Great Stocking Stuffers for Teens for Under $10

Since as long as I can remember, a cherished tradition in my family is hanging stockings from a bookcase that is turned backwards and decorated to look like a fireplace. As a child, my siblings and I each had a red stocking with white fur trim adorned with our names in glitter. But when we reached our teen years, we started to look at the stockings as a fond childhood memory, yet we still loved the gifts that were stuffed inside. Needless to say, we quickly got over the notion that we outgrew our Christmas stockings. Today, we're in our forties, but we still have those stockings and continue the tradition among our extended family. Besides children, the parents and grandparents get stockings, too, and it's a fun Christmas morning ritual to gather together to see what "Santa" left in our stockings.

As our family continues to grow, we now pick names from a hat and buy stocking gifts for that specific person. We set a budget of no more than $20 total. In keeping with tradition of having stockings overflowing with gifts, we manage each year to stay within budget by seeking out unique, but useful gifts. We're also mindful of the teens in our family and try to select gifts that are less child-like and more towards adult age. It sounds challenging, but it's not. Here are some suggestions for inexpensive stocking stuffers for teens that cost from .50 to $10:

* Individual or snack size bags of the teen's favorite treats or sweets. Consider items that they can bring in their backpack, like granola bars, popcorn, cookies, fruit roll-ups, etc. Other ideas are gum, sour balls, dried fruit, nuts and snack mix. Since most teens are rushing between school, sports, music lessons, dance practice, or an after school job, stuff the stocking with goodies that will keep them going throughout the day.

* Accessories. Discount stores are great places to find good buys on gloves, slipper socks, scarves, socks, belts, and costume holiday jewelry. Even if the teen already has these items, they can always use a spare or two.