or one package of mints.
6. Movie Tickets or a Gift Card to the Movies
Actually going to see a movie in the theaters is a rare and special treat at our house, so when we do go, we like to make it a extra special with popcorn, candy and drinks.
Check your local area for discount theaters for an even better deal!
7. Bookmarks/Bookdarts
For the booklover in your life, bookmarks and bookdarts are a useful and thoughtful stocking stuffer.
If you haven’t heard of bookdarts, be sure to check them out. You can insert them on the exact last line you read, which is pretty sweet if you have a few different books going and have trouble remembering where you left off.
Or you could buy handmade bookmarks from Etsy or local artsellers.
8. Puzzle Books
Word searches, maze books, sudoku, crosswords.
So many fun options to choose from!
If you’re looking for something unique, these logic puzzle books are a fun and challenging alternative to the typical puzzle books you’ll find in stores.
New York Times mini crosswords are another great choice. Compared to the massive Sunday versions, you can actually finish these – so much more satisfying.
9. New Water Bottles/Sippy Cups
We love our Camelbak eddy Kid’s water bottles! For adults, these ones are the perfect size for taking to work or the gym.
In the market for sippy cups that don’t leak? This brand is the only one we’ve found in ten years that is legitimately leak-proof.
10. Magazines
I love magazines because they are affordable and easy to recycle. I can pass them on to friends or doctor’s offices when I’m finished with them, or use them for craft projects like vision boards.
Especially for kids, magazines are often educational, and some, like National Geographic Kids, can be saved for future kids.
Some ideas for kids: Highlights, National Geographic Kids, or Ranger Rick.
Adults: Real Simple, Parents, HGTV, People. Choose based on their interests!
11. Dish Towels
Dish towels don’t last forever in our house. With kids, they seem to take more of a beating than before, since they are constantly used to wipe up spills of all kinds.
THESE ones from Amazon are super absorbent, come beautifully packaged and should last a long time.
12. Razors and Shaving Cream
This can be a great gift for teens, especially. Tuck a fun new scent of shaving cream, and a pack of disposable razors or an electric razor if they’re been asking.
13. Kid’s Bath Soap
Any parent can attest that kid’s bath soap goes fast, y’all, whether from actual use or a child dumping it all out the one second you aren’t looking.
We don’t use bubble bath all the time, but bubble bath (natural ones like this one should be safer for kid’s skin) can be a fun stocking stuffer when you don’t buy it frequently.
14. Seasonal Dish Soap/Hand Soap
Mrs. Meyer’s seasonal scents are a fun addition to any woman’s stocking.
I also love this Castille soap, which I dilute to make foaming hand soap for our bathrooms. It’s much gentler on the skin during cold and flu season when everyone is washing their hands much more frequently.
We switched last winter after Dial and other brands left our hands constantly red and chapped. After switching to the Castille soap, we haven’t had a problem since!
You could also give THIS Dr. Bronner’s hand soap that smells divine.
Related: 12 Small Changes I Made Last Year That Made a Big Difference
15. Post-its
I live and die by post-it notes. I’ve tried so many planners and systems, but if you’ve been to my house, you know post-its are my lifeline. They.are.everywhere.
I use them for reminders and lists, but my kids love to make flip books using them.
Because I rarely let them touch my stash (and they can be expensive when you go through them like water), they are a fun treat as a stocking stuffer.
16. Gel Pens/Sharpies/Quality Pens
These sharpies in fun colors are sure to be a hit, or grab a few of quality pens for a pens that last longer and write better.
Shopping for a tween girl? They might prefer THESE gel pens, instead.
17. Hair Ties
Another item that I constantly ask, “Where on earth do they all go?”
These colorful hair ties are perfect for young girls, or I love these thin neutral ones.
Related: Small Gifts for Kids That Aren’t Junk ($20 or Less!)
18. Oven Mitts
Replace an old, stained pair of cloth oven mitts with fun new ones from a local shop.
OR upgrade the current pair with these silicone ones that are sure to last a lot longer.
19. Batteries
Although more and more items are being made with rechargeable batteries, we do still need regular batteries for a lot of devices at this point.
Whether it be for flashlights, noisemakers for travel, and yes, kids’ toys, we need all the batteries.
Get a pack of AA and/or AAA. Better yet, if you are giving a gift that requires batteries, pick the size that fits your gift.
20. Straws
My kids still love and use straws for things like smoothies and other special drinks.
I also use disposable straws in my Starbucks water cup (my toddler bit my washable one, and even with a straw cleaner, the things that can get stuck inside just make me shudder).
If unlike me, you aren’t afraid of reusing non-disposable straws, these silicone ones get great reviews. Or replace the straws in venti Starbucks tumblers HERE.
Want to stick with disposable? With the recent plastic straw banning craze, and to save the environment of course, try these adorable paper straws instead of plastic for a fun and useful stocking stuffer.
21. Small Umbrella
Here’s another item people generally put off buying because well, umbrellas are just no fun to spend money on (at least, in my opinion).
And yet, we all want one during winter downpours when we absolutely MUST leave the house.
Slip a small and colorful one into their stocking, so they’re prepared!
22. iTunes Gift Card
With more and more people going digital with everything to avoid clutter and discs being destroyed – from music, to movies, to audiobooks – iTunes gift cards will always be a useful and appreciated gift.
Pick them up from Costco or BJ’s and get a discount.
23. Stamps
Despite the increase in e-mail and text messaging, snail mail is still a thing.
I mean, Hallmark is still in business, and honestly, who doesn’t like to receive a handwritten note in the mail to balance all the bills and junk mail? I know I do!
24. Hand Lotion
Winter is the season for hand lotion, in some parts of the world, at least! I find the most useful size to be one that can easily fit into a purse or bag.
On-the-go, out in the cold, is when people typically need it most but don’t have it on them.
THIS one is a favorite: smells yummy and works great, but THIS one is our daily go-to.
25. Gloves
Like single socks, single gloves can be SO frustrating.
Seriously, where do all the socks and gloves go?! It’s a mystery.
Whether you have kids or not, an extra pair of gloves can be a real life-saver on a freezing cold winter day when all you have left are singles.
26. Art Supplies
Art supplies are typically consumable, and Christmas is such a fun time to get new supplies! Markers, colored pencils pastels, and watercolors are a huge hit at our house.
Kwikstix, dot art, and origami paper are a few more fun and unique, useful stock stuffers, depending on the ages and interests of the recipients.
27. Stickers
Stickers are becoming popular again for all ages. There are SO many fun themed packs on Etsy, like THESE Gilmore Girls stickers or THESE K Pop Demon Hunters stickers.
Trust me: head on over to Etsy and type in whatever show they are currently obsessed with plus “stickers”. There’s something for every sticker-lover!
(Personally, I’m thinking of getting the K Pop Demon Hunters stickers and spreading them out across all my kids’ stockings…they can trade/fight over them later.)
28. Gift Cards to a Favorite Restaurant
If you’re buying for kids, $5 is plenty!
As I’m updating this post for 2022 inflation, I’m realizing…yeah, you need $10 at least these days, even for kids. It sucks – I know.
Increase the amount to $20 for adults and teens.
29. Bubbles
Bubbles are useful in my book because for 2 and 3-year-olds? Bubble entertainment for days!
Try pairing it with a bubble machine as a Christmas gift. Just make sure to not let little ones move the bubble machine from place to place, or the batteries get ruined from leaking bubble mix.
30. Tea or coffee
Who doesn’t have a tea or coffee-lover in their lives?!
Stuff those stockings with some specialty tea or a quality bag of coffee for an always-appreciated gift.
31. Multi-Plier Tool
This was, by far, my husband’s favorite useful gift of all time. It was a groom’s gift, but it can definitely work as a useful stocking stuffer.
Guys are way more difficult to shop for in general, so any other ideas are welcome!
This is the one my husband received this one more than ten years ago as a groom’s gift, and it’s still going strong, He uses it at least once a week, and it’s his go-to tool (as a non-tool guy).
(OK, with the current price, maybe this is a gift, not a stocking stuffer. But still.)
Related: Practical Minimalist Gifts for Him (Husbands, Dads, Brothers)
32. Socks
Even as a minimalist, I firmly believe you cannot have enough socks. I go through so many!
If you’re willing to spend a bit more, Bombas socks are truly fantastic. I love their mission, and how they donate a pair of socks to homeless shelters for every pair bought.
But they are definitely pricey.
So if it’s too much, these Saucony ones are also amazing. I steal my husband’s all.the.time.
33. Travel-Sized Deodorant
Perfect for backpacks, purses and lockers (if your kids go to school), these will be handy for the teens and adults on your list!
It’s also a great time to try new scents without committing to a large size.
34. Snacks
The older my kids get, the more they love snacks! Not to stereotype, but yeah, especially the teen/tween boys.
I’m not a snacker personally, so I don’t really get it. But hey – Oreos, Chips, Popcorn. Perfect edible, but non-candy stocking stuffers.
Your turn: what are your best ideas for minimalist stocking stuffers? Share in the comments!
Read Next: How to Transition to a Minimalist Christmas with Kids (& Not Be The Grinch)
These are all GREAT ideas. I never would’ve thought to include necessities like batteries or gloves, but it just makes sense! We recently got our hardwood refinished, so my husband made me promise to make Christmas as minimal as possible. I was looking for last-minute stocking stuffers and hit the jackpot on your site! Thanks for the inspo, and Merry Christmas!