Stockings for Under $15

Last Christmas I started a tradition with my family that I hope to continue for many years to come. We made stocking to give to some of our friends who we knew would be away from their family and alone on the holidays. We are living on a tight budget being in medical school and all, but I wanted to make these stockings special and meaningful so I had to get creative. In the end I was able to create some pretty darling stockings STUFFED to the brim with surprises, for under $15 a stocking. It was so well received that I decided I had to do it again this year.

Stuff Stockings for under $15

First off you will need to plan a trip to Dollar General. That is where I got everything for these babiesThis list includes enough to stuff two stockings.

What you will need:

• 3 bags of different chocolate candies (look for the $1 bags)
• 2 stockings
• A box of hot cocoa mix
• 2 mugs
• Boot socks, gloves or scarves for each stocking. I went with cute lacy boot socks.
• A couple more treats of your choice
• Peppermint candies
• Ribbon
• Ziploc bags from around the house
• Plastic grocery bags from around the house

Putting together the stockings:

1. First dump all your chocolate into a bowl, mix it and then divvy it up between two ziploc bags. Seal the bags, tie a ribbon around the bag and then grab some scissors and cut off the zipper portion of the bag. Now you have a yummy chocolate candy mix all packaged up. Do the same thing for the other treats you got. I got old fashioned hard candies and gingerbread cookies.
2. Next you are going to need some plastic grocery bags, stuff the bags into the bottom of the mugs. Then put two packs of Hot Cocoa mix into the cup, next stuff in some peppermints.
3. Now you are ready to stuff the stocking, first stuff a bag of candy into the toe, then the cookies, then the chocolate, then more gum. On top you will place the hot chocolate mug, stuff the socks beside to hold that in place.

Gum is stuffed everywhere, it is great for filling in all the small cracks in a stocking for a less lumpy looking stocking. We will be stockpiling for when my family arrives in a few weeks. I seriously can’t believe Christmas break is only a few weeks away. The countdown is starting! Are you getting ready to stuff stockings? Check out your local dollar store this holiday season! Now that the stockings are stuffed we just have to decide who to give them to this year… Any ideas!? Let me know in the comments who you would Secret Santa these to. Take care guys and happy almost December!