Life

25 Unique Stocking Stuffer Ideas

by Jessica Learish

When you ran down the stairs (or down the hallway) every Christmas morning of your childhood, you probably dived into your stocking first to see what trinkets and toys Santa had stuffed inside. Now that you are the grownup, here are some stocking stuffer ideas to inspire your shopping. Whether you're shopping for your special someone, a best friend, or even your mom, I've got you covered.

Stockings, for kids from one to 92, are like the appetizers of Christmas morning, and the things stuffed into the stocking are often some of the most practical items that we’ll receive during the holiday.

And another great thing about stocking stuffers is that you can get a ton of bang for your buck. Things don't have to be super pricey to be cute, useful, funny, or delicious — which are four categories to consider when shopping for stocking stuffers. If you consider yourself an expert level gift-hunter, try to squeeze something extra thoughtful or romantic into a stocking. Show that you were listening all year long, and you'll already be ahead of the curve before the coffee is even done brewing.

Here are a boatload of ideas for gifts that will kick off Christmas morning right.

1. Uniqlo T-Shirts

Practical, wearable, and they roll up nicely into the bottom of the stocking! The t-shirts at Uniqlo are ridiculously durable, and don't fall apart in the wash.

T-shirts, Uniqlo, prices vary

2. Candy

Spicy Dark Chocolate Wedges, $6, Vat19

Call me old fashioned, but I love waking up Christmas morning to find candy in my stocking. These spicy Tabasco chocolates are particularly delicious.

3. Hot Sauce Variety Pack

Sharkbite Hot Sauce 6-Pack, $0.01, World Market

Keeping in line with the spicy theme for a moment, a hot sauce variety pack is a great way to fill up a stocking for your loved one who loves to bring the heat.

4. Lingerie

If you're shopping for a special lady in your life, lingerie is small and fits inside of a stocking quite nicely.

Lingerie, Victoria's Secret, prices vary

5. Smartphone Camera Accessories

Smartphone lens series, $20 each, Photojojo

Photojojo has a series of magnetic smartphone lenses that are the perfect size for a stocking. They will instantly up the Insta-game of anyone who receives these lenses.

6. Tickets

Fit an entire baseball stadium or concert venue into a stocking with tickets to your loved one's favorite event.

Event tickets, prices vary

7. Jewelry

VERAMEAT Pepperoni Pizza Necklace, $148, Urban Outfitters

If you know a girl who walks around humming "Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend," get her something even better than diamonds — pizza jewelry.

8. Makeup

Clinique Holiday Helpers, $39, Sephora

Makeup is the perfect stocking stuffer as it is not only useful, but also (in my opinion) one of the most frustrating things to run out of. Make sure your loved one's beauty supply is well stocked.

9. A GoPro

Hero4 Session Camera, $299, GoPro

A GoPro camera is a stocking-sized game-changer. The tiny mountable cameras can go anywhere from the hood of a car to your dog's collar.

10. Books

I Could Chew On This, $9, Amazon

Books make a great stocking stuffer, and any avid reader would be thrilled to add something new to his or her collection. Check out this hilarious book of "Poems By Dogs" by Francesco Marciuliano.

11. These Floppy Disk Coasters

Floppy Disk Coasters, $20, Amazon

C'mon — they are fantastic.

12. Sweet Shades

Metallic Sunglasses, $23, Zara

Even though it's winter, the sun is still out. Treat your loved ones to some new sunglasses, and they'll be as cool as a sea breeze in December.

13. Brinko Ties

Fashion Ties, $15-$60, Brinko Ties

Brinko Ties makes stylish ties (and a whole lot more) for men, women, and even pets! Its women's ties are particularly good.

14. Portable Phone Charger

Mophie Juice Pack Powerstation, $60, CDW

Make sure your friend is never low on battery again with this Mophie Juice Pack Powerstation that can charge a smartphone twice without needing to be plugged in itself.

15. Seeds For A Houseplant

Miniature Indoor Bonsai Tree Kit, $16, Urban Outfitters

Watch your love grow when you gift your special someone with the seeds to a brand new houseplant.

16. Dog Collar Light

Pet Safety Waterproof LED Collar Lights, $3, Amazon

Great for pet lovers, these lights make it easy as pie to find your dog while it romps around outside at night. They're the perfect gift for anyone who brings Fido along for their many adventures.

17. Cufflinks

Vintage Cufflinks, $15, Brinko Ties

Vintage cufflinks are the perfect gift for the guy in your life. They're perfect for someone who is going to have to attend a few formal events in the coming year.

18. Pack Of Tiles So You Never Lose Your Stuff

Pack Of Four Tiles, $70, Tile

Tile is a genius little company that makes these little... well, tiles, that help you find your belongings no matter how far away you may have left them. Lose your keys in the couch? Ring your tile from your phone to find them by sound. Leave your wallet at the bar? Ping the location from anywhere, and locate it via GPS.

19. Pineapple Slicer

Stainless Steel Pineapple Slicer, $20, Williams-Sanoma

My parents got me one of these in my stocking a few years ago, and I love it. It's utter genius.

20. Dragon Meat

Canned Dragon Meat, $10, ThinkGeek

This.... is something. I'm positive that anyone who finds this can in their stocking is going to be perplexed, excited, and a little nervous. ThinkGeek reports that, "One can contains 100 percent of your daily value of havoc, terror, inferno, destruction, magic, and rage." Click the link below to spoil the actual contents of said can.

21. Tube Wringer

Tube Wringer, $25, Uncommon Goods

If you've ever lived with someone who squeezes the toothpaste from the middle (and I am as guilty of this as anyone), you will see the value in this handy little contraption.

22. Custom Mini Liquor Bottles

Mini liquor bottles are perfect stocking stuffers for the 21 and older crowd. Save for a rainy day, or stash away for the perfect moment during the Christmas festivities.

Mini liquor bottles, prices vary

23. SD Cards

32GB Ultra SD Cards, $20, Best Buy

If you have a photographer on your list, you'll know that they're always searching for spare SD cards. They're a real commodity when the data piles up.

24. Fitbit Wearable Fitness Band

Flex Wristband, $100, FitBit

Help your loved ones stick to their New Years resolutions with these wearable fitness bands that track steps, distance, and calories burned as well as minutes active per-day and sleep schedules.

25. Dog Treat Launcher

Dog Treat Launcher, $10, The Container Store

This is brilliant, and I want five of them.

For more holiday ideas, check out Bustle on YouTube.

Images: jcapaldi/Flickr; Uniqlo; Vat19; World Market; Victoria's Secret; Photojojo; slgc/Flickr; Urban Outfitters (2); Sephora; GoPro; Amazon (3); Zara; Brinko Ties (2); CDW; Tile; Williams-Sanoma; ThinkGeek; Uncommon Goods; randysonofrobert/Flickr; Best Buy; FitBit; The Container Store