In-laws are doing stocking-stuffers instead of gifts this year, spending about $20 per stocking...

[Anonymous]

Everyone is trying to save money this year, which is nice... but I'm in the process of getting stocking-stuffers for MIL, BIL and SIL most of what I see will probably just end up in their junk drawer. Any suggestions for nice little gifts, maybe $5 each? I would much rather buy each person one gift for $20 each but I don't think this counts as a stocking stuffer.

[Anonymous]

What about baking some cookies, or finding other fun edibles?

[Anonymous]

Playing cards.

[Anonymous]

buy 1 $20 gift, and stuff the rest of the stocking with a bag of kettle corn, rice krispie treats, oranges, etc.

less likely to be a toss-away gift in this scenario; i can think of 10 things off the top of my head that i'd actually *use* that cost about $20.

[Anonymous]

can I trade families? I have to buy for all of our inlawsp-they do this each year and it drives me nuts. WE have to buy for 16 people and most people spend around $40-50 each, except on my husbands parents and sisters for which we spend double that each.

I try each year to get them to tone it down, but they are like NO WAY!

[Anonymous]

how about a special ornament?

new holiday themed kitchen towels?

Fun sponges - Crate and Barrel has snow man ones

A nice smelling seasonal hand soap? (Target has these)

Some note cards / writing paper? Might be closer to $10

A new kitchen tool? Spoon or something else?

[Anonymous]

I always get some good stuffers at the container store and most of them have been a hit with family. Their prices range from $2 - $20 so you should be able to find enough!

[Anonymous]

Restoration Hardware also has fun/small/inexpensive silly stuff for the holidays.

[Anonymous]

All the different chocolate treats at Trader Joe's--orange sticks, salted caramels, chocolate covered dried cherries. . .

Or those screwdrivers where you can change the tip from phillips to flat head, I think they're around $5 and they usually have them by the counter at auto parts and hardware stores and sears, they have bright plastic handles. DH has one in almost every room of the house.

You can pick up nice kitchen tools cheap at Ross or Tuesday Morning--silicone spatulas, holiday towels, etc.

the Peppermint lip glosses from Bath and Body Works are $5 each

[Anonymous]

Colorful post-its (hey you said useful!)
Scented foamy antibacterial handsoaps at Bath and Body Works are like 4 for 10 bucks (might be kinda big, but who knows)
Purell that hooks onto your keychain
magnets
socks
and my favorite: Starbucks gift cards

[Anonymous]

Barnes and Noble has some cute mini desk toys (mini desk aquarium, mini yoga set, mini zen garden, etc.). Very cute - about $8 each. Also, mini desk calendars.

[Anonymous]

Hand soaps from Bath and Body Works. They are onsale for $3 a piece. They also have mini lotions, etc. a bunch of which are 50% off ($2 or less).

[Anonymous]

OP here... Thanks so much everybody, this is great! I'm heading to the mall tomorrow with this list!

[Anonymous]

not to sound boring or grinch-like -- but how about a $20 gift card?!?

[Anonymous]

World Market has great chocolate money.