Who ELSE remembers...RECYCLED GIFT WRAP?!?!?!?!

**MRAHoffman** · 01-03-2009, 09:56 AM

While picking up wrapping paper from my son's birthday, it JUST dawned on me how my mother and grandmother would want us to open up our Christmas/Birthday gifts EVER so carefully (the parents usually did it with a knife) so that after the holiday my mother (when I got older, I remember doing it), grandmother would iron and re-roll it for the next holiday...HMMMM, not JUST reminiscing, but thinking how this is not only frugal, but environmentally friendly. Take care and God bless.

**Momto2Boyz** · 01-03-2009, 10:09 AM

I remember that too! My grandmother was crazy about that! We could never just rip open our gifts when she was around! My IL's do it too, but they use gift bags. I think we've been passing the same gift bags back and forth since DH and I have been together, I don't think anyone has bought any new ones!

**emily_hope** · 01-03-2009, 10:11 AM

We don't save the wrapping but we do save the bags. I well remember my Ex hubby's Grandfather using a knife to slit the tape on his packages so as not to tear the paper. Took him forever to get packages open. But, honestly, I think they saved the paper but never actually reused any of it LOL!

**nvmommyx6** · 01-03-2009, 10:27 AM

I remember, my sis always hated it as she loved tearing open her gifts, I on the other hand loved doing it slow and careful LOL
So it worked out, at least on my gifts!!
I still do it, and I also use bags and home made tags so I can reuse the bags over and over, I still have some bags I got from my 12 year olds baby shower LMAO
now if I knew anyone who was having a baby, those would come in handy!!!

**Monner 1** · 01-03-2009, 10:28 AM

I save gift bags and tissue paper. If the tissue paper is a little wrinkled I will iron it out. I always reuse the tissue paper from Christopher Banks store and their shopping bags I use for anything and everything. I am a product of older parents that grew up in the depression era so I guess that stuff rubs off without even knowing it. Frugal is as frugal does.

Monner

**PrairieRose** · 01-03-2009, 11:00 AM

My first Christmas with my dh was funny. We were all sitting in a semi circle in dining room chairs, everyone's gifts were handed out and when I saw the first person start to open their gifts (now remember I was very young) I tore into mine. I was admiring my gift and noticed how quiet it was around me and looked up. The whole family were staring at me like

I said "what?" Finally after a minute, when everyone could breathe his sister said 'mom always saves the wrapping paper to re-use'. I said 'oh, sorry'......Had never ever seen that done before. I was much more careful the next year.....lol.

**Jeanna** · 01-03-2009, 11:38 AM

I save bags, tissue paper, even bows. I have to admit when I am picking up wrapping paper if there is any that hasn't been torn to shreds I will still pick it up and fold it neatly and save it. I guess things just stick with you.

**StartingOver** · 01-03-2009, 11:45 AM

I also remember my mom doing this, I used to think she was weird for doing that.

I can't even remember the last time receiving a wrapped gift, it seems like everything we receive is in gift bags....I must have 3 totes full of gift bags. Maybe at my next garage sale, I'll try selling them.

**xtena** · 01-03-2009, 11:45 AM

Originally Posted by Momto2Boyz

I remember that too! My grandmother was crazy about that! We could never just rip open our gifts when she was around! My IL's do it too, but they use gift bags. I think we've been passing the same gift bags back and forth since DH and I have been together, I don't think anyone has bought any new ones!

We never did the gift wrap recycle thing. Being a frugal convert, I would if I could but nowadays the wrap is so darn thin it is almost impossible to open a gift without ripping the paper around the tape. So we use the same bags and decorated boxes and bows from year to year and only occasionally have to pick up new ones. I do kind of miss the yards and yards of curling ribbon, my favorite part of gift wrapping as a kid was getting out a pair of scissors and curling as much ribbon as I could.

**homesteadmamma** · 01-03-2009, 11:53 AM

I save everything, bows, ribbon, wrapping paper, Christmas bags. When one of our sons was here for Christmas, he remembered always having to be careful about the wrapping paper. He asked me how it got started. I told him, way back when. My mother and grandmother always did it.

**frugalfriend** · 01-03-2009, 11:57 AM

I've never tried this but heard you can put crumpled bows in the dryer and they are usable again.

**angelbumpkin** · 01-03-2009, 12:14 PM

I recycle gift bags,boxes and tissue paper. We I do buy gift wrap I only buy solid colors so they can be used for any occasion.

**acidcookie** · 01-03-2009, 12:29 PM

We did this and I still try to open mine carefully so I can save the wrap!

**iida** · 01-03-2009, 01:40 PM

I save bags and bows. I try to use my imagination while packing presents. Sometimes I use decorated cardboard boxes or nice tins from fleemarkets. I also have some cloth bags for Christmas.

**spyzvixxen** · 01-03-2009, 01:43 PM

I save bags and boxes. I have memories of my grandparents saving bows and as a child I always thought that was dumb but I actually mentioned it to my mom the other day and she laughed at me saying I could just get them on clearance for .10 a bag.