So, you want to know what a minimalist puts in a stocking? Well, first off, some minimalists don’t have stockings. Which is perfectly acceptable. And if I didn’t have kids, I know I wouldn’t either.
But:
As a child, one of my favorite memories is getting my stocking on Christmas Eve.
My mom didn’t do stockings for us, which I’m thankful for, because my grandmother did, and it made them even more special. I would visit my grandparents regularly, as they lived across a field from us.
From when I was young, I remember walking down to my grandparent’s house, just to see what Grandma was doing. She was a very industrious woman–when the weather was good she was outside, working in the yard, the garden, or her greenhouse.
During the winter months, she would be in the house baking, sewing, or crocheting. She was always great about giving me projects to work on, so we would work side by side.
Of course, that made me feel important!
During the month of December, each day that I visited Grandma, I would peek into the living room and see the stockings filling up on the fireplace mantle. Each time, there was a little bit more in them.
She had stockings for all 10 of us grandkids. There was an orange and a silver dollar in the toe of the stocking. The orange always reminded me of Little House on the Prairie, and how oranges were so special back then. My grandma was born in 1907, so I think oranges meant something special to her, too.
My children don’t have stockings hanging on their grandparent’s mantle, so I have them hanging in our home. I made the stockings myself, and I made them a bit smaller than typical stockings, so it doesn’t take much to make them look full.
I typically limit it to 3 or 4 things in each stocking, and my rule is that the items need to be consumable or useful. No little trinkets to clutter the home!
Minimalist Stocking Stuffer Ideas
Clutter-Free Stocking Stuffers For Kids
Kids love small gifts! But those useless little bits of plastic become clutter and an annoyance, so here are our ideas for clutter free stocking stuffers for the kiddos.
- Character toothbrushes
- Socks
- Lip balm
- Amber necklaces
- Gift cards (for the older kids)
- Coins (for the younger kids)
- Art supplies like paints, gel pens, washi tape
- Nail polish
- Juice box
- Hair accessories
- Small Christmas crafts
And if you want nothing left over by February, here are some consumable items you can use for stocking stuffers.
Consumable Stocking Stuffers
Nothing better than a gift that disappears Christmas morning–leave clutter behind in the new year!
- Oranges (Tradition, tradition!)
- Honey sticks
- Fair Trade Organic Chocolate (with almonds or espresso beans–YUM!)
- Wildflower seeds
- Birdseeds
- Temporary tattoos
- Their favorite candy
- Beef jerky
- Hand soap
- Coloring book
Clutter-Free Stocking Stuffer Ideas For Adults
If you’re looking for the perfect stocking stuffer for a spouse or parent, here are some great stocking stuffer ideas for grownups.
- Homemade spice mixes
- Gift cards for grocery stores
- Essential oils
- Bubble bath
- Shaving cream
- Body wash
- Lottery tickets
- Plant propagations (you’ll have to get creative with how you put it in the stocking)
Useful Stocking Stuffers
If we’re thinking utility gift ideas, this will get you started.
- Refills on their frequently used products
- Pocket knife
- Flashlight
- Compact car accessories (pressure gauge, air fresheners, micro air compressor)
- Smart phone accessories (pop socket, card holding case, new charger)
- Travel-sized toiletries
- Snacks
- Chapstick
- Earbuds or headphones
- Portable lotion or hand sanitizer
Clutter-free Stocking Stuffers For Teens
- Refills on favorite products
- Favorite candy and snacks
- e-book credits
- Prepaid carwash vouchers
- Gift cards
- Reusable straws
- Portable phone charger
- Experience voucher
- Portable speaker
- Online course credits
- Streaming service subscription
What Do I Put In My Toddler’s Stocking?
Here are stocking stuffer ideas for your littlest kids’ stockings.
- Fruit or candy
- Bath crayons
- Bubbles
- Play-Doh
- Character Band-aids (like Angry Birds or My Little Pony)
- Age-appropriate puzzles
- Sidewalk chalk
- Experiences–zoo or aquarium passes, for example
- Finger paints
- Anything practical they need replaced (bonus points if it has a favorite character on it)
- Socks with fun patterns
- Toys to develop fine motor skills
How To Have a Clutter Free Christmas Morning
Beyond the stocking stuffers, let’s talk tips for reducing clutter for the whole day.
1. Stay practical and/or consumable
Practical gifts will likely replace something that is old or used up. Consumable gifts will be gone soon. Both options reduce clutter because they’re not actually adding anything to your home long-term.
2. Get creative with wrapping
People in the United States make 4.6 million pounds of wrapping paper waste per year. Feels unnecessary to me!
Opt for reusable boxes and bags, or repurpose other papers to wrap your gifts.
3. Focus on digital gifts and experiences
Avoid physical gifts all together! Choose digital gifts and experience vouchers.
4. Minimalist Christmas decor
Christmas comes with a lot of overwhelm–even just from the decorations. Lights, bows, waving Santas in the front yard. Reel it in. Try decorating minimally with a few lower-key items. If you have kids, get them involved with some crafts!
Make orange slice garlands or gingerbread houses. Decorate a potted plant instead of getting a whole tree and filling it with 2,000 ornaments. These activities can become special traditions for your family, adding value and quality time to the season.
You can bring in the Christmas spirit without the overstimulation.
5. Handmade gifts
Homemade gifts are a fabulous idea, especially when they’re consumable! Snacks, cake-in-a-mug mixes, preserves, herb baskets, oils, soy candles… Whatever you’re interested in making! This can be a holiday tradition with your kids, too. Get them in on it!
6. Declutter before the holiday season
A great way to reduce stress over the holidays is to declutter far beforehand–say, October. Grab this guide of room-by-room decluttering checklists if you’d like a little extra help!
7. Organize gift exchange
A gift exchange in the style of Secret Santa (or just…do Secret Santa) will limit gifts. You might do this with the extended family, immediate family, or just amongst the kids. Maybe the parents still buy a gift or two, but the kids pull names so everyone gets one gift from their siblings. Or however you’d like to structure it–come up with a fun idea to create another memorable family tradition!
8. Decenter gifts
Ultimately, having a minimalist holiday season comes down to how much you’re able to decenter gifts. In houses with kids–especially if minimalism is new to them–this can be really difficult. Aim for clutter free gifts and consumables, but focus on experiences. Create fun holiday traditions with your kids. Spend quality time together. Have a movie you watch every year. Bring your family members together with activities like crafts, games, baking, or a scavenger hunt.
Actually, a scavenger hunt for gifts isn’t a bad idea… It would extend the excitement of gift-giving time without increasing the number of gifts exchanged. Could be fun!
Have A Fun Minimalist Christmas
Anyway, maintaining minimalism around the holidays really comes down to creativity. Try to make gifts the least important part of your celebration.
Merry Christmas!
What a beautiful memory about your grandmother! I loved stockings as a kid too. These are good ideas. No clutter!
Would you share how you made the stockings? I’d love to make some for my family, did you use a pattern? knit them? Thanks!
Leslie, I sewed them. I made my own pattern. I didn’t get the dimensions right though, so the “toes” ended up too skinny. Hence: me not sharing pictures of them. 🙂 We are expecting a “bonus” baby in the next month, so I’ll need to make a new one. So maybe I’ll make up a better pattern for next year and share it.
Great ideas!
Although recently I switched to the free toothbrush my dentist gave me because mine was looking decidedly battered and I couldn’t run out to the store, normally I use Preserve toothbrushes. They’re made from recycled yogurt cups. I have some questions about the sustainability of bamboo–yes, it’s probably biodegradable if it doesn’t wind up in a landfill, but what’s involved in making things that look like wood out of a giant blade of grass? I also like closing the recycling loop. So there’s another toothbrush option–and when you’re done with it you can mail it back to Preserve to be turned into plastic lumber.
I love your list though. Some awesome ideas here!
Ours have my DIY Lip Balm as well ( peppermint), banana ( instead of orange), socks, toothbrush, panties, our daughter has coloring book added, and some flash cards.
I always include something healthy as a pre-breakfast. Granola bars, dried fruit, favorite cereal, a juice box (my kids never have those so its a special thing), etc. This buys us a few moments to cuddle together before having to go cook real breakfast. I also love warm socks, hats, and mittens- useful things that go to the season.
That’s a great idea Susan!
Wonderful idea! I had never thought of this! Thank you!
Growing up we always got lots of practical things like this in our stockings. Toothbrushes, soap, etc. We also usually got some kind of special treat like chocolate or nuts. Yum!
If I gave anyone breath mints they wouldn’t want to be my friend anymore and if I was given breath mints (32 year old female) I’d be offended.
This is what I put in my children’s stockings Toni, and since I never buy gum, mints or even candy, they are quite pleased with mints. 🙂
Thank you for the great ideas! I always put $2 bills, which can be hard to find, but are such a treat!
We always got a pomegranate and whole nuts in the shell- So we could use our Nutcracker that sat guard on the fireplace.
Great ideas. I like practical items related to sports activities kids love, such as hockey pucks, tennis balls and swim goggles. Other fun but useful items like hair accessories and school supplies are always a hit.
My kids are 24, 26, and 30 and they still love their stockings. Now I have the spouses and Grandchildren to do too. I wrap everything in tissue paper. Pencils, pens, and most of the stuff you listed. The dollar store is my friend!!