I love to spend time browsing through thrift stores. You never know what you'll find. My most recent trip landed some shoe box finds.
I love to include either a stuffed animal or doll in a shoe box. Something to cuddle and love. Dolls can be pricey and need to be small enough to fit into a box. I came across these three:
Teddy bear - 25 cents, larger doll - 50 cents, curly haired doll - $1.Other toys I discovered: skipping ropes - 85 cents and a larger car with opening doors - $1.30
These toys were all in "like new" condition, or I wouldn't have bought them. If you look carefully enough you can find all sorts of items in great condition. Perfect for shoe boxes.