Great Virtually Free Stocking Fillers Hunt

Former_MSE_Andrea · 20 October 2004 at 6:29PM

Parents are often on a budget or struggling but still want to give their kids a great Christmas. Hopefully, collectively, we can help. Reply to this thread to add your ideas for virtually free stocking fillers.

You might also like to read Stocking fillers for teenage girls and Stocking fillers for teenage boys for other gift ideas.

Claudie · 20 October 2004 at 6:40PM

My little one is mad for Nick Jr....I went to their web site and downloaded loads of printables - games, colouring sheets etc - I then made his own activity book with a personalised cover with his name and piccie all big and bright. He loved it! We did this a while ago but I may just do another for his stocking

JayneH_3 · 20 October 2004 at 9:07PM

Not quite a stocking filler but a really good cheap activity for just before Christmas. IKEA have gingerbread hearts and stars , 10 biggish biscuits for 40p. They have a hole through them, and are designed to be iced and hung on tree.
We did it last year and it and enjoyed it. if abit messy. We also tried the gingerbread house, which is abit more expensive at 3.00ish, but that looks really impressive when you finish.

beachbeth · 20 October 2004 at 10:15PM

It isnt a stocking filler but my kids always loved making decorations. They still get me to buy the long coloured strips from Woolies even now (they're 17 and 14!). These are the strips that you make paper chains out of. All kids loving using glue and glitter and all that Christmassy stuff and then seeing it hanging up in pride of place. Works out much cheaper than buying ready made stuff too!

poppet · 21 October 2004 at 12:53AM

Not "free" but cheap:

Asda small pack of colouring pencils 19 pence (i use them in party bags and take out the "asda" cardboard packaging and replace it with something personalised)

Bubbles are usually 30 pence or so and make great stocking fillers.

You could put a tub of home made playdoh in a stocking.

Or make a blank mask for your child to colour in (maybe find a printable one off the net)

http://www.bakerross.co.uk
sell packs of things for a few pounds whihc could be seperated inot individual items - some of these wrok out at 10 pence each. Things like mini erasers and tatoos...you could buy a pack and split between several children or share the cost with friends.

http://www.yellowmoon.org.uk
an branch of baker ross - this lot sell all sorts of things - there is a section on stoking fillers and you can search for age ranges and price bands too.
Supposed to be a fund raising site for schools and PTA's but im pretty sure you can order as an individual - but if you check with your school they may already have an account whihc would mean you could earn funds for your school if you order through them.

londongirl · 21 October 2004 at 12:55AM

Hawkins bazaar https://www.hawkin.com has lots of kids stocking fillers ranging from 30p to a few pounds for little games and novelty items.
Also check out the timeless toys section and the curiosity section - some original gifts for kids in there. Not the kind of thing they are going to see advertised on telly and ask for but some good ideas there. I particularly like the sun print paper (light sensitive photograpic paper) in the timeless toys section and the magnetic animals for 50p. But then i don't have any kids and am just being nostaligic! I had some magnetic turtles as a kid and they kept me amused for ages! (the ones where you move one animal towards the other and because of the opposite magnetic thingys the other one moves away IYSWIM!)

haziec · 21 October 2004 at 1:31AM

I ordered an adult (code LDZ) and a childrens lucky dip pack CODE LDY) from the "Bin Ends" section of https://www.thebookpeople.co.uk each cost £4.99 for ten books (kids are age 10 and over) I got some great books for stocking and presents, well known authors although they don't guarantee what you will get. For 50p each book thats brilliant value!

The books and notecards on this site are well worth a good look and you accumulate points when you buy which you can trade in for free books.
P&P is free for orders over £25 and if you spend over £40 you can get a free gift of either 2005 RHS Diary, or a Shrek 2 or Incredible filofax for kids. I got the diary and its brilliant.
Rosemary

chardonnay_2 · 21 October 2004 at 4:13AM

great thread, thanks for starting this andrea and for all the cool ideas posted

Spendless · 21 October 2004 at 11:25AM

Homemade sweets eg fudge or coconut ice

or instead of buying a selection box, places like woolworths often do 4 chocolate bars for £1 so buy and then tie festuive ribbon round.

Spendless · 21 October 2004 at 2:44PM

For anyone who can sew here is some of the items my MIL has made for me over the years

childs pillow and spare pillowcase. The pillow was stuffed by using the insides of an old pillow.

Toy sack to put all toys in to keep rooms tidy

nappy stacker, to make bottom firm to stack nappies in cover strong cardboard(from cardboard box) with fabric. At top of nappy stacker make small hole, and use either childs coat hanger or wooden coat-hanger cut to size so you can hang nappy stacker up.

lap trays ie the ones you eat dinner off whilst watching tv. Use piece of wood (think plywood or md) cut to size and glue to top of laptrayto make flat surface. Think MIL used polysterene beads for this - not sure where to get or cost.

Fabric organiser with pockets to hang on back of bedroom door. Suitable for all ages - babies holds their creams, lotions etc. Older kids bobbles, or other things they might collect like beanies. Teenagers make up, mobile phone, hairbrush.

The fabric came from old curtains - either if someone is throwing out due to re-decorating or you often see curtains for sale on car boot sales

And if anyone is more adventurous/competent at sewing I remember my gran making my sister a rag doll when she was little

bargainqueen_2 · 21 October 2004 at 6:24PM

My parents always make me an advent calendar with 25 little pressies. From the first of December onwards I get to open a handmade pressie every day, which are presented dangling of e.g. a branch or so. The presents are homemade biscuits, little poems written on nice paper, plant cuttings and all sorts of small things from "cheap" shops (pondshop etc). These Advent Calendars are the highlight of my year and my parents collect presents all year round for them, spreading the cost for them. By Christmas time I don't even need another present because December has been such a present rich month!

Great Virtually Free Stocking Fillers Hunt

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