Now that Black Friday sales are gone, you’re down to stocking stuffers on your gift-giving list.
One of our favorite smart shopping hacks is picking up most of the small gifts you need at the grocery store.
Your local grocery store can be a treasure trove of last-minute white elephant gifts and small trinkets to stuff stockings or fill a gift basket.
Here are some of our favorite stocking stuffers that you can find right in the grocery aisles.
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Lotion
The winter winds lead to dry skin and chapped hands, so lotion is always a welcome gift.
You can opt for a full-sized candy cane body butter at Trader Joe's for $5.99 or Burt’s Bees Milk & Honey lotion trial size at Koger for $1.79.
Multi-tool
Stocking stuffers are often fun, but they can be practical gifts, too. Multi-tools make the perfect gift to help you out with small repairs.
Surprisingly, many grocery stores carry these. Aldi offers the Workzone multi-tool for $12.99, and Target carries the Blue Ridge Tools multi-tool for $15.99.
Candles
Fill the stockings and your home with flavorful scented candles.
These come in every flavor, from chocolate croissant-scented candles from Trader Joe’s ($3.99) to cranberry dahlia-scented candles from Target ($7.99).
Your grocer is bound to have an aroma for everyone on your list.
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Candy
What’s a Christmas stocking without candy?
Every grocery store will carry a wide variety of candies. If you want something extra festive, check out Trader Joe’s Cinna-Dragons gummy candies for $2.29.
If you’re more of a traditionalist, you can always pick up a candy cane-shaped container of Reese’s or M&M;'s for $2.00 each at Walmart.
Hot chocolate
Packets of hot chocolate are another long-time Christmas favorite treat to find in your stockings.
You can keep this cheap and basic with a Swiss Miss 8-pack at Kroger for $2.50. Another option is to get fancy with Aldi’s amazing Choceur Belgian hot chocolate bombs for about $6.
Either way, everyone loves to curl up with a cup of hot cocoa in the winter.
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Makeup
Cosmetics make the perfect stocking stuffers because they’re small.
For the beauty-conscious individual on your list, consider the festive lip plumper ornament for $9.00 or The Ordinary Lash and Brow Duo for $20.30. You can find both in Target’s cosmetic aisle.
Hand sanitizer
‘Tis the season to be jolly — and sick too. No worries; Santa’s got you covered, since he can bring pocket-sized hand sanitizer anywhere we go and stave off the germs this winter.
Keep your loved ones healthy by slipping Purell hand sanitizer with jelly wrap into their stockings ($1.99 at Target).
For a scented option, this Aura Cacia hand sanitizer spray at Kroger is scented with lavender and only costs $ 2.99.
Beauty supplies
Many beauty supplies get left off the gift list but are always appreciated when they show up.
This includes simple things like shower poufs, which you can get for just $1.00 at Kroger and Walmart. You could also go the extra mile with a Disney-branded nail-trimming set at Target for $11.69.
Winter gloves and hats
There’s still a lot of cold weather after Christmas, so beanies and gloves are ideal small gifts to give.
You can find a coordinating set of ladies' winter gloves and a hat at Aldi’s for $9.99 or a cheaper 2-pack of winter gloves at Walmart for $4.97.
Or you can be the cool aunt or uncle if you gift the Kirby knit beanie at Target for $14.99.
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Pet gifts
Your pets have been good all year, so they deserve a stocking and some Christmas cheer, too.
For the dog, Aldi carries gingerbread man dog biscuits for $3.19, and Walmart offers a Hartz Dura Play Ball dog toy for $3.67.
For your cats, Trader Joe’s has Here Kitty, Kitty cat treats for just $2.99, along with options for healthy and affordable dog treats if you want to get it all in one place.
Small toys
Grocery stores often have a seasonal section with small games or toys you can pick up for a few dollars, which makes them perfect for a stocking-stuffer gift.
Krogers offers Hot Wheels cars for $1.18 for the little kids on your list, or you can pick up a 2-pack of playing cards for $5.44 at Walmart for more mature recipients.
Art supplies
Give the gift of creativity with art supplies. Many grocery stores have crayons and even paint near the stationery and greeting cards.
These items only cost a few dollars each, such as Crayola colored pencils at Kroger for $2.07 or Cra-Z-Art markers for $2.14 at Walmart.
Hygiene products
Hygiene products are popular stocking stuffers, and you’re killing two birds with one stone since you’d probably be buying many of these anyway.
For the grownups on your list gifts like Dr. Squatch natural pine tar soap ($6.29 Target) can be truly appreciated. Maybe a child who would rather have a Batman toothbrush (Walmart $4.98).
You'll have lots to choose from since personal care items are perfect small gifts you can always find at the grocery store.
Fidget toys
Kids and adults alike love fidget toys when they’re anxious or bored. Luckily, they’re a cheap gift, and there are many to choose from.
Try a Giggle Zone Pop-It Ball at Walmart for $3.00 or, if you want to try all the things, pick up the Chuckle & Roar Sensory Fidget Box 10-pack at Target for $14.99.
Charging cables
Charging cables get lost often, so you can rest assured that most of the people on your gift-giving list need them.
You can pick up a Lightning charging cable at Target for $13.99 or a Samsung USB-C cable for $7.88 at Walmart.
Stickers
Kids adore stickers of all shapes and sizes, and grocery stores often carry them close to the greeting cards.
Pick up 10 sheets of puffy stickers at Kroger for $12.99 or a pack of rainbow gem stickers from Target for $4.00.
Bottom line
Not only will you save money shopping by picking up small Christmas gifts at the grocery store, but you’ll also be saving time by not having to take an extra shopping trip.
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