Adult stockings tend to fill up with novelty items that are funny on Christmas morning and forgotten by New Year. A better rule is to pick small versions of things the person already uses every week. The groups below help you match the stocking to the person.
How to choose in five minutes
Think about the last ordinary week in the person’s life. What did they drink every morning? What did they complain about running out of? What did they borrow from someone else? Those answers point to the gifts that get used. Pick one or two things from that list, add a consumable and one thing to share, then fill the gaps.
If you are filling stockings for several adults, write each name on a sheet of paper and list three answers under it before you shop. It keeps you from buying the same thing for everyone.
For the coffee or tea drinker
- A bag of coffee beans or a box of tea they haven’t tried
- A small milk frother
- A reusable cup with a lid
- A tin of cookies to go with it
For the cook
- A jar of a spice blend or flavored salt
- A good vegetable peeler or a set of measuring spoons
- Silicone spatulas
- A small bottle of olive oil or vinegar
Kitchen tools are the easiest place to upgrade something that is quietly worn out. Check what they own before you buy a duplicate.
For the reader
- A paperback by an author they already like
- A book light
- A set of bookmarks
- A gift card for a local bookstore
For the person who is always cold
- Wool socks
- Fingerless gloves
- A hot water bottle with a knitted cover (fill it with hot, not boiling, water, and replace it if the rubber cracks)
- Lip balm and hand cream
For the traveler
- A phone charging cable long enough to reach a hotel bed
- A small zippered pouch for cables
- A reusable tote bag that folds into a pocket
- A luggage tag
- A pocket notebook and pen for lists and boarding passes
For the person who has everything
Small consumables work best: a bar of soap or a candle in a scent you know they like, a jar of honey, a few envelopes and stamps for thank-you notes. If you give a candle, choose one in a jar. If you know them well, add a handwritten coupon for something you will do for them, such as cooking dinner or taking over a chore for a week.
Something everyone can share
A deck of playing cards or a small card game gives the family something to do on the afternoon of December 25. It also turns a stocking into an invitation.
Keep it balanced
When several adults have stockings, aim for the same number of items rather than the same cost. Four to six things is plenty. Wrap one or two of them in tissue paper so the stocking takes more than a minute to open.
Fill the toe
The toe of a stocking is the hardest part to fill well. A clementine, a bar of good chocolate or a small jar of something from a local producer fits the shape and finishes the stocking neatly.
What to skip
- Joke gifts that end up in a drawer
- Anything scented, unless you know they like that scent
- Gadgets that need an app or a subscription
- Miniature bottles of alcohol, unless you are sure they are welcome
