How do you save money on gift wrap, tape, decorations, etc? Is there anything you recycle (bows, wrapping paper, etc)?

I always recycle gift bags and tissue!

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Sometimes I’d like to ask God why He allows poverty, famine and injustice in the world when He could do something about it. But I’m afraid God would ask me the same question.

Use brown paper bags to wrap and personalize with rubber stamps and raffia.

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I recycle gift bags as well.

One thing we do that is probably weird to other people is instead of using gift tags on a gift, we write who it is for in permanent marker on the wrapping paper. You don't have to buy gift tags or stickers. It's kind of silly I'm not sure how that started. You just tell who it is from by the handwriting usually, but now that I'm married I write who it is from for extended family.

Another idea is to use those extra wrapping paper pieces to make a little gift tag. I also have a set of gift tag stamps that I use on cardstock scraps in case I think people will laugh at my permanent marker.

As for inexpensive decorations, a paper chain to countdown to christmas hardly costs anything and is fun to make with your kids.

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It's not what you make; it's what you spend.

[quote=swishina;833879

Another idea is to use those extra wrapping paper pieces to make a little gift tag. I also have a set of gift tag stamps that I use on cardstock scraps in case I think people will laugh at my permanent marker.

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I do that also with the extra gift wrap ends that can't be used to wrap a present.

I usually just buy it on sale right after Christmas when it is cheap, cheap!

I buy wrapping paper when its on clearance after Christmas, last year I bought 6 rolls at 80% off at TRU, it was 49 cents a roll and its the huge rolls, it will be more than enough for all the gifts this year.

I also reuse gift bags and tissue.

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I've read about and used the following ideas to save money:
1. Use the Sunday comics to wrap presents
2. Use your child's art work
3. Save the nice take out bags and decorate them and reuse as gift bags.
4. Save tissue paper from packages you have received and use those to fill gift bags.
5. Buy the $1 reusable shopping bags and use those
6. Make your own reusable gift bags using clearance fabric
7. Reuse greeting cards by cutting them into gift tags.

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that's a great idea. a gift and a gift bag in one!

Gift bags are reused - I try not to buy xmas gift bags, unless there is an oddly shaped gift I need it for, but I reuse the ones I receive.

I do not use gift tags either - I save xmas cards from the previous years, cut off the front,and tape those to the front of the gifts. That way I can pick out a card front that seems appropriate for the recipient, and I just write to/from on it. If the gift is too small for that, I'll make a little tag out of wrapping paper.

I no longer use ribbon/stick on bows or any of that (although I used to reuse them). I now buy a bolt of ribbon that looks like toulle - very soft and airy - I tend to buy it in white, silver, red. This stuff is so easy - you just cut off a length, and tie a bow. It is soft & fluffy. You can stack gifts. You just pull it like you are untying a shoe and the bow opens up - and you can grab that length of toulle ribbon and reuse year after year after year.

I bought a ton of gift wrap on clearance some years back so I've still been working through that, but now I only buy christmas wrap in solid red, green, gold or silver. It's easier to match card fronts if I do not use a busy pattern on the paper. Also, the red and green can be used all year long for birthday gifts as well.

Hope that helps!

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