Christmas is a wonderful time of year. We get to eat good food, see our families, and exchange gifts. But let us be honest for a moment. It is also very expensive. We spend weeks searching for the perfect present. We spend a lot of money on it. Then, we go to the shop and spend even more money on paper to cover it up.
On Christmas morning, that paper is torn off in three seconds flat. It ends up in a big pile on the floor. Then it goes straight into the bin. It feels a bit like throwing money away, doesn’t it? That is because it is.
The good news is that you do not need to spend a fortune on fancy wrapping paper. In fact, some of the most beautiful gifts are wrapped in things you can find around your house for free. You can save your hard-earned cash for the actual gifts or maybe an extra mince pie.
Here are some clever and frugal ways to wrap your presents this year. They look great, they save money, and they are fun to do.
The Magic of Brown Paper
You might think brown paper is boring. It looks like a parcel you might get in the post. But brown paper is actually a secret weapon for wrapping gifts. It is much cheaper than the colourful rolls you buy at the supermarket. You can buy a huge roll of it for very little money.
The best thing about brown paper is that it is a blank canvas. You can leave it plain for a classic look. If you tie some red or green string around it, it looks very traditional and smart. It looks like something from an old Christmas film.
If you want to make it more exciting, you can decorate it yourself. This is a great activity if you have children. Get some potatoes and cut them in half. Carve a simple shape into the flat side, like a star or a tree. Dip the potato in paint and stamp it onto the brown paper. Now you have your own custom wrapping paper.
You can also use markers to draw on the paper. You could write the person’s name all over it in big letters. You could draw snowflakes. It adds a personal touch that shop-bought paper just does not have.
Read All About It
Do you have a stack of old newspapers or magazines sitting in your recycling bin? Do not throw them out just yet. They make excellent wrapping paper.
Using newspaper gives your gifts a cool, retro style. It is interesting to look at. If you are wrapping a gift for a child, try to find the comic strip pages. They are colourful and fun. If you are wrapping a gift for someone who likes puzzles, use the crossword page. They might even try to solve a clue before they open the box.
Magazines work well too. Fashion magazines often have beautiful photos and colours. You can tear out pages and stick them together to make a sheet big enough for your gift. It is glossy and bright, and it costs you absolutely nothing.
The Fabric Method
There is a Japanese method of wrapping gifts called Furoshiki. It sounds very fancy, but it is actually very simple. It means using cloth to wrap things instead of paper.
This is a great idea for two reasons. First, it looks beautiful. Second, the wrapping becomes part of the gift. The person can use the cloth again.
You can use anything you have. Do you have an old scarf that you do not wear anymore? Wrap a box in it. Do you have a nice tea towel? Wrap a cookbook in it. You can even cut up old shirts or sheets if the pattern is nice.
You do not need tape for this. You just need to learn a simple knot. Put the gift in the middle of the cloth. Pull the corners up and tie them together. It is soft and unique. Plus, there is no crinkling paper sound, so it is great if you want to be quiet while sneaking gifts under the tree.
Repurpose Old Maps and Music
In the age of phones and GPS, not many of us use paper maps anymore. You might have an old road atlas gathering dust in the garage. Or maybe you have some old tourist maps from a holiday you took ten years ago.
These make fantastic wrapping paper. The lines and colours on a map look very interesting. It is perfect for wrapping a gift for someone who loves to travel.
The same goes for sheet music. If you have old piano books that are falling apart, use the pages. The black notes on white paper look very elegant. It is perfect for a small, thoughtful gift. Add a red ribbon, and it looks incredibly posh.
Use What Is Already in the House
Have you ever finished a packet of crisps and looked at the inside of the bag? It is shiny and silver. If you wash it out and dry it properly, it looks just like silver foil wrapping paper.
Turn the bag inside out. Put a small gift inside. Tie the top with a bit of ribbon. It is a shiny, crinkly gift bag that cost you nothing. Just make sure you wash it very well so it does not smell like cheese and onion.
You can also use cereal boxes. If you have an awkwardly shaped gift, it can be hard to wrap. Put it inside an empty cereal box first. Then wrap the box. It makes it much easier to handle.
Make Your Own Tags
Gift tags are another thing we spend money on. We buy a pack of sticky labels, use them once, and lose the rest. Or we buy card tags that cost a pound each.
This year, make your own tags from last year’s Christmas cards. Most of us keep cards we received. We feel bad throwing them away. But then they just sit in a drawer.
Take your old cards and a pair of scissors. Cut out the nice pictures on the front. You might cut out a picture of a robin, a snowman, or a Christmas tree. Punch a small hole in the corner. Thread a piece of string or wool through it.
Write the person’s name on the back. Now you have a free gift tag. It recycles old card and saves you buying new ones. It is a great way to enjoy those nice pictures for one more year.
Decorate with Nature
Plastic bows and ribbons are bad for the planet. They are also surprisingly expensive for bits of plastic. Instead of buying bows, look outside. Nature provides free decorations that look beautiful.
Go for a walk in the park or your garden. Look for things you can tie onto your gifts. A pinecone looks lovely tied to a brown paper package. A small sprig of holly with red berries looks very festive. A fern leaf looks green and fresh.
You can also use things from your kitchen. Slice up an orange and dry the slices in the oven on a low heat. They turn into hard, dark orange circles that smell amazing. Thread a piece of string through a slice and tie it to your gift. It adds a pop of colour and a lovely Christmas scent. Cinnamon sticks work well too. Tie a bundle of them together for a rustic look.
Jars and Tins
Sometimes, you do not need paper at all. If you have made cookies or sweets for someone, putting them in a cardboard box can be messy.
Instead, look for glass jars or metal tins. You might have an empty jam jar. Wash it out and soak the label off. Polish the glass until it shines. Fill it with your homemade treats. Put a circle of fabric over the lid and tie it with a rubber band or string.
You can also use old biscuit tins. If the tin looks a bit scratched, you can paint it. Or you can leave it as it is for a vintage look. A tin is a useful gift on its own because the person can use it for storage afterwards.
Clever Gift Bags
Gift bags are very convenient. You just drop the gift in and you are done. But they can cost three or four pounds each. That adds up quickly if you have a big family.
Never throw away a gift bag you receive. Fold it flat and keep it. You can use it again next year. If the tag has someone else’s name on it, just stick a new tag over the top.
You can also make gift bags out of plain paper bags. If you get a paper bag when you buy clothes or groceries, keep it. You can decorate it with stamps or drawings, just like the brown paper. Fold the top over and punch holes for handles. It is sturdy and free.
Why Frugal Wrapping is Better
Wrapping your gifts in these ways is not just about saving money. It is also about being creative. It shows the person that you put time and thought into their gift.
A gift wrapped in newspaper with a dried orange slice looks interesting. It stands out under the tree. It looks different from the shiny, generic paper everyone else uses.
It is also much better for the environment. Most shiny wrapping paper cannot be recycled because it has plastic in it. Brown paper, newspaper, and old maps can all be recycled. Fabric can be reused. You are doing a good thing for the planet while saving your pennies.
So this Christmas, skip the aisle with the expensive paper and plastic bows. Look around your home. Look in your recycling bin. Look in your garden. You will find everything you need to make your gifts look beautiful without spending a penny. Your wallet will thank you, and your gifts will look fantastic.
