50 Stocking Stuffers Under $5

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Stocking stuffers don't have to be expensive. Here are the best frugal picks, organized by age & gender. Everything costs less than $5!

I absolutely love opening gifts of all shapes and sizes, but I may enjoy sorting through the goodies in my stocking even more. Even though mine was always full of small items, candy, and other treats, I still looked forward to it every year. In fact, I still do!

Stocking stuffers can get really pricey though…..and fast. It’s incredibly easy to spend $30-$40 on one stocking, when reality says you probably have more than one to fill. So rather than spend your entire Christmas budget on stockings alone, it’s time to look for an alternative option, or find some fabulous stocking stuffers that don’t break the bank. And this handy Christmas gift planner has a stocking stuffer tracking area to make both the gift list and the budget for your stocking purchases so much easier!

This list includes my absolute favorite, frugal stocking stuffer ideas, and are organized by gender and age for easy reference. Each item costs less than $5.00, so you should be able to find something for everyone…..even if you’re on a tight budget!

For the Kiddos

  • Play-Doh
  • Blowing bubble solution
  • Stickers
  • Fruit snacks
  • Sidewalk chalk
  • Small set of crayons and color book (the Dollar Tree is great for this!)
  • Silly Bandz
  • Matchbox cars
  • Shaped erasers and pencils
  • Fun bandaids
  • Foam nerf ball

For Teens & Young Adults

For Mom

  • Mini hand sanitizer or lotion from Bath & Body works
  • Chocolates (LOVE Hershey’s Bliss)
  • Fridge magnets
  • Pretty cupcake liners (Michaels always has cute ones in the dollar bins!)
  • Nail polish with emery board
  • Cookie cutters
  • Purse calendar
  • Recipe cards
  • Shopping list notepads
  • Small candle
  • Travel hairspray
  • Stain Removal Pen

For Dad

  • Travel sized cologne
  • $5 gift card to a favorite fast food joint or coffee shop
  • Golf balls
  • Scented car freshener
  • Small lint roller
  • Batteries
  • Mints
  • Small trail mix packages
  • Novelty coffee mug
  • Mini back massager

For Anyone

  • Fun socks (Target usually has a good selection)
  • Puzzle books (Dollar store)
  • $5 Amazon gift card
  • Favorite candy bar
  • Pens
  • Ornament
  • Gum

So many things on this list would go perfectly in my stocking – especially the office and baking supplies. (I’m such a junkie.) Although an Amazon gift card sounds really nice too…..I can’t choose!

Thankfully, the beauty of a stocking is more than one item, and I can’t wait to see what Joseph puts in mine this year. I hope you’ve found some new ideas to add to yours!

What stocking stuffers would you add to this list?

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Don’t miss this easy-to-use Stocking Stuffer Checklist:

Download the Checklist

Print out this easy-to-use checklist to help shop for fun and festive stocking stuffers. Everything costs less than $5!

Disclosure: Some of the links in the post above are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. Read my full disclosure policy here.

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15 Comments

  1. Thanks for this GifT Guide, can you please mention any unique gift idea i can give to my nephew he is 4 years old i found some good options at things thingsfrommars .com but looking to get more, If you have any suggestions please let me know.

  2. Great ideas! We always put lottery tickets inChristmas stockings, also in Easter eggs. Both make for great holiday fun with adult children!

  3. I usually put the packaged hand warmers in my husbands stocking since he does a lot of work outside. My kids usually get small bath toys or those fizzy color changing tablets. Holiday dish towels (target, dollar store) and the water flavor packets are easy to include as well. 🙂

  4. Some great ideas one that I use for the kiddos, teens, moms, and dads are the little flashlights (Lazer) The kids love to play outside or in their rooms with them. They are good for fishing, hunting, or just handy for emergency’s in the home or car. Fits nice in purses or they are light enough to put on key rings. Menards usually runs them in packs of 10 -12 for $8.00 – 10.00. Walmart usually has them too in the sporting goods section.\

  5. Gift cards for subway, McDonald’s, Burger King and other fast food resturants. $5 will buy lunch. Kids love them.

  6. We also throw in toothbrushes, nail clippers, and soaps….We all need them, all the time and they’re usually cheap.

  7. These are some great ideas. For the last couple years I have bought my husband a couple small packages of coffee. There is enough in there for about 2 or 3 pots and helps your coffee lover try new coffee. It was a tradition in both my husband’s family and mine to get an orange in your stocking so we have continued with that tradition in our family as well.

  8. This is a great list! Too bad I already finished shopping… but I pinned it for next year! 🙂 A few other inexpensive things that routinely show up in our stockings: Christmas themed socks/jewelry/ties; mini-rubber stamps & mini-ink pads; cooking utensils; and $5 movies from walmart.

    1. I’m just about done with Christmas shopping…I got a much later start than I was originally planning, but it’s coming along! I love your mini rubber stamp/ink idea, and I forgot about those $5 movies from Walmart. It seems like they have bins of them everywhere in the store!

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