For many, stockings are an integral part of Christmas traditions. On top of having to buy Christmas presents, you also need to think about creative and affordable ways to fill the stockings – uh oh. In my family, stockings were always filled with funny, cheap gifts which made it fun to sort through them. We have some ideas to help you save money on stocking fillers, so read on!

Start a Tradition: One of the traditions in my home was to have an orange in the stocking. This is a great, cheap, healthy way to fill the stocking. The first time I received one, I thought it was a little odd but it’s a nice, simple stocking filler. Now, when I make my own stockings for family, I always add in an orange! You can of course make your own tradition, but this is just what’s worked for my family.

Shop Online: You can find a lot of cheap stocking fillers online. It takes a little bit of forward thinking to allow for shipping, but you can find a wider range at a cheaper price, which is really fun. Here you’ll find a great range of stocking fillers for under £5, ensuring that you can fill the stockings no matter your budget.

Add Candy/Chocolate: Sweets are a great way to sweeten up the stocking without breaking the bank. You always buy a bulk bag and spread it through the stockings, or if you know each person’s favourites, why not pop a few inside. Candy and chocolate are cheap, delicious, and festive.

Don’t Forget Something Practical: I always like to buy something I think the receiver will use in the following year. As Christmas marks the end of the year, it’s a good time to buy a gift that will be useful for next year. Think about what the receiver does – if they work in an office, why not buy them a beautiful pen. If they’re headed back to school, what about a useful diary? Buying something practical and thoughtful for the stocking will make it really memorable and adds a nice contrast to all the silly things you can pop inside the stocking.