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I’m fine with admitting that, as the years have passed, my Christmas spirit has slowly dwindled. That’s not to say I don’t enjoy the festive period as a whole, but Christmas Day itself can be daunting – a mark of another year drawing to a close. There is, however, one element of Christmas that will never cease to bring me joy, and that is my stocking – stocking fillers, to be precise. I’m sure some people would question whether, at 26, I’m too old for a stocking, but I’m not aware of any official guidelines around this, and if there are, I don’t want to know about them.
Read more: 100 Stylish Christmas Gifts For Less Than £100
I have my mum to thank for this great love, who over the years has wrapped what must feel like thousands of tiny stocking fillers. Each year, she curates the perfect sack of essentials: a Terry’s chocolate orange, a new nail file (that will inevitably be lost along with its predecessors), and a can of espresso martini to help the unwrapping move swiftly along.
I think the key to a good stocking is a combination of practicality and enjoyment. In contrast to under-the-tree gifts, a stocking should focus on a need rather than a want – they’re the sort of items you would never usually buy yourself, but that bring a smile to your face or fulfil a need in your day-to-day life.
This year, I’ve decided that I will be gifting exclusively stockings in lieu of larger gifts. Scroll on for some of the small gestures I’ve got my eye on.
- The beauty buy: BeautyPro Super Hydrating Hyaluronic Acid Travel Face Sheet Mask, £5
- The relaxation tool: Silk Black Contour Sleep Mask, £55
- The classic pair of stocking socks: Glassworks Cream Ribbed Cashmere Wool Blend Socks, £16
- The festive snack: Fortnum & Mason Toffolossus Biscuits, £22
- The playful game: Smith Street So You Think You’re A Millennial The Ultimate Quiz, £10
