18 Dec, 2025 | Admin | No Comments
Budget-friendly stocking fillers under £10 for kids this Christmas 2025
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If you’re scrambling for stocking fillers, don’t worry – you don’t need to spend a fortune to make Christmas morning special for the kids.
In fact, little ones often get more excited about the tiny bits (or the cardboard boxes) than the big presents anyway, so a few thoughtful little treats can go a long way.
That’s why we’ve put together a list of budget-friendly stocking fillers that are guaranteed to bring a smile to their faces.
From toys that actually keep them busy, to mini chocolate treats, and silly games for a quick laugh, we’ve listed something for every type of kid.
To keep things affordable, everything we’ve listed is under £10 as spending more than you need to is SO out for Christmas 2025.
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Jelly Belly Assorted Bean Tin
This Jelly Belly Assorted Bean Tin comes in a jelly bean-shaped tin filled with 20 different flavours, giving a mix of fruity and classic tastes. When the beans are finished, the tin can be refilled with your favourite flavours for continued use. It’s a simple, reusable way to enjoy Jelly Belly beans again and again.
Crayola SuperTips Washable Markers in Assorted Colours (Pack of 24)
The Crayola SuperTips Washable Markers (Pack of 24) are perfect for little artists, creating thick or thin lines to add all the details to school or home art projects. The premium felt-tip pens lay down smooth, vibrant colour with no squeaks or drags, and the washable inks clean off skin and clothing easily. They make a brilliant stocking filler that kids will actually use.
ASDA Milk Chocolate Sprouts 80g
ASDA’s Milk Chocolate Sprouts are little milk chocolate treats shaped like festive sprouts. Perfect for snacking, sharing, or adding to the Christmas fun. They’re a simple, tasty stocking filler that kids will love.
Disney Kids Red Marvel Spider-Man Watch
Perfect for little superheroes, the Disney Marvel Spider-Man Kids Watch comes with a bright red printed silicone strap featuring Spider-Man designs. Its easy-to-read digital dial and simple buckle fastening make telling the time fun and stress-free. Packaged in official Disney Marvel packaging with a one-year guarantee, it’s a great stocking filler for kids.
Matalan Hot Cocoa Stirrers Pack
Matalan’s Hot Cocoa Stirrers Pack comes with 2 x chocolate stirrers topped with festive treats. Just swirl into hot milk or cocoa to melt for a rich, warming drink. With classic and orange flavours, they make a great stocking filler.
M&S Santa Cosy Slipper Socks in Gift Box
The Santa Cosy Slipper Socks in Gift Box from M&S are perfect for keeping kids’ feet warm this Christmas, with a fun Santa design and stretchy, cosy knit. Non-slip spots on the soles make them safe for running around indoors. Presented in a gift box, they’re ideal as a festive treat or stocking filler.
Disney Princess Jewel Fragrance 50ml
If your child loves to borrow your fragrances, the Disney Princess Jewel Fragrance 50ml is perfect. With a sparkling scent inspired by their favourite princesses and suitable for ages 3+, it’s designed for a gentle spritz on hands and wrists. Packaged beautifully, it makes a lovely gift or stocking filler for little princesses.
Satzuma Robot Spider
This Satzuma Robot Spider is a hands-on kit for kids, letting them build their own walking spider from over 70 pieces in under 30 minutes. No glue or screws are needed – all parts fit together perfectly, and it’s powered by a single AA battery. This DIY gadget helps children develop creativity and encourages early technical thinking.
Disney Frozen My Little Library Book Box
Is your little one obsessed with Frozen? The Disney Frozen My Little Library Book Box is a set for kids containing 10 timeless tales featuring all the favourite characters from Disney’s hit film. Perfect for storytime, it brings the magic of Arendelle to life and encourages a love of reading.
Microsoft Minecraft 1720 Minecoins Digital Download
This Microsoft Minecraft 1720 Minecoins Digital Download gives kids even more ways to play Minecraft. Minecoins can be used to unlock skins, texture packs, maps, and other content created by the Minecraft community. The in-game Marketplace is constantly updated with new adventures and creations, offering endless ways to explore and expand their Minecraft world.
M&S Glitter Light Up Alphabet Hanging Decoration
The M&S Glitter Light Up Alphabet Hanging Decoration is a fun way to add a personalised touch to Christmas for kids. Each glittery letter lights up with integrated LEDs and can be hung on the tree or displayed on a shelf or mantelpiece. Small, festive, and ready to go with included batteries, it makes a perfect stocking filler for little ones this Christmas.
Now you can tick the kids’ stockings off the Christmas to-do list.
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18 Dec, 2025 | Admin | No Comments
Stop hoarding your old knickers — here’s how many pairs of pants you actually need
I once took 14 pairs of knickers on a five day holiday and still felt unprepared.
Stuffed at the back of a draw or scattered across the floor, knickers are an essential in millions of people’s wardrobes.
But how many pairs of pants should we actually own?
My personal collection of pants has never dipped below 30. What if I wake up and they’ve all been stolen? What if I spontaneously visit a water park mid-day and need to locate an emergency pair at a moment’s notice? You simply can never have too many.
Well now, recent guidance has answered the question once and for all. According to lingerie expert, Emma Woodrow, at Pour Moi, you should only be holding onto nine to ten pairs of underwear at any one time.
Shocking, I know.
She states: ‘As a general rule of thumb, only keep enough everyday underwear that you’ll comfortably use in one laundry cycle, plus a few buffers.’
Do it for your vagina
So why is it so important to keep a capsule underwear wardrobe? It turns out, regularly wearing old pants isn’t great for your health, down there.
Dr Sima Al Asad, cosmetic gynecologist, tells Metro that’s while there’s ‘no expiry date’ on knickers, you ought to keep things fresh.
‘Most pairs should be replaced every six to twelve months if they’re worn regularly. But how often they’re worn, how they’re washed, and their overall condition matter more than age alone.’
This will be shocking news to many Brits, given that research from Pour Moi found the average person is typically walking around in pants that are two years and seven months old.
Dr Sima adds: ‘Over time, underwear fibres break down, reducing breathability and the fabric’s ability to wick away moisture.
‘This means older or worn-out knickers can harbour bacteria and yeast, particularly if the elastic has loosened or the fabric has thinned.
‘For people with vulvas, this may increase the risk of irritation, recurrent thrush, bacterial vaginosis, itching or soreness.’
Dr Sima recommends regularly checking for thinning fabric, stretched elastic, lingering odour or stains that don’t wash out: ‘If underwear no longer feels comfortable or hygienic, it’s best to replace it.
‘Small, consistent habits like these can make a meaningful difference to intimate health.’
Dr Susanna Unsworth, women’s health expert, adds to this — noting ‘it’s difficult to put a fixed timeline on this. Comfort, hygiene, and the absence of irritation or infection are better indicators than a specific timescale.’
Follow the one in, one out rule
The underwear and nightwear market in the UK was estimated to be worth over £3 billion in 2023, with this figure expected to jump up to £5.2 million by 2028.
So, it’s fair to say we’re all knicker hoarders, with a mound of forgotten or discarded underwear growing in the corner of our bedrooms.
But with the New Year right around the corner, now might be a good time to embrace what therapists often call the ‘fresh start effect.’
Eloise Skinner, a psychotherapist who specialises in existential therapy, tells Metro: ‘The fresh start effect is a psychological mechanism whereby we feel that certain dates / times of year give us a “new” start, allowing us to undo previous behaviours, habits or routines, and begin again with new intentions and goals.’
‘In terms of our wardrobes, it might be a good time to refresh and organise, especially if we have new goals and ambitions that are related to dressing or feeling a certain way (for example, we might want to get clothes that match new aspects of our identity we’re trying to cultivate).’
But while refreshing our looks, and our underwear draws, might be a good idea, Emma reminds us that a clear out doesn’t mean we should immediately go on a massive shopping spree to ‘try and quickly fill the gaps.’
She adds: ‘Everyday underwear isn’t necessarily meant to be curated. No matter how much you love a certain style or colour of pants, no one needs to have dozens of pairs.’
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18 Dec, 2025 | Admin | No Comments
Canadian living in UK points out 1 big problem with dating British men
A Canadian woman has noticed a pattern after dating British men – and she now wants to know whether it’s considered a ‘dating norm’ in the UK or whether it’s just among the men she’s met
18 Dec, 2025 | Admin | No Comments
Why you wake up not knowing where you are — even when you’re at home
It’s not uncommon to experience less-than-ideal sleep. In fact, according to 2024 statistics from the Sleep Charity, 90% of Brits report having problems, while more than 14 million are living with undiagnosed sleep disorders.
Worse still, the average length of time that people experience sleep issues before they seek any help for them? Six long years. That means 72 months, 313 weeks, or 2190 days of jolting awake, not being able to rest on account of a racing memory, and the dreaded eye bags.
Something else that seems to be a regular occurrence for many is waking up not knowing where you are – despite the fact you’re tucked up in bed at home.
Over on the r/sleep Subreddit, one post described this odd, confused sensation as a ‘total loss in sense of direction.’ And for them, this sticks around for a while after they’re up, leading them to ‘forget which room’ they’re in, which they say can get ‘pretty irritating.’
If that sounds a lot like your experience, try not to worry.
As Dr Zoe Gotts, a consultant clinical psychologist at the London Sleep Centre tells Metro, waking up and briefly not knowing where you are can feel unsettling, but it’s ‘usually harmless.’
‘This tends to happen during a state known as sleep inertia, the groggy transition period between sleep and full wakefulness,’ she explains.
‘When we wake from deeper stages of sleep or vivid dreaming, the brain can take a short while to re-orient itself, meaning memory, context and spatial awareness don’t immediately line up.’
Sleep consultant at The Sleep Works, Maryanne Taylor, adds that this feeling of confusion can happen as the brain ‘wakes in stages.’
She says: ‘Basic awareness switches on first, but the areas responsible for orientation, memory and context take a bit longer. For a few seconds, you’re conscious but not fully oriented to your environment.’
There are certain things that make it more likely for you to wake up slightly discombobulated though – including poor or fragmented sleep, stress, anxiety, alcohol, or illness, as well as waking up abruptly to an alarm.
These can all work together to make it increasingly difficult for you to piece the puzzle of your location together, leaving you in that panicked, disorientated state.
Zoe explains: ‘When the nervous system is already under strain, the brain can struggle to “switch gears” quickly, leading to those few disorientating moments before everything clicks back into place.’
Plus, it’s more likely to happen when you’re staying away from home, as unfamiliar surroundings aren’t able to provide the brain with the same cues that usually help it reorient itself.
That said, it can still occur in your humble abode, particularly if your routines have recently changed, if your sleep quality has deteriorated, or even if you’re just waking from an intensely emotional dream.
‘Even something as simple as waking in the dark or at an unusual time can momentarily throw off our sense of place,’ Zoe adds.
In most cases, she says this ‘isn’t a cause for concern’, so just try to get your bearings and go about your day.
However, ‘if episodes are frequent, prolonged, or accompanied by other symptoms such as memory problems or daytime confusion, it would be sensible to speak with a healthcare professional to rule out underlying sleep or health issues.’
What are the long-term effects of insomnia?
Some of the more immediate physical symptoms insomniacs may notice are things such as muscle tension, eye strain and sensitivity to pain.
And while these may sound relatively straightforward, symptoms like these can have a big impact.
As Dr Hare previously told Metro, ‘insomnia is associated with an increased risk of workplace-related errors and accidents leading to injuries and disability.’
It’s also associated with ‘a 45% increased risk of developing and/or dying from cardiovascular disease, an increased risk of hypertension; diabetes; heart failure and an increased risk of metabolic syndrome’.
Other studies have also shown that prolonged sleep issues can lead to neurological disorders such as ‘parasomnias and sleep-related psychiatric disorders.’
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Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.
17 Dec, 2025 | Admin | No Comments
Katy Perry’s fresh start with new beau Justin Trudeau overshadowed by popstar’s legal drama
Katy Perry and ex-partner Orlando Bloom are still entangled in a legal battle over their Montecito mansion, with former owner Carl Westcott trying to reclaim $1.2m from the pop star
His Majesty King Charles III’s team at Dumfries House has shared a clever way to elevate your napkins this Christmas – and I’ve tried it out already
17 Dec, 2025 | Admin | No Comments
Princess Charlotte’s ‘charmingly coordinated’ moment with mum Princess Kate at family lunch
Princess Charlotte coordinated her hair accessory with her mother, the Princess of Wales, as the royals joined Prince William, Prince George, and Prince Louis at King Charles’ pre-Christmas lunch at Buckingham Palace on 16 December.
17 Dec, 2025 | Admin | No Comments
Queen Letizia’s silky twist is the best way to style a double-breasted suit in your 50s
Queen Letizia’s silky violet blouse from her meeting on Tuesday, 16 December is the best twist on a double-breasted suit, and the best way to style it in your 50s.
17 Dec, 2025 | Admin | No Comments
Looking for trousers that work for office and weekends? Tala has nailed it
Metro journalists select and curate the products that feature on our site. If you make a purchase via links on this page we will earn commission – learn more
I love nothing more than wearing comfortable clothing, I mean, who doesn’t? But we can’t always wear tracksuit sets everywhere we go, such as the office.
So, I am constantly on the lookout for smart tailoring that delivers on comfort too, and I think I have found the perfect wardrobe staple that fits every brief – Tala’s Drawstring Wide Leg Trousers.
Although Tala – the fashion brainchild of Grace Beverly – is often considered the shopping destination for loungewear and activewear, it stocks a whole host of other fashionable pieces too.
One item I have worn on rotation for several weeks now are the Drawstring Wide Leg Trousers.
These trousers offer a wide leg and slouchy fit, but can also be worn high rise, as well as mid or low rise too.
Tala Drawstring Wide Leg Trousers
Crafted from recycled polyester, viscose and elastane, these wide leg trousers are ultra comfortable, versatile and flattering. They boast a wide leg, drawstring waistband and side pockets. Available in XS to XL sizes, as well as 30 and 33 inch leg length.
What I love most about these trousers, especially as a tall girl, is the leg length options. I often struggle to find wide leg trousers that don’t sit above my ankles, and styles I can wear with trainers, boots and heels, and still have enough length in the leg.
Tala has heard our cries for this exact coverage, as these trousers are available in 30 and 33-inch leg lengths. The 30 inch leg will suit most shoppers, but if, like me, you want extra length, the 33-inch leg is a gamechanger.
The trousers also feature a drawstring waistband that you can cinch in, or let out for your comfort, as well as side pockets.
The fabric is a blend of recycled polyester, viscose and elastane, which is not only an eco-friendly option, but is ultra comfortable against the skin.
I have paired these trousers with trainers and a chunky roll neck jumper, I have teamed with a crisp shirt and heeled boots for more formal events, as well as a satin lace camy top and heels. It really is a versatile staple.
Tala’s Drawstring Wide Leg Trousers are available in five colours, including Americano brown, which I am very into as a soft alternative to black and monochrome colour palettes. But this design also comes in navy stripe, charcoal grey stripe, midnight navy and mocha brown stripe.
The trousers are all available in sizes extra small to extra large, as well as the two leg lengths.
For £69, we think Tala’s trousers are a worthy investment you will certainly get your cost per wear out of – I certainly have!
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17 Dec, 2025 | Admin | No Comments
‘Fire penis’ is the painful sex symptom killing the spark in the bedroom
From STIs to four-hour erections, having a penis can be a risky business.
And one young man has revealed he’s been struggling with a problem that’s getting him hot in the bedroom — and not in a good way.
It’s a phenomenon Metro is dubbing ‘fire penis’, in other words, his member is getting uncomfortably warm during sex.
‘My penis gets too hot when doing vaginal sex only,’ Jack* says. ‘[I have] the same setup (water-based lube on penis’s head under silicon condom) during anal sex, which makes me feel heat but not uncomfortably so.
‘It’s specifically vaginal sex that causes a feeling so unpleasant I can’t finish. Needless to say that oral sex causes no problems.’
Writing on Reddit he explains that it’s not the rest of his body that gets hot, specifically just his erect penis.
While it may seem niche, it’s affecting Jack’s sex life — and it’s not just a him problem.
While there’s no medically recognised ‘fire penis’, Dr Babak Ashrafi tells Metro that unusual sensations during sex, including experience a too-toasty penis, are far more common than many men realise.
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However, Dr Ashrafi, for Superdrug Online Doctor, adds: ‘As the body is very good at regulating temperature a penis can’t literally overheat.
‘What people are usually describing is a sensation of heat rather than an actual dangerous rise in temperature.’
Why your penis might feel hot during sex
Sexual arousal causes a significant increase in blood flow to the penis.
‘That blood is warm,’ Dr Ashrafi says. ‘Combined with close skin contact and friction, this can create the feeling of warmth.
‘If there’s dryness or irritation, the nerves in the penis can become overstimulated and produce a burning or hot feeling, even though the skin temperature itself is normal.’
The long and short of it is sex should feel pleasurable, not painful.
‘Mild warmth during sex is normal, but intense or unpleasant heat that disrupts enjoyment or prevents orgasm isn’t something to brush off,’ Dr Ashrafi says. ‘If it happens regularly, it’s worth paying attention to.’
‘Possible causes include fungal or bacterial infections, sexually transmitted infections, urethral inflammation, or skin conditions such as dermatitis,’ the doctor explains.
‘Anxiety can also amplify physical sensations and make them feel more intense.’
Your hot penis could be an allergic reaction
Doctor Jeff Foster, medical director of Manual and specialist in erectile dysfunction, points out that in Jack’s Reddit post, he mentions using lube inside his condom — a big no.
‘He may be getting a local allergy reaction to the lubrication or it could be reacting with the inside of the condom,’ Dr Foster explains. ‘They aren’t designed for this.
‘Stop using lube on the inside of the condom for a start, change the brand and look at whether the condom itself is causing local irritation or an inflammatory reaction.’
Sexual health nurse for Lovehoney, Sarah Mulindwa, agrees, telling Metro that Jack’s incorrect use of a condom could be the ticket.
‘Using lubricant inside a condom can trap heat, increase sensitivity, and cause discomfort,’ she says. ‘It also increases the risk of condom failure, which can lead to unintended pregnancy or STI transmission.’
How can you stop your penis getting hot during sex?
While there isn’t any recognised treatment path for this, the sexual health nurse suggests some things you can do to ease discomfort.
‘Using plenty of lube (as long as it isn’t oil based) on the outside of the condom, as well as choosing thinner condoms could help,’ Sarah explains.
‘Slowing down the pace of sex, taking breaks and avoiding irritating products could also be beneficial.’
You could also get tested for latex sensitivity, which could be playing a factor, and switch condom brands, she adds.
If all else fails, take yourself to a sexual health clinic or GP and get a comprehensive sexual health check.
Do you have a story to share?
Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.