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Gift Wrapping Costs

December 17th, 2009 at 05:20 pm

This year my out of pocket costs for gift wrapping were near zero! Technically, I bought many of the items in the past, so they cost me something at some point.

I wrapped most items in wrapping paper, which I already owned. I save bows from previous years, if they still look good, and reuse them. This year was no different. I also seemed to have a stash of gift tags. I've decided for future years not to buy gift tags, but use red or green card stock to make a small folded card(the size of a business card) to tape on the gift.

I also wrapped many gifts in gift bags! I skip the tissue paper in most cases and close the top of the bag with tape to keep out little hands and eyes! The gift bags get used over and over, too. I have an abundance of these this year and will give my mom a stack so she doesn't go out and buy new ones.

The only thing I bought for gift wrapping was tape...on sale of course. This is a good item to buy with Walgreen's register rewards if you don't know what to purchase.

How do you keep your gift wrapping costs down?

Posted in Spending, Family | 7 Comments »

7 Responses to “Gift Wrapping Costs”

  1. ceejay74 Says:
    December 17th, 2009 at 05:36 pm 1261071408
    1261071408

    So far this year, we haven't had to spend anything! We had rolls of paper left over from last year, and we've got gift bags if the paper runs out. Not bothering with ribbons this year. For tags, I've been just cutting squares out of wrapping-paper scraps and writing on the white side of those, then taping them to the package. And we had plenty of tape and scissors, so didn't have to stock up on those items either.

    Next year we'll probably need to figure something out because we'll have used up the paper this year, and since we try to approach problems from an environmentally sustainable POV now, I imagine we'll either buy recycled paper, switch entirely to bags like Ima Saver, or experiment with cloth wrapping.

  2. Ima saver Says:
    December 17th, 2009 at 05:37 pm 1261071444
    1261071444

    I bought a bunch of gift baags and tissue from QVC about 3 years ago for $25. I reuse them over and over again each year. (My dh and I only gift to each other which helps) (No other family)

  3. creditcardfree Says:
    December 17th, 2009 at 05:56 pm 1261072584
    1261072584

    Gift bags and cloth are much more environmentally friendly. I think I still have enough gift wrap for NEXT year. I bought it all on sale at Walgreen's last year. Good stuff!

  4. historychick Says:
    December 17th, 2009 at 06:58 pm 1261076302
    1261076302

    I'm totally not above using last year's boxes, recent comic pages from the paper and inside out paper bags. Everyone I know is either eco friendly 'budgety' or both so it works out!

  5. monkeymama Says:
    December 17th, 2009 at 07:43 pm 1261079026
    1261079026

    We wrap with newspaper and reuse gift bags. (Or wrap in white paper and kids decorate). Since everyone buys nice gift bags, we always save them for the following year - to regift. When I buy wrapping paper, I buy it at the dollar store. But, it's been years.

    I generally don't invest in cards and gift wrap - just seems like a waste - I don't care what anyone else thinks. Big Grin

  6. disneysteve Says:
    December 17th, 2009 at 08:37 pm 1261082252
    1261082252

    We have been reusing gift wrapping supplies for years. What we did years ago was accumulated some good boxes of various sizes and gift-wrapped the lids. Then we just put stuff in the box and put the lid back on. Opening the gift doesn't require messing up the wrapping - you just have to open the box.

    We also save all gift bags that we get. In fact, I don't think we've ever actually purchased a gift bag. We just keep reusing and recycling them.

  7. campfrugal Says:
    December 18th, 2009 at 01:39 pm 1261143582
    1261143582

    The only item I bought this year was tape, on sale. I re-use gift bags and I buy wrapping paper after Christmas, when it is half off.

    I have kept all of my old Christmas cards from the past and I cut around the different pictures and use those for my tags. I also get asked, where did you buy such cute tags, and I have to say "I didn't, I recycled."

    My motto is reuse, recycle, reduce and go green, in cash and the environment.

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