Stockings when 'kids' are at different life stages

Spendless

Since they were tots I've done a stocking for both my kids.

Though they were overlooked in the early days in favour of the bigger stuff under the tree, in recent years, they've enjoyed waking up, opening together in one of their bedrooms and then coming in to wake us at a reasonable hour.

This year though DS is 18, just started Uni on a computer course and I'm stumped for what to put in. I asked if he'd still like a stocking and got the reply 'if you want me to have one':cool:

15yo DD will still want hers and being mad about hair and beauty products and still needing thing like bobbles for school to tie her hair back. She's easy to buy for. However DS isn't.

Though he now appreciates things like shower gel because he has to pay for them rather than I'm giving him something I'd pick up at a supermarket (he's never been into brand named anything so never 'got' that the stocking bottle cost a few quid whereas the one put in the grocery shop was 79P), it is likely that bigger boxes of toiletries will appear under the tree anyway from the relatives who still buy for him. He doesn't play sports.

So, I'm stumped. He hasn't started shaving yet and has a couple of things ready for the day he does. One side of DH's family are fairly 'hairless' face and bodywise, so there's a possibility he may take after them. He's had the same beloved wallet, still in good condition since he started Secondary school, that he won't be parted from.

I haven't sussed out what coffee shops/chain pubs etc are in his Uni town as I've only been there on moving in day. Otherwise I'd think of a gift card. I did try asking but just got a glowing report of the burger van instead. :rotfl:

The only thing I've got so far has been a curry kit from M&S
https://www.marksandspencerfoodhall.co.uk/product/gujarati-curry-kit--d6a6ea36-44b9-4dea-ba74-a6b92fb344e9

Beyond that I've no idea. I don't really want to knock it in the head for him this year because of the routine him and his sister have on Christmas day,so I could def do with some ideas.

elsien

Chocolate is obligatory in stockings.
We usually chuck in a book - to read, puzzle or humour depending on the person. Gives them an excuse not to interact without being told off for being on their phones and accused of being antisocial.

littleredhen

what about things like a mug, hot chocolate or tea or coffee depending on what he drinks, sweeties, mouthwash, deoderant, socks, scarf, woolly hat, gloves, can of beer

Spendless

Mouthwash is a very good one for toiletries. Something you don't find in the gift sets, would come under the list of things DS thinks is too expensive to pay for himself and when I saw your post I thought I'm sure I have a mini one still sealed that's a decent-ish size in a good brand and so I had, now snaffled away.

I also remembered since he was a little boy he's liked coins and any of the picture 50p ones I save for him, and usually put in a little gauze bag. A google tells me I can get a book for him about them and whether they're worth spending or saving - thanks for that idea.

I did buy him some tea bags last year. They were fortnum and mason ones and are in silk teabags, I think they were a fiver for 5 and came in a tin. He's still got one left. Wonder if I can get something similar.

Alcohol did cross my mind, but not sure I can trust him to not decide he wants to drink a bottle when he wakes up!

StokieBecks

Not sure what your budget is but if you were thinking of coffee shop voucher then maybe instead a pizza hut or cinema one so he can have a treat whilst at uni?

Maybe one of those usb storage drives

K80_Black

If he's away to uni, one gift a friend got made me hugely envious - a whole bunch of herbs and spices, along with hand-written cards saying what to use them for. I'm an avid cook, and buying everything you might need is very expensive. Even the most basic cook can add some tumeric to rice to turn it yellow, add a pre-made (either by a shop or you at home) fajita spice to some chicken etc.

Misslayed

Deliberately mismatched socks seem to be trendy at the mo. Poundshop silliness - table top golf, wind up racing grannies etc. My son is 45 and he still gets a stocking when he stays at ours at Christmas! He always gets cheese in his! Last year he had one of those tubes of fabric that can be worn as a neck warmer or a hat, I notice he's still wearing it on cold days.

zanuda

This year though DS is 18,
...
However DS isn't {easy to buy for}.

Have you try something like:
- memory stick, either some funny shape/colour, or with a name/contact engraved
- headphones for mobile/computer, you know, small earplug like.
- coasters (great at UNI), you could do some individualized images

charlotte1994

I swear men are harder to buy for than women are haha! When my boyfriend was at uni he was the same, he would appreciate the kits of things so he wouldn't have to buy them. Is he into video games/movies? How about a nice new mug? How about one of those little grow your own herb kits? He could put them in his kitchen window at uni!

zanuda

charlotte1994 wrote: »

... How about one of those little grow your own herb kits? He could put them in his kitchen window at uni!

And foret to water it :rotfl: You know how the young men (boys) are :rotfl:

Spendless

charlotte1994 wrote: »

How about a nice new mug? How about one of those little grow your own herb kits? He could put them in his kitchen window at uni!

zanuda wrote: »

And foret to water it :rotfl: You know how the young men (boys) are :rotfl:

If I can find something cheap enough I *might* get him something along these lines. When he went to Ikea with DH to get all his essentials he came back with the 'student starter kit' plus a Venus Fly Trap that he wanted to take with him. He forgot to take it at first but when he came home took both that and some cactus plants back. He also wanted to take the aloe vera plant, but I wasn't keen even if it's officially 'his' (bought at a sixth form open event). I'm the one that waters that


Thanks for other suggestions. He does have hoards of memory sticks already.

Why is a coaster great at Uni? There's a stand in the shopping centre doing 4 for £12 all different designs. There's my 2 plus my niece, nephew so I could get them all 1 each. Nephew is likely to go to Uni in Sept and possibly Niece following year.

Other things I've thought of are the can of air duster. for his PC. I thought he had one but the 'straw' bit has snapped off. I've seen these in the £1 shop. He also doesn't have a trolley token as I discovered this week when he came home and I sent him to get a trolley and he returned empty handed having no pound coin.

I also saw these for filling up a stocking because they're nice and bulky. They do a few different variety ones.

https://groceries.asda.com/product/boxed-chocolates-gifts/cadbury-dairy-milk-freddo-friends-chocolate-pouch/1000072843025