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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Book Review...Little Blessings:Bedtime Stories and Prayers

I’m always on the lookout for quality children’s books, especially ones I can read out loud to my kids. (Now that Junior can hear, he enjoys listening as well!) When Little Blessings: Bedtime Stories and Prayers arrived in our mailbox, my 4-year old immediately took it and started “reading” it to herself. While she wasn’t actually reading the words, she proclaimed “I love it!!”, then gave me the chance to read it. Little Blessings: Bedtime Stories and Prayers is made up of four previously published poems and stories, brought together in this one book suitable for reading to a child right before bed, or anytime actually. The poems are light and fanciful, and easy for a young child to follow along. They talk about blessings, and about how God created the nighttime, so they don't need to feel scared. 

Once I finally got a hold of the book when my daughter was finished, I could immediately understand why she loved it! On first glance, the illustrations are adorable, and very well done. It seemed somehow familiar to me…I then noticed that Elena Kucharik, the Care Bears creator and illustrator, was the artist. The illustrations make the book, I think. They are absolutely charming. I think this book is a wonderful addition to our children’s book collection, and would make for a wonderful baby shower gift or gift for any child who enjoys being read to.

*While I was provided a complimentary copy of Little Blessings: Bedtime Stories and Prayers from Tyndale  House Publishers, all opinions regarding the book are my own and have not been influenced in any way.

8 Non-Food Items You Should Buy at Costco

After looking at my Costco price comparisons (which I need to update, by the way, as the entire industry has seen rising prices over the last year), many people still ask me "Is a Costco membership worth it?" While I can't speak for everyone, I have found Costco to be a great source for many non-food items that save me hundreds a year...easily paying for a membership several times over. While not all food is cheaper in bulk if using coupons paired with sales at a regular store, there are some things that you can't find many coupons or sales for, that are indeed cheaper at the warehouse store.

I'm not saying Costco is right for everyone; it depends what you're buying! But, I figured I would tell you about things other than food, just for a fair comparison to make your own decision.

1. Gas
Costco Gasoline is usually $0.20-0.25 per gallon cheaper than any other gas station in my area. Filling up once a week saves me over $100 a year. Twice the annual membership fee.

2. Baby and Children's Clothing
Carters had a "Black Friday Doorbuster" last week in which their flecce PJs were $8 each. The regular price for these same pajamas at Costco is $7.99. I also purchase Carter's infant and toddler sets for cheaper than I can find at the Carter's outlet. I purchased a nice winter coat for my daughter for only $20 several weeks ago.

3. Men and Women's Clothing and Shoes
There isn't a huge selection, but Lucky jeans and Levis for $30? Count me in. My husband has had good success with the Kirkland Jeans as well. And, Sperry Top Siders for less than $20. I often get my husband their flannel shirts or Hawaiian shirts. Good quality and a third of the price as department stores!

4. Toys and Books
I was amazed that some Black Friday sales this year at Target and Wal-Mart were the same or not as good as Costco's regular price on certain toys. I recently purchased a 64 pack of solid wood blocks for $27...similar sets are in the upwards of $75 online. I also get some of my daughter's learning books here that we use for homeschooling--including $11 for a 3 pack of Dr. Seuss books. Amazon has said books for $5-10 each. The dollhouse pictured below for $85 is currently priced at $131 on Amazon.

 
5. Electronics
So TVs aren't always cheaper at Costco, but their return policy is amazing. You can return televisions and other electronics within 90 days, no box required and no hassle. They also extend the manufacturer's warranty at no extra cost. 

6. Parchment Paper and Foil

The sale price for parchment paper at my local grocery store is $2.99 for 30 square feet. Or $0.10 per square foot. The Costco price of $5.99 for 205 square feet is only $0.03 per square foot...

Foil is also a good deal. Although it looks expensive, my local Safeway sells heavy duty foil for $0.10 a square foot. Using grocery store prices, this 750 sq foot box of foil would cost $75...so $21 is quite a steal.


7. Christmas Supplies
Bows, ribbon, and wrapping paper are all super high quality and a fairly decent price. (You can get cheaper at Target in the week after Christmas, but the quality of the paper isn't as high.) One 269 sq foot roll of Costco wrapping paper lasts me approximately 3 years. No joke.

8. Gift Cards
This would pay for your membership by itself! There isn't a huge selection of gift cards, but it rotates out fairly often. Costco sells certain $100 gift cards for $79.99 or $50 gift cards for $39.99. Sometimes I break them up for gifts, and sometimes I use them to further stretch some of our budget categories.

Not everything is cheaper at Costco, and it remains a controversial store within the money saving community, but there are other things besides food that are a good deal. What do you think?

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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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Adorable DIY Gifts

My friend Jessi is an incredibly talented artisan, crafter, and mom. And, she has a blog...which means you can go check out her awesome and inexpensive decorating ideas. I have often told her she needs to come to my house and teach me how to sew. The above project cost only $8 each, and would make a wonderful DIY Christmas gift for Daddy's office or the Grandparents! Here's the How-To.

If you want to take a look at her blog, Home Story, I encourage you to. She has some great ideas, how-tos, and recipes.