25 Stocking Stuffer Ideas for Guys

My husband is notoriously difficult to shop for, and filling a stocking for him was the bane of my Christmas existence for the first several years we were married. If it wasn't practical, it got thrown in the junk drawer, and all the clutter added up and it hurt my OCD heart. (See my Post on "Non-Clutter Stocking Stuffer Ideas") Now, I think I have the husband stocking thing down to a science. Who knew fun and practical could play so well together!?

• Small bottles of hot sauce
•  T-shirt (I have found t-shirts on clearance for $3-$4 at Target or Kohl's, and they're perfect for working out or relaxing)
• Screwdriver Set (Such as this $6 Stanley 60-081 8 Piece Standard Fluted Screwdriver Set)
• a couple $5 Gift Cards to his favorite drive thru(s) (perfect for a quick snack or lunch on the run)
• Beef Jerky (I don't know what it is with men and beef jerky, but they sure seem to go together!)
• A Favorite Candy Bar
• Pocketknife (such as the classic Victorinox Swiss Army Rally Pocket Knife)
• a Hammer (they always come in handy, and this one is only about $5! TEKTON 3016 8-oz. Tubular Steel Claw Hammer)
• Tape Measure (I know I'm suggesting a lot of tools, but these are really good things to have around the house!)
• Flashlight (We keep a flashlight in every room in case of power outages...the Dorcy 41-2510 Floating Waterproof LED Flashlight with Carabineer Clip, 55-Lumens, Yellow Finish has very good reviews!)
• the current issue of a magazine (such as Sports Illustrated or Car and Driver)
• a keychain with a family photo (I make them one for my husband every year on Shutterfly, and he loves them)
• Cell phone car charger
• Extra cell phone charger cable
• a jar of gourmet salsa (My husband could eat chips and salsa for every meal)
• a book of word puzzles, crosswords, or Sudoku 
• Sharpie Markers (Sharpie Permanent Marker, Fine Point, Black, Pack of 5...we're misplacing these all the time...now we always have a bunch on hand.)
• If your husband travels a lot, make a homemade "Travel Pack" with disposable razor, travel shaving cream, dental floss, travel toothpaste, and toothbrush. 
• Gloves, Mittens, or Beanie Caps (pick these up cheap at after Christmas clearance for next year's stocking!)
• Does your guy have a long commute? Add a stress ball for when he's stuck in rush hour traffic.
• Bungee Cords
• a laminated family photo for his wallet
• a travel coffee mug (many coffee shops will give discounted "refills" if you bring in your own cup)
• Flip-flops (These go on clearance after summer for $3-4 per pair...not to rub it in that San Diegans can wear them all year long, but, ya know...)
• A small jar of popcorn kernels and an At-Home-Movie-Date-Night Coupon (your time is more valuable than stuff anyway!)

What do you add to stockings for the men in your life? Share in the comments or join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter!

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Non-Clutter Ideas for Stocking Stuffers

I love Christmas. It's possible that Christmas music begins at or around Halloween in my home. I love the Christmas cookies, the Christmas trees, and the family time we spend together to make precious memories. One thing I do not, however, love about Christmas, is the clutter.

I don't mind the kitschy clutter of Christmas joy...the glittery everything, the tinsely everything, the snowman candle that has been sitting on top of our fireplace since December 2011...but there's one kind of clutter that makes my skin crawl. The Stocking Clutter.

Stockings are one of my family's favorite tradition, and it seems to be more about quantity than quality for the kids, but after a few years of sticking 90% of stocking stuffers into the junk toy bin the day after Christmas, I decided to take a hard look at how I could save money by not buying junk, but still make stockings fun and enjoyable.

1. Give Experiences
-We try to give our children experience gifts when we can, such as Zoo Passes or amusement park tickets, and you can use the same principle, obviously scaled down, for stockings. These can be some of the most meaningful, yet inexpensive gifts you can give. Some ideas:

• A sprinkle shaker, with a homemade coupon for making and decorating cookies together.
• A homemade coupon book, including such privileges as staying up 30 minutes past bedtime, or going out for ice cream, or having a family game night.
• An inexpensive DVD (Target often has family/children's movies for under $5) and your child's favorite sweet treat with a plan to have a family movie night. 

2. Useful Doesn't Have To Be Boring
-I know, I know. You're going to read: "give socks" and immediately go to the next idea. But, useful and practical gifts don't have to be depressing. And you'll save yourself some money buying something you'd probably have to buy anyway.

• Fuzzy, cozy socks in fun colors (slipper socks are always a hit)
• A toothbrush in a fun color/shape/size
• Band-Aids with your child's favorite character
• Brightly colored hair clips or hair ties
• A hat, scarf, or mittens
• A flashlight (kids love flashlights, and they're always good to have on hand in case of emergency!)
• School supplies (maybe something you picked up for free with coupons during school supply season.)
• A festive holiday plate, cup or utensils
• Books

3. Consumable Gifts
 -Food is always fun for little ones to get in their stockings. At least mine. Junior's nickname is "Beast" for a reason. The boy can eat! His whole stocking will probably be snacks this year.

• Sweet treats your child doesn't normally get
• Mini cereal boxes for breakfasts
• Fruit with a hard peel such as an orange or tangerine
• Art and Craft supplies (considered consumable since they get used pretty quickly!)
• Hot cocoa packets
• Fruit snacks or other favorite snack items

4. Moderation is Key
-I still like a add a couple silly little toys, such as a mini My Little Pony figurine for my daughter or a Hot Wheels car for my son, or a little light up ball or wands, but those are the exception rather than the rule. And, since there are only a few, it makes the clutter more tolerable.

Tell Me!
What kind of stocking stuffers do you like to add? How do you manage the clutter?

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What's In the Bible DVDs...20% Off!

The other day on a recommendation, I picked up "Why Do We Call It Christmas?," a DVD in Phil Vischer's (the creator of Veggie Tales) new series called "What's In The Bible" that teaches children about the concepts and stories of the Bible.

Heading into the Christmas season, I wanted our 4-year old to learn the significance of the true meaning of the holiday. I expected this DVD series to be goofy and entertaining only for children, but I was SO wrong. We both thoroughly enjoyed the history and humor in "Why Do We Call It Christmas?," so much so, that my husband picked up a couple more DVDs from the "What's In The Bible" series on his way home from work that evening. Our entire family has loved the episodes and we have learned so much about the Bible in an entertaining yet informative way.

If you are purchasing for a child this year, (I think this series is geared towards the 4-10 year old range; a little older than Veggie Tales) I would highly recommend ordering these DVDs. This link will give you 20% off your purchase, with free shipping on orders over $15.

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DIY Super Spy Kit

My 4 year old loves playing "Super Spy". Routinely I hear from the other room: "Secret agent Mommy, come in! Over."

Last year, I saw this post for a homemade detective kit and bookmarked it. Since we're cutting back on Christmas (using Swagbucks to earn Amazon gift cards towards gifts and Ebates for cash back when shopping online), I thought this homemade gift would fit the bill for both frugal and fun!

You can spend as much or as little on this gift as you want. I wanted a sturdy carrying case, and this toolbox was multipurpose enough (meaning she can use it for other things once she grows out of the Super Spy stage) that I thought it was worth the extra $10 than the cheap container I was originally considering. But you can use anything for the carrier. You could even wrap an old shoe box.

As for what I put inside, again, it's up to you! Luckily, school supply items were still on the racks when I started this gift, so I got inexpensive pens, pencils, tape, and paper. Pens and pencils and index cards and paper for writing notes, Secret Message Pens (found at World Market) for secret codes, and a stamp pad and tape for finding fingerprints.

I also added baby powder (fingerprint dust), brushes (for brushing off evidence), tweezers (for picking up evidence) and "evidence containers", aka small craft containers found at Michaels.

Finally, a Super Spy Headlamp (the big ticket item of the bunch at $6), a magnifying glass, and secret disguise glasses (found in the Dollar Spot at Target) rounded out the gift.

I had so much fun making this gift, and I can't wait to see the creative ways my daughter will use it!

 
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Earn Money With Jingit

Have you signed up with Jingit yet? It's a site run through Wal-Mart that pays you to watch short ads and take short surveys. Once you hit $2, you can receive a pre-paid Debit card, and transfer any additional earnings onto the card. Besides watching ads, you can also perform "check-ins" at Wal-Mart for additional earning opportunities.

In only five days on Jingit, I have already made nearly $5. Enough to purchase a stocking stuffer or two.

Yes, I have started Christmas shopping :)

Note: You need to have a Facebook account to login to Jingit. If you are concerned about privacy, simply create a new Facebook account simply for this purpose.