How to cut the cost of a Christmas stocking in half

_{Some items have been gifted}

Did you know that the average cost of a Christmas stocking adds up to just over £70? And that’s the average – according to research, a stocking can even be as high as £119. Sounds like a lot doesn’t it? That’s why I jumped at the chance to cut this cost by half and share the results of my Christmas stocking haul with you today. Plus, you can win all the items in my retro stocking in my giveaway below so read on to enter the competition…

I’m probably one of the thriftiest bloggers around so when Rex London challenged me to fill a Christmas stocking for half the price of the average stocking, I knew I could do it. I got out my note pad, I made a list, I checked it twice (for cost-cutting reasons, obvs) and I ordered my stocking filler gifts.

I wanted to stick to a theme so I decided to create a Christmas stocking that could have come straight from my own childhood. Of course, nowadays that means a RETRO stocking (!) so all the items I’ve wrapped up remind me of toys and treats we would have played with as kids. I think that makes this stocking suitable for children AND for adults who want to reminisce about their 80s/90s childhood. Here’s what I got…

CLASSIC STOCKING FILLERS

These are the low-cost yet great fun items that every childhood stocking should contain. The first items I wrapped up was a kazoo at just £1.95. Who doesn’t love the crazy sound of a kazoo? I mean, when you’re playing it, that is! I also picked up this vintage catapult toy with 4 foam balls for only £2.95. It’s just the sort of cheeky toy you’d hope to get in your Christmas stocking as a child. Oh, and an astronomy kaleidoscope, of course. I loved them when I was little, and it’s so mesmerising to watch the patterns and colours change while you twist it. This one has a cosmic design on the ‘scope but there are plenty of other prints to choose from, each priced at just £3.95

VINTAGE TOYS

Do you remember a Jacob’s Ladder from your childhood? This toy dates back to the 1890s so I’m guessing it was around when you were a kid, right?! It’s such a classic toy and every kid should have one to play with, and at just £4.95 for this wooden one, they can. I also grabbed a boxed set of juggling balls at £3.95. I asked Santa for a set of juggling balls myself last Christmas (I must have been good, because I got some!) so I’m sure kids and grown-ups of any age would enjoy playing with them and learning a new skill.

CONSTRUCTION KITS

I wanted to include some toys that would entertain beyond the first few hours of opening the stocking, so I looked for some “make it yourself” kits. I picked up a pull back racing car kit at £3.95. If each child in your family received one of these in their Christmas stocking they could construct their own cars and compete in a race over the festive period. Sounds fun, huh? You want to join in too, don’t you?! The second construction kit I got was a wind up Tyrannosaurus Rex, priced at £3.95. It’s another type of mechanism that youngsters can learn about while they build their dinosaur.

ONE ‘BIG’ PRESENT

I wanted to include one present that was bigger and little more expensive than the rest. I thought that this wooden pull-along retro racing car would be ideal at £9.95. It’s also available in red so, again, if you’re filling stockings for a couple of children, they can both have similar toys and can play together on Christmas morning.

So that’s my half price, money-saving Christmas stocking – what do you think? Would your kids be delighted to unwrap these toys? Or do you know an adult who would love to find these retro gifts in their stocking? The total price was £35.60 (with free delivery) and the research shows that the average stocking is £71, so I’m 10p over half the price. I think that’s a pretty good saving!

And now, as if all this Christmas stocking planning wasn’t exciting enough, here’s your chance to win all of these gifts in my blog giveaway! One lucky winner will win the contents of my retro Christmas stocking (stocking itself not included, I need to hang it up for Santa myself!)  and there are plenty of ways to enter via the Rafflecopter widget below – best of luck to you all!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The giveaway is run by Rex London and is open to UK residents only. One winner will be chosen at random from all the Rafflecopter entries. The winner will be contacted via email and will need to provide a delivery address to receive their prize from Rex London. If you would like to enter the giveaway please read Rex London’s cookie & privacy policy and enter via the Rafflecopter widget above.

Some items in this blog post have been gifted to me and the pink links indicate a gifted product, affiliate link or information source. All thoughts and opinions in this post are based on my own experience and I am not responsible for your experience 🙂