You’ve purchased the gifts and you’ve wrapped them with care. But you spent so much time picking out the perfect gifts for your family, that you’re now scrambling for stocking stuffer gifts at the last minute.
But don’t make those stocking stuffers be gifts of things that don’t matter! Use that precious gift space to PREPare your family to become more prepared for emergencies in the new year! The best gifts are ones that are really useful, not just a gimmick. And think outside the box to those supplies used by hikers, campers, survivalists, homesteaders, etc.
Looking specifically for ideas for kids? Check out my 10 Holiday Preparedness Gifts for Kids post.
Budget-Friendly 150+ Stocking Stuffer Ideas for a Prepared Home
There are so many gifts you can add, but we’re going to concentrate on those things small enough to fit into a stocking and are affordable (most things are $15 and under). You might find a lot of these things on lists to help build emergency kits, but supplies always need to be restocked, too! While I provide links to Amazon for many of the ideas so that you can get a look at what I mean, you can pick up most of these things nearby.
Pick and choose from the list, and then add your own in the comments below!
Stocking Stuffers for Health and Home
- toothbrush/toothpaste
- batteries
- lip balms
- tweezers
- bandages (think not only bandaids but triangle bandages, Israeli bandages, etc.)
- emergency candles / regular candles/tea lights (please be mindful of the overly smelly candles)
- hard lotion bars (learn how to make your own here)
- sewing supplies: needles, thread, snaps, pins, safety bins, bobbins, etc.
- scarves/hats/gloves
- wool socks/socks
- underwear (my kids groan, but at least they have a healthy supply!)
- first aid supplies to build a family first aid kit (bandages, triangle bandages, sutures, face masks, creams, ointments, splints, etc.)
- essential oils – we love the Plant Therapy line.
- gift certificates to favorite ‘stock-up places’
- soapmaking supplies
- dental emergency kit
- oil lamps, oil, and wicks
- crochet hooks and supplies
- knitting needles and yarn
- 5-gallon lid tool (though gamma lids are great for not needing this tool, they are too big for stocking and are a bit more expensive)
- small weather radio
- latex gloves
- face masks
- eyeglass repair and supply kits
- homemade soaps
- permanent markers (good for all around the home, homestead and emergency bags)
- homemade toiletries and cleaners
- extra flash drives to store necessary emergency information
- activated charcoal
- homemade tote bags
- scissors
- dental floss
- shoelaces
- nail care kit – file, clippers
- combs (this Hedgehog comb/multi-tool is fun!)
Best Stocking Stuffers Ideas for the Kitchen
- can openers
- Spatulas, whisks, spoons
- silicone mats
- towels and mitts
- bulk foods (think bags of beans or rice or chocolate to stash 😉 )
- dehydrator sheets
- canning lids, rings, and supplies
- vacuum sealer attachments – for canning jars
- cheesemaking supplies
- freeze-dried meals
- bamboo cutting boards and utensils (easy to care for and sustainable)
- homemade jams, jellies, canned items
- oxygen absorbers
- mylar bags
- mini heat-sealers for food preservation
- home dehydrated products and mixes/meals in jars
Stocking Stuffers Ideas for the Homestead
- hand tools for the garden
- safety glasses
- snares
- ammo
- ammo containers
- earplugs
- carpentry pencils
- seed packets
- hand tools for the garden
- plant markers
- work gloves
- camo tape (to ‘camo’ anything)
- duct or Gorilla tape
- pocket plant identification and track identification books
- pocket knives/fixed blade knives
- folding saws
- small tools and supplies (boxes of screws/bolts/nails to get someone started)
- velcro strips
- super glue
- zip ties
- bungee cords
- gift certificates for time spent in training (a promise to teach your niece how to crochet or make yogurt or your son how to tie a fishing lure)
- maintenance supplies for weapons/tools (oils, barrel cleaners, bow wax, new string, etc.)
- honing stones/whetstones/sharpening devices for blades
- homemade fire starters (think wax-dipped pinecones, dryer lint/wax bundles, char cloth, and more)
- leather crafting supplies
- ice scraper
- bicycle tire repair kits
- bicycle pumps
- slingshot & pellets
- razor blades (the old fashioned kind)
- measuring tapes
- soil testing kit
Best Stocking Stuffers Ideas for Emergency Kits
- headlamps
- fire starters/flints/steels/
- waterproof matches and container
- silver coins
- gift certificates for cash/gas/emergencies to tuck into a wallet or glove compartment
- P-38 / P-51 can openers for camping/emergency bags
- honey sticks – are good for food and for antiseptic for wound care (as long as you don’t get the flavored varieties)
- emergency whistles
- sewing kits
- fishing kits
- snares
- work gloves
- lighters
- small cookstove
- ammo
- ammo containers
- earplugs
- notebooks/pens/pencils – I love sticking carpentry pencils in my boys’ stockings
- small first aid kits
- carabiners
- baseball caps
- collapsible bucket
- paracord (in bracelet or belt form, or just bundled)
- small rolls of duct tape
- shower wipes
- headlamp
- SAS Pocket Survival Guide
- pocket chain saw (don’t go for the super-cheap versions..they’re pretty worthless)
- glowsticks
- small knife/fire steel combo
- personal water filter * this isn’t in the $10 budget, but less than $20
- bandanas (there are good survival ones that have emergency info printed on them). They are good for head-covering, face covering, rags, and more.
- collapsible kitchen gear (packs small for camping or emergency kits – bowls, cups, and more)
- travel-sized toiletries
- recharging bricks/bars for electronics (if you can find a small solar version – even better!)
- moleskin – invaluable for blisters from hiking, etc.)
- multitool or multi-use knives
- hand-cranked flashlight
- inflatable pillow
- inflatable solar light
- water purification tablets
- snares
- water packets
- bug spray
- local maps
- compass (plus throw in a note that you’ll teach them how to use it!)
- small first aid book
- pocket size plant identification book for foraging
- jerky
- powdered drink mixes (think Gatorade)
- rolls of coins
- emergency cash stash
- homemade, laminated note cards with emergency procedures on a ring
- pocket-sized games / cards / dice
- Fix-a-flat
- hand/foot warmers
- camping utensil
- Blade medic – for maintaining your blades
- emergency sleeping bag/blanket
- poncho
- sunscreen
- microfiber towels
- hand sanitizer
- emergency car escape tool
- compressed wash clothes tablets (could be used for TP, too)
- gas siphon
- hatchet
- emergency food bars
- mirror
- dry shampoo
- Wallet Ninja
- pocket triple antibiotic spray
- waterproof bags
- gum
- hard candies
What Are Your Stocking Stuffer Ideas?
Finally, these are more than 150 stocking stuffer ideas for a prepared home and family! Feel free to share all your thoughts about my best stocking stuffer ideas in the comments section below. Also, tell us your ideas, too! Last but not least, you can put it all in this nifty tactical stocking for those who love such things!
- As you can see, there is a bounty of opportunity to make those items in stockings have more meaning than a dollar store throwaway toy or a gimmicky item that will never be used again. Think about how you can bring the gift of PREParedness to your family, even on a budget!I’d love it if you’d add your own ideas in the comments so that we can make this an even bette resource!
Katy Willis is a writer, lifelong homesteader, and master herbalist, master gardener, and canine nutritionist. Katy is a preparedness expert and modern homesteader practicing everyday preparedness, sustainability, and a holistic lifestyle.
She knows how important it is to be prepared for whatever life throws at you, because you just never know what's coming. And preparedness helps you give your family the best chance to thrive in any situation.
Katy is passionate about living naturally, growing food, keeping livestock, foraging, and making and using herbal remedies. Katy is an experienced herbalist and a member of the CMA (Complementary Medical Association).
Her preparedness skills go beyond just being "ready", she's ready to survive the initial disaster, and thrive afterward, too. She grows 100% organic food on roughly 15 acres and raises goats, chickens, and ducks. She also lovingly tends her orchard, where she grows many different fruit trees. And, because she likes to know exactly what she's feeding her family, she's a seasoned from-scratch cook and gluten-free baker.
Katy teaches foraging and environmental education classes, too, including self-sufficient living, modern homesteading, seed saving, and organic vegetable gardening.
Katy helps others learn forgotten skills, including basic survival skills and self-reliance.
She's been published on sites such as MSN, Angi, Home Advisor, Family Handyman, Wealth of Geeks, Readers Digest, and more.