Tips From A Stocking Enthusiast
Since I was a little girl, stockings have been my favorite part of Christmas. I don’t exactly know why, but something about all the little things all together in one goodie bag feels so extraordinary to me. I know it’s common for stockings to be an after-thought—I've even met people who, to my astonishment, skip them altogether—but I love to fill them thoughtfully as a grand finale to opening presents. Regardless of your typical approach, I am here to share some tips on how to step it up a notch this year, especially if you’re stuffing a stocking for a coffee-lover!
1. start with some basic necessities
Growing up we would always get socks and toothbrushes in our stockings. If you’re shopping for your family—a spouse or your kids—this is a great way to fill the stocking without breaking the bank. The genius of adding necessities like this to the stocking is that you would be buying them anyway, but this way it feels like a fun gift. Although the specifics will depend on age, gender, interests, etc. ideas for things that fit that category, other than toothbrushes and socks (which you should definitely put in, too) include…
Their favorite snacks or treats—homemade works great for this, too!
Anything you know they are low on—even things like coffee filters, hair bands, lotion, etc. saves them a trip to the store and makes them feel cared for in small ways.
Gift cards to places you know you’d spend the money anyway, like Tala. (;
Coffee—you know you’ll go through it quickly this time of year.
Shop basic necessities at Tala:
2. Get a few wow items for the stocking
It’s always fun to have a couple of items that feel more like under-the-tree status gifts, especially if you—like us—open your stockings after opening all your gifts. Oftentimes times people have items on their Christmas list that are small enough to put in stockings, so that’s a great place to find some wow gifts that really speak to them individually. Generally, I think anything over $15 in a stocking feels pretty special. Ideas for wow gifts include…
T-shirts, hats, or beanies
New water bottles, thermoses, etc.
Video games
Jewelry
shop wow items at tala:
3. Fill it up with small, fun extras
After you have your necessities and you have one or two more significant items, you can fill the rest with small, fun items. You can definitely start at a dollar store or in the dollar section and see what you find. This is generally the bulk of your stocking,
Small toys like hot wheels, dolls, coloring books, etc.
Candles, incense sticks, etc.
Dice, cards, or other small games
Slippers or slipper-socks
Stickers
Key chains
Candy bars, mints, etc.
Shop fun extras at Tala:
Other stocking considerations
More exciting toys like Barbies or Lego sets may need to be taken out of their packaging to fit in the stocking, but if you’re confident that your gift won’t need to be returned, this can be a fun addition to the stocking!
Consider wrapping some of the top items to prevent sneaky glances before the big day (and to buy yourself some extra room).
If you’re concerned about basic necessities feeling lame (I hear this a lot when I discuss my love for stockings), try getting a step up for all the necessities. For instance, if your giftee typically drinks our Ruca House Blend, try gifting them a single origin like Asman Gayo Mill for something out-of-the-ordinary that still fulfills the purpose.
I hope hearing my go-to strategies for stocking stuffing help give you some ideas for this year. My final tip: send this blog to whoever is filling your stocking this year.
Joanna Tong
Joanna is one of the owners here at Tala, heading up Operations and Strategy. Born and raised in Minnesota, she moved to Illinois in 2014 with no intention of staying long-term until the idea of Tala came to light. When not in the office or the cafe, you can find her in a forest preserve enjoying the outdoors or at home hanging out with her cat.