It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas already. Thousands of people have started Christmas shopping early due to the economic situation. It's much easier to spread out christmas shopping over months instead of waiting until December. Even Walmart recognized the situation for shoppers by lowering prices on the most popular toys early starting October 10th.



There are thousands of lists throughout the web that are specifically geared for specific people. Stocking Stuffers for him, for her, for teens, golf lovers, coffee lovers and so on and so forth. Are there any lists that have universal stocking stuffers that can be used for anyone? In an attempt to make shopping a little easier, I've put together a list of things that you can put in any stocking!

Gift Certificates: Maybe not always the most thoughtful gift, but it works well for stockings. You can always buy thoughtful gifts to go under the tree. Find a gift certificate to the person's favorite store or a place they frequent often. A Starbucks gift card would be great for someone who has to have their morning Venti White Chocolate Mocha before a hard days work at the office. Or perhaps an Itunes gift card for your teens so they can download the latest album from their favorite band! Those type of gift cards you would not have to add a lot of money either, maybe $10 to $15.

Batteries: You know you will end up having to buy them anyway for the the oodles of toys under the tree, the handheld poker game for your husband or the new watch for your sister who can never seem to get to family events on time. You might as well put them in a stocking instead of wrapping them separately.

Ornaments: This is more of a thoughtful gift and one my own family practices. Each year my husband and I buy each other an ornament. You can find websites online that will allow you to put a digital picture on an ornament for memories and some allow text also. Imagine "Our 1st Christmas" "Baby's 1st Christmas" and so on. They create lasting memories for everyone. This is great for kids in multiple ways also. Usually at school kids will create little ornaments for their parents out of clay, paper, or popsicle sticks that they could put in their parents stocking. Also by getting your kids an ornament every year, by the time they move out, they will have a bunch of ornaments that they could put on their own tree! It's also a great way to remember your phases or hobbies since their are ornaments for everything from Bob the Builder to your favorite football team.

Event Tickets: Tickets are a great thing to stuff in a stocking. Mainly because they are small and cover every hobby, like or passion you can think of. Concert tickets for your 17 year olds favorite band. Movie tickets to the latest Pixar movie for your kids. Sporting event tickets to a hockey game for your husband. Event tickets to a craft expo for your wife. You could even give Lottery tickets if you have a family member who likes to play the lotto. Whatever your family's passion you can find a ticket to cover it.

Chocolates and Candy: Always great as a filler, for the stocking anyways, not so much for your tummy. This would also be great to put in different types of chocolate or candy you might not always buy. Like green tea flavored Kit Kats from Japan. I've tried them and absolutely love them! You can't buy them in the U.S. to my knowledge but that is the beauty of online shopping. Find something unique and different, but make sure to throw in a candy cane or two just in case the unique candy you picked out wasn't as appealing to their taste buds as it was your eyes!

Magazine Subscriptions or Books: As I'm sure you know there is a magazine for any topic you desire. Get a subscription to fit your family's hobbies. Books are great as well at least paperback novels, I think it might be difficult to put a large book in a stocking. You can find books from their favorite author, or books for your children, some of the older Beatrix Potter books are stocking stuffer size. Even if you have a baby or toddler, buy board books for them to look at and for you to read to them!

Journals, Diary's or Planners: They are all along the same theory, buy one that is useful for the person you are picking it up for. A planner for mom or dad to keep track of the numerous soccer meets or work meetings, maybe a diary for a little girl, or even a small sketchbook for a boy or for small children to scribble in. Give them something to be creative with or something that is useful!

Craft Supplies or Pens: You can pick up different craft supplies for kids, crayons, markers, scissors etc. Those things could also be handy for moms as well! A nice ballpoint pen for adults, because everyone needs something nice to use at work that isn't going to run out of ink in a week.

These are only some of the things you can pick up. The list is endless!