I always enjoy seeing what others buy their kids for Christmas. Especially stocking stuffers. So I thought it would be fun to share what we bought our daughters this year!
I find it can be so easy to buy little things just for the sake of filling the stockings.
However, over the years, I have found myself becoming more intentional with what I buy. I like to buy some practical items, consumable items and just for fun items.
How do you like to fill stockings?
In the past, I have done almost identical things for both of my daughters. However, they currently have significantly different likes.
Without further ado, here are the items I bought for my daughters. Age 9 and age 13. I will add pictures this week when I have a moment by myself.
Hand lotion (she always gets really dry hands in the winter so a little one in her backpack might be nice!)
There you have it! I think I did pretty well this year. I did struggle with what to get for my 9 year old this year though! But I do think they will enjoy everything. I have also been buying these things since October when they’ve been on sale.
If you are looking for other stocking stuffer ideas, I compiled a couple of lists for you:
If you love squeezing every last drop of value out of your holiday shopping (same!), you’re going to love this list. Every year, a bunch of Canadian retailers offer gift card bonus deals. The easiest way to score free money or something free just for buying a gift you were already planning to give. Whether you’re stocking up for teacher gifts, grabbing a few for family, or treating yourself to a little “future discount,” these gift card bonus offers are one of the simplest ways to stretch your budget.
I’ve rounded up the best places offering Christmas gift card deals right now, so you can save more and keep a little extra in your pocket this season. Let’s dive in!
Updated December 6, 2025
Subway– Buy $50 in gift cards, get a free classic footlong sub
Denny’s – Buy a $25 gift card, get a $5 bonus card
Domino’s Pizza – Buy a $30 gift card, get a coupon for a free medium 2 topping pizza
Montana’s– Buy a $50 Montana’s gift card, get a free rib taster plate
Harvey’s– Buy a $25 Harvey’s gift card, get a free burger
Kelsey’s– Buy a $50 Kelsey’s gift card, get free wings
Red Robin – Spend $30 in Gift Cards, get a $5 Bonus Buck, OR Spend $50+ and get a $10 Bonus Buck
Earl’s– Get a $20 Bonus Card with every $100 in Gift Cards
Booster Juice – Buy a $30+ gift card, get a free smoothie or acai bowl
Original Joe’s – Buy a $100 Gift Card and get a $20 Bonus Card to use in January – available in-restaurant only
Wok Box – For every $25 gift card you buy, get a $5 bonus
Mr. Mike’s – Buy $50 in gift cards, get a $10 bonus card.
The Ultimate Dining Card – Buy a $50 Ultimate Dining Card at participating retailers and online, you’ll get $50 in bonus savings
If you’re buying some gift cards for Christmas this year, you may want to buy from these stores to receive a bit of a bonus! Do you know of any other gift card deals? Let me know and I’ll add them to the list!
It’s gift-giving season, which means you’re either really excited about shopping for gifts, or in the beginning stages of holiday dread. 🙂
Gift-giving can be very overwhelming. Especially for the person who has everything! When I need a gift, the perfect gift in my mind, is something practical and memorable yet a bit extravagant (something they wouldn’t purchase themselves). Of course, my gift-giving has to be done within a budget, as I’m sure most of yours does too.
Finding a budget friendly and unique gift can be challenging, especially as more and more people may be added to your Christmas list. This year, I want to give you several gift guides that feature fabulous gift ideas that you can shop from!
I’m pretty darn excited about this year’s gift guides because I think you’ll find a lot of great gift ideas for everyone on your list. Plus, since you’re getting this from Simply Frugal, the gift guides feature frugal gift ideas that are separated into categories by price!
These frugal gift guides will help solve all of your gift-giving dilemmas by making it really easy to find that perfect gift for everyone on your list. All you have to do is click, order, and wrap!
The count down is on for Christmas! Every year, I’m on the hunt for cute matching Christmas pajamas for my daughters. But this year, finding the best family Christmas pajamas is going to be on the agenda!
This year just feels like it needs to be extra festive, am I right? An extra dose of Christmas cheer will not disappoint! If you are feeling similarly and think a pair of matching Christmas pajamas for every family member is a must, then you will love this list today.
Below, I have found 5 Canadian, budget-friendly places to get matching family Christmas pajamas with so many adorable options. Enjoy!
The Children’s Place
The Children’s Place is a great Canadian option for family Christmas pajamas! Right now, they have a lot of sizes available and they are on sale all the time! So fun! Here’s a preview of what’s available:
Old Navy Canada has a big selection of matching family pajamas! They currently have some plaid designs available, but I’m sure they will be adding more as Christmas gets closer! Prices are regularly $14.40 – $59.99, but Old Navy often has sales that include their pj’s. Here’s a glimpse at the selection:
Take a look at the matching family pajamas from Gap Canada! They have some nice classic styles. Plus, they always have a sale going on it seems! Here’s a sample of their selection:
Little Blue House has a great selection of matching family pajamas. Their selection includes onesies and 2 piece pajamas in a great selection of festive patterns. Here are a few cute ones to look at:
Simply Frugal may receive a small commission if you purchase something recommended in this article. See the disclosure policy here.
The Best Advent Calendars in Canada
When I was growing up, the only advent calendar I knew of were those little chocolate ones that were a bargain from the grocery store or dollar store. But those were still magical and fun!
These days, advent calendars have evolved to include everything from beauty products to toys to crafts! Advent calendars in 2025 take things to a whole new level! Imagine the excitement on your kids’ faces when they open up mini LEGO sets or Polly Pocket figures. Imagine your own excitement when you open up something you love each morning!
For today’s post, I thought it would be fun to round up the best advent calendars in Canada for 2025! You’re sure to find something for everyone. They range in price from frugal to not so frugal, but I made sure to only list the well rated advent calendars and legit retailers!
Mother’s Day comes just once a year, so why not do all you can to make sure it’s a special day? If you are worried about your budget being too tight to celebrate sufficiently, don’t worry! There are plenty of ways to enjoy a nice Mother’s Day without spending a dime. Look below at these 7 Mother’s Day gifts that don’t cost a cent, and see how you can celebrate Mom for free.
1. Give her the gift of time.
Don’t try to fit in time for Mom on Mother’s Day, make it a priority. Give Mom the gift of your time to enjoy the things she may want to do, such as go for a hike, watch a movie, or just spend time together around the dinner table.
2. Give her the gift of appreciation.
Show Mom you appreciate her by writing her a list of all of the things you love about her. Make a list of 20-25 things (even more is better!) that make her special. Use your best writing, put the list in an envelope, and gift it to her on Mother’s Day. She will keep it forever.
3. Give her the gift of rest.
Sometimes, Mom just needs a break. Give Mom a little time to herself on Mother’s Day. Quiet the house down and let Mom get a nap in. Or, give Mom some time to sleep in that morning. Even just an hour of quiet time will be much appreciated and make her feel like a million bucks.
4. Give her the gift of affection.
Moms love to hug and hold their babies! Take the time to hug your Mom, hold her hand, and truly connect with her. The older children get, the less often this happens, so take the time on Mother’s Day to get those hugs in.
5. Give her the gift of help.
Are there tasks around the house Mom needs help with? Start tackling those tasks. Do what you can to get these tasks done so Mom can take them off her plate. This will be a huge relief to her and she will no doubt love the help.
6. Give her the gift of truly being present.
Put cell phones and electronic devices away and be present on Mother’s Day. Let Mom know that she is your focus for the day and that nothing else is as important. We get so caught up in devices, this will be a refreshing change for her to see.
7. Give her the gift of patience.
Be patient with Mom today. Mother’s Day is about celebrating her and meeting her needs. Be patient with your own needs on this day and instead make the focus about her. Don’t let a limited budget keep you from showing Mom how special she is. Consider these 7 Mother’s Day gifts that don’t cost a cent, and see how even a frugal Mother’s Day can be a memorable one.
I’d love to hear your ideas or memories of celebrating Mother’s Day! Let me know in the comments below!
