Stuff Those Kids' Stockings on the Cheap

While kids run to the tree each Christmas morning in hopes of finding what Good Ole' Saint Nick has left behind matches the wish list they sent off to the North Pole a few months earlier, rest assured that these little tikes, after endless wrapping paper ripping and ribbon snapping, will seek to find their stockings for a few final surprises. However, if you are like most families, the majority of the Christmas budget sits comfortably under the tree and does not hang in a velvet stocking near the fireplace. Instead, you try to stuff those stockings with cheap items that are quirky, interesting, useful and, best of all, inexpensive.

So, before you have the grand idea of slipping an iPod down into that stocking or cramming it with the latest video games, consider the list that follows as items to include in a kid's stocking. They will give your child plenty of happiness, hours of contentment, and a sense that not all necessities or joys in life need to come with a huge price tag.

So, for under ten or so dollars each, try...

*Stickers: Every kid, boy or girl, loves stickers. They decorate notebooks, desktops, bedroom walls, and virtually any other place they deem fit. For a few bucks you'll get a few hundred, so this is a can't miss.

*Disposable Camera: Pretending to be photographers always excites kids, but now giving them the chance to do it for real...well, they'll go head over heels. Let them peruse the house all morning, taking shots of anything they want. Then, develop the film and sit back and have a good laugh as a family.

*Candy: Unless you are dedicated to the granola revolution, every kid deserves a little sweet tooth quenching on Christmas morning. You don't need to fill the stocking with an endless sugar rush, but give them a bag or two of their favorite stuff. I'm sure you'll get a great smile when they pull it out.

*Special Ornament: Get their favorite cartoon character or baseball team. Then let them put it any place on the tree they want.

*Crafts Supplies: Pens, pencils, staplers...any school-oriented equipment that lets them be creative. You can use these to supplement something you left under the tree, like a huge drawing pad or paint set.

*Trading Cards: Although the Pokemon rage may be over, plenty of other trading cards are out there, from My Little Pony to Major League Baseball. Kids find these to be great fun, for collecting or trading.

*Handmade Coupons: Mini gift certificates for stuff around the house, such as "No dishes tonight" or "Dad mows the lawn". These get them deeply involved in the household and let's them feel a smidge of power. They'll love the personal touch.

*A Letter: Take the time to write your son or daughter a letter that tells them how proud you are of what they are becoming. While it may not be received incredibly well, as they will probably focus more on the immediate gratification gifts like toys and clothes, it will remind them subtly that mom and dad care. Long term this could be the most meaningful gift they can receive.

In the end, instead of breaking the bank on a stocking, stuff it with creativity and thoughtfulness. Inexpensive and cheap options exist, just go look for them.