The Southern Thing: Stocking Stuffers and Essentials to Stock Up on for the Holidays

The holidays can get a bit crazy, especially the closer we get to Christmas. To make this time of year a little less stressful, I like to plan ahead in any way I can. Having my gifts bought and wrapped before leaving to go out of town for Christmas and stocking up on all the Christmas day must haves, like batteries and food are just a few ways I plan ahead. With so much going on, it's easy to forget the important things, so I've put together a list of a few essential things you'll want to have on hand for the holiday season.

From wrapping paper, to gift bags, labels, bows, and tape, you'll want to be prepared. You can keep it green by using recyclable materials too, or even get creative and reuse household items for gift wrap, like scarves or newspaper. Stocking up on these ahead of time is always best since this stuff is usually sold out the closer it gets to Christmas.

There's nothing worse than giving or receiving a gift that requires batteries and not being able to use it because you don't have batteries and all the stores are closed for the holiday. You can never go wrong with having these on hand because you never know when you'll need them! A few things to keep in mind that require batteries that you may want to use on Christmas day when the stores are closed are cameras, radios, remotes, games, and toys. Energizer® EcoAdvanced™ Batteries AA and AAA are two popular options you'll want to keep on hand. These are also a great eco friendly option as they're the world’s first AA battery made with 4% recycled batteries that allow you to power high tech products with less impact on the planet.

Having a ready made gift basket on hand is perfect for those unexpected guests that may arrive. This is a great way to make sure everyone feels included, especially if you're exchanging gifts and shopped for all but one person.

Holiday cards are also great to keep on hand as a last minute gift, or to just stock up on before they get picked over as it gets closer to Christmas. You can even keep things green by choosing cards made out of recycled material.

Whether you're decorating your house or tree, you can never have too many lights. A great time to stock on on lights and other decor is right after Thanksgiving during the Black Friday sales, or right after Christmas during the end of season sale. Keep in mind the type of light when you're purchasing. LED lights are a better alternative than the traditional lights as they'll last longer and reduce energy usage, saving you money in the long run.

The holidays are a great time to capture family moments that will become forever memories. Be sure to always keep a backup memory card, along with your extra batteries, on hand during the holidays. You'll be able to take all the pictures and videos you want without worrying about storage space.

Sometimes it's easier to build your collection of stocking stuffers throughout the year as you find random items on sale. If you're trying to be more eco-friendly and want to avoid items that may end up in the trash by next year, edible snacks are always a good choice for stocking stuffers.

Another great way to plan ahead and make sure you have all the holiday essentials is to gift them as part of your stocking stuffers. I usually like to combine a mix of a few essentials and fun products. They make a great combo of useful items that won't end up in the trash.

Keep the person you are making a stocking for in mind. Make a list of their favorite items, such as their favorite candy, makeup brand, nail polish color, etc. and go from there. Look for small trial and travel sized items to keep the cost down and to be able to fit more items in the stocking. When it comes to the useful essentials, consider the larger gifts you are giving. Don't forget the batteries, or perhaps and an extra controller if you are gifting something such as a game system, or a memory card to go with that new camera they've been wanting.