Idealo Christmas Stocking Challenge

If there is one thing I have learned this year it is that there are very few of you who aren’t feeling the pinch of the financial climate and raising a family. It has crossed my mind once or twice that gift giving in the mid-winter puts enormous pressure on our strained budgets.

Idealo have conducted research which shows in the 15 years between 1995 and 2010 the value of the average stocking rose from £75 to £168 per child. When they ‘challenged’ me to spend just £75 to help the Solstice Fairy find the perfect gifts for a stocking I accepted knowing it was more than enough budget for all three stockings.

When shopping for Christmas presents it is so easy to head to our comfort zones and while there is much to be said for loyalty it’s also important to make sure we’re not spending more than we need to. Idealo is a price comparison site where you can quickly search out a deal.

I may have taken a peek at some lenses and found that not only are the comparisons easy to navigate but they also highlight voucher codes for extra savings so I could get a fiver off the best deal on a Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM if I were in the market for one.

When it comes to stockings the Solstice Fairy is pretty strict about what she’ll deliver. Simple, well made and longevity are her watch words and mine when searching out the items for this challenge.

I started off in one of my favourite toy shops and picked up a crocodile costume and swannee whistle. Next I found a sweet headband for Milla, an owl stacker for Betsy and a boat for Monty. At Little Baby Company I added a couple of spinners and a spade (they are amazing for stocking fillers). I then rounded it off with three books from Amazon. I could add more (and if you’re looking for inspiration Lucy’s £1 and under stocking filler post is a great place to start) but I like to keep things simple. A few satsumas and maybe a couple of sticker books and they will be good to go. Just need to stitch the stockings…

Things can get expensive at Christmas and when you factor in big ticket items like consoles and games I can see how that £168 stacks up quickly – I could have easily spent the £75 three times over.

How do you help Santa create stockings? Do you stick to a budget or a formula? Is £75 preposterous or a tight squeeze for a stocking?

With thanks to Idealo for inviting us to take part in their shopping challenge – despite writing about products every day on Bambino Goodies I don’t get to fill my shopping bags often!