You can go to Target and they have these stacked rounders near the makeup - they have all kinds of fun travel size beauty products- lip balm, face masks, smaller sizes of nice makeup- I think target usually has a deal for buy x get x free- you can also go online and search travel or minis on the target website. Also maybe hair clips? Walgreens had a sale last week with Essie nail polish $3 off coupon bringing them down to $6- they have these every so often. Good luck Op! Your heart is in the right place and your girls will be happy you are happy (I am hoping you are happy now that you are free!)

MIL once gave me origami folded dollar bills. One year I hid dollars all over the christmas tree for DS to find. Another year I put them money in little boxes and he had to do an easter egg type hunt to find them all.

I wouldn't spend money on junky things if money is tight. Take the $20 you'd spend on stocking stuffers and do something cute with 20 one dollar bills.

I wouldn’t buy random stuff like the above if you’re trying to save money. If they don’t absolutely need lip balm and socks, it’s a waste and you’ll be out $100 on crap they don’t need. I’d actually save money and get things they really want vs things to open they don’t need.

Anonymous wrote:Stop buying for others, seriously. Adults don't need gifts.

OP’s kids are teens.

$10 gift cards to Coldstone, Starbucks.

Paperback books if you know their taste. Worth a try to encourage them to read. Maybe bios of famous/inspirational women?

Anonymous wrote:Body wash, special candies/treats, chapstick, nail polish, socks, hand lotion

These are all great, easy ideas for stocking stuffers or gifts. Watch sales all over for maybe some pajama pants or similar. Do either of them have a hobby or sport that you could pick up something related?

socks, toothbrushes, take advantage of the back to school stuff and get some post its, fun pens, highlighters. pony tail holders. nail polish.

Hair towel wrap
fuzzy socks
Nail file/buffer
Cute pimple patches
Hair ties/clips
earrings
ornament

Stop buying for others, seriously. Adults don't need gifts.

Do they like purse charms/labubu type things?

Five Below is a good store to check for things.

My mom always bought me dried apricots and Kraft Christmas nougats (chewy peppermint taffy with a Christmas tree picture in the center). I'm sentimental about those. Five Below has a lot of specialty shape Haribo gummy candy-those are fun.

Later in the year, like after Halloween, Target and CVS have fancy European-style holiday candy. Sometimes those are cute.

They are old enough for one big gift.

Body wash, special candies/treats, chapstick, nail polish, socks, hand lotion

Two things I would do are a deck of cards (mine also love Uno) and chapstick. Gym socks are also an inexpensive gift. On Amazon you can find some $10 inspirational bracelets. Headbands to use when face washing are a hit for us. Those nylon body wash sponge ball things are also good.

New-ish single/divorced mom here, and I need some help after the disaster that was last two Christmases. I have two teen girls, and I allow them 3-4 “big” gifts, spending around $200 on each girl. I work this into my December budget, but it’s things like smaller little gifts/stocking stuffers that inevitably put me over the edge when paired with the December food budget and gifts for others. I vowed that this year I would start shopping in October for smaller things, a few each month. The thing is, I don’t know what they will want then, and I am afraid if I put cash aside, I will be tempted to spend it on other things. I want tangible things, not side cash.

What are some small, under $10 things that teen girls universally enjoy?