Christmas

[Beate]

Well, even though OH is there when I b*y his presents, he forgets quite quickly what it was so I wrap them all for him. And I wrapped the presents he is giving me (chosen by me of course) so he has a surprise about that as well, LOL.

[Ms Thrifty]

I think you two have the right idea, Beate and McG! And it was actually my OH I had in mind re the insistence on wrapping. Still, I have cheated somewhat by wrapping two of his presents in one parcel (I have warned him) and by doing everything with my free sheets of paper from Time Out, thereby satisfying my instincts for efficiency and thrift. I do choose my own presents, too, but they are always things which last all year but can't be wrapped, such as theatre memberships and magazine subscriptions.

[ejwrank]

This year son David b*ght most all of his presents although I financed them so I'll wrap them and he will feign enormous surprise -- "It's exactly what I wanted." Daughter chose a few of hers which are quite small so I'll put them in a large box to 'surprise' her. I am really mean when it comes to paper, etc and keep as much wrapping paper, name tags and ribbons from years gone by and reuse it all (especially handy for small stocking presents). I remember my mother-in-law using 1940s wrapping paper one year which I saved and still have -- too precious now to keep on using. I once told someone about my paper/name tag/ribbon reuse and they were appalled but feel I can share such things on this site!

[biggins]

This year son David b*ght most all of his presents although I financed them so I'll wrap them and he will feign enormous surprise -- "It's exactly what I wanted." Daughter chose a few of hers which are quite small so I'll put them in a large box to 'surprise' her. I am really mean when it comes to paper, etc and keep as much wrapping paper, name tags and ribbons from years gone by and reuse it all (especially handy for small stocking presents). I remember my mother-in-law using 1940s wrapping paper one year which I saved and still have -- too precious now to keep on using. I once told someone about my paper/name tag/ribbon reuse and they were appalled but feel I can share such things on this site!

Thought I was the only mean one! I keep all the wrapping paper from big presents and cut it down to use for smaller gifts the next year. I have bows and ribbons that have been reused several times and of course all the Xmas bottle bags get reused too. Then early January I b*y all my Xmas cards in the sales.

[Beate]

This year son David b*ght most all of his presents although I financed them so I'll wrap them and he will feign enormous surprise -- "It's exactly what I wanted." Daughter chose a few of hers which are quite small so I'll put them in a large box to 'surprise' her. I am really mean when it comes to paper, etc and keep as much wrapping paper, name tags and ribbons from years gone by and reuse it all (especially handy for small stocking presents). I remember my mother-in-law using 1940s wrapping paper one year which I saved and still have -- too precious now to keep on using. I once told someone about my paper/name tag/ribbon reuse and they were appalled but feel I can share such things on this site!

Thought I was the only mean one! I keep all the wrapping paper from big presents and cut it down to use for smaller gifts the next year. I have bows and ribbons that have been reused several times and of course all the Xmas bottle bags get reused too. Then early January I b*y all my Xmas cards in the sales.

Doesn't everyone do that?

[ejwrank]

No Beate -- some people don't! I keep seeing people carrying dozens of rolls of wrapping paper and wondering why?

[Diane65]

This year son David b*ght most all of his presents although I financed them so I'll wrap them and he will feign enormous surprise -- "It's exactly what I wanted." Daughter chose a few of hers which are quite small so I'll put them in a large box to 'surprise' her. I am really mean when it comes to paper, etc and keep as much wrapping paper, name tags and ribbons from years gone by and reuse it all (especially handy for small stocking presents). I remember my mother-in-law using 1940s wrapping paper one year which I saved and still have -- too precious now to keep on using. I once told someone about my paper/name tag/ribbon reuse and they were appalled but feel I can share such things on this site!

Thought I was the only mean one! I keep all the wrapping paper from big presents and cut it down to use for smaller gifts the next year. I have bows and ribbons that have been reused several times and of course all the Xmas bottle bags get reused too. Then early January I b*y all my Xmas cards in the sales.

Doesn't everyone do that?

I think its brilliant recycling. I use the decorations from the Christmas Crackers from the previous year to decorate this years pressies, last year my Christmas Crackers had bells on them hence everyone has a bell on their present plus I b*y the picks in the sales and pull them apart so this year they also have a Christmas snowball to go with the bell. I also use Christmas biscuit tins to store decorations as it also has memories from the year that they were b*ght.

[Beate]

LOL, my Mum told me/complained (tick as appropriate) that I had sent her the same Christmas card this year as the year before. Well, yeah. They were on a special 3 for 2 offer a few years back. I don't send that many a year so it's logical they get repeated the next year, isn't it?

[Ms Thrifty]

I don't send cards at all and haven't for years, but I'm with everyone here on other recycling, e.g. cutting down cards to make gift tags. Anyone ripping open the wrapping on a present makes me wince - I want to seize it from them and demonstrate how, carefully, to unpeel the sticky tape and fold the paper neatly - before looking at the present!

[asamaic]

I don't do cards, much to my family's disgust. I don't see the point, not that I send anyone cards, but aren't they for people you never ever see anymore? I talk to my family all the time!

I'll recycle gift boxes etc, but you can only recycle paper if it it's not the el cheapo stuff that is thin and rips. If anyone gave me stuff wrapped in posh paper, I guess I could/would, but it hasn't happened yet!

PS Being frugal is something to be proud of, ejwrank. It means you have more money for the stuff that actually matters.