With only a few days left until the big day, you’re probably trying to get all of your holiday items wrapped up and ready to go. With such a tight budget during this time of the year, you may wonder how you can cut down on the price of wrapping your gifts. Wrapping supplies can add up in price, which will certainly leave you regretting some of the larger items you bought this year. Luckily, there’s a few things you can do to save big time when it comes to getting the gifts wrapped up and under the tree. These ten tips won’t just give you a frugal way to keep your wrapping paper expenditures down, but it will also help you get creative with your gift wrapping.
1. Recycling
Using recycled goods as wrapping supplies is a time honored tradition that’s not only good for your wallet, but can help save the planet too. When it comes to wrapping with recycled goods, the sky is truly the limit. If you’re looking for a classic wrapping paper, then you might want to stick to newspaper or comic strips. This will bring a lot of fun to the gift while also allowing you to get rid of some of the papers that have been stacked at the door for months on end. If you have a lot of brown bags around the house then these are equally good and offer a better way to conceal the gift, thanks to the thick paper. Simply cut the bag and let it work its magic. You can always draw designs on the bag too, which is sure to help you feel festive. If you love to be creative with your wrapping paper, then you can also use generic wrapping paper that has been left over from birthdays or other occasions. Simply use the blank side and then let your imagination run free with your favorite markers. Magazines, old maps and sheet music are also great for wrapping paper, especially if you plan on throwing them away anyway. Last but not least, you can turn food containers into helpful boxes. For instance, oatmeal containers are great for wrapping awkwardly shaped items and cereal boxes can easily be transformed into a box for clothing items.
2. DIY Embellishment
If you like using cheaper wrapping paper, but still want your present to stand out then a DIY embellishment is one of the best ways to go. You can get really creative here too, without having to worry about spending too much of your budget. For starters, one of the best embellishments is a homemade paper snowflake. This only takes one piece of paper per snowflake and you can pretty much enlist the entire family in helping out. Another excellent option is a sweet and delicate doily, which can be purchased for next to nothing at most thrift stores. You can keep things natural too, if you want to celebrate the season. For instance, you might want to see if there are any spare leaves, twigs or pinecones outside. The twigs and pinecones can easily be applied to add a touch of natural beauty. Leaves are great too, but will need to be sealed before they end up crumbling everywhere. You can easily use modge podge to glue it to the wrapping paper to create a stunning effect.
3. Cheap Baskets
Gift baskets are becoming increasingly popular, which is why it may be wise to begin shopping for baskets at places like the dollar store. If you can find a store where everything is a dollar then you’ll be doing a world of good. These baskets can easily be decorated with colored plastic wrap too, which will create a wonderful holiday surprise. Of course, these basics usually only cater to smaller gift baskets, so if you’re looking for something aimed for a sports fan or even a wine and cheese basket then you might have to broaden your horizons. Sometimes, hobby stores will have really nice baskets on sale, which should help you save a pretty penny. Also, thrift stores are always a great option to check out. Baskets don’t just have to be for gift baskets though. You can also use them for gifts that are awkwardly shaped. This will help conceal what the gift is, so the recipient will never guess.
4. Scrap Fabric
Bringing elegance to your gifts is easy to do when it comes to fabric. If you tend to sew often and have a lot of scrap fabric, then this tip is for you. Large amounts of fabric can be used just as wrapping paper and will create a sophisticated look that your loved one’s will marvel over. Of course, it may seem tough to wrap with fabric, but there’s many online tutorials that may have you wrapping with fabric whenever you get the chance. Fabrics also come in handy as gift bags too. If you’re not too shabby with sewing, then you should be able to whip up quite a few bags in no time at all. This is perfect for gratitude bags for parties, but they can also work as quick stocking inspired bags for candies and other small gifts. You can find scrap fabric just about anywhere too. Even if you don’t have it in your own home, many craft stores will place already cut or out of fashion fabric on clearance. You may even get lucky and find some holiday prints.
5. Kids Artwork
When it comes to the holidays, involving kids in all the activities can be a lot of fun and will allow them to feel like a big kid. One way to get the kids into the holiday spirit is to ask them to draw holiday artwork. You can have them draw on regular sized paper or even on large pieces or rolled paper. Of course, even printed coloring sheets will do the trick. Once the kids have a lot of art work ready to go, you can easily begin the process of wrapping your gifts. Of course, you may have to tape many works of art together before you end up covering a full package, so don’t feel discouraged. However, the final result will be filled with love and holiday spirit.
6. Reuse Last Year’s Bags
If you’re looking to save money within the home, then saving last year’s bags is a great way to do so. This might be a bit of a challenge if you’re giving gifts to people outside of the home, so you might want to practice restraint when it comes to buying expensive bags for others. However, in the home is another matter altogether. If you choose to use bags on gifts then chances are the kids aren’t going to rip into them unless they’re taped shut. Thus, you can easily keep the bags with your other holiday supplies until next year rolls around. Most gift bags can hold up for years, which will allow you to get your money’s worth out of them. Thus, you don’t have to be afraid to splurge a little if there is a bag you really like.
7. Print Out Gift Tags
Another item that tends to cost a bit more than it’s worth is gift tags. These come in all shapes and sizes, from stickers to tie-ons, but can leave your wrapping budget on the high end if you have to provide gift tags for numerous presents. One way to counteract this problem is to print out your own gift tags. You can easily purchase thicker, colored or holiday inspired paper to do this, but regular paper works just as well. You can find an assortment of pre-made tags online, which you can customize to suit your needs. If you simply want to print and cut them out then there’s lots to choose from and most are free. You can also print out tags that allow you to color them, which is perfect for families that have children. Of course, if you’re feeling really creative then you can make your own tags in a photo program, which are sure to impress the recipient.
8. Avoid the Dollar Store
A lot of people tend to think they can get a great deal on wrapping supplies at the dollar store. This is really a trick in most cases though. Yes, you can usually find wrapping paper and other supplies for as low as a dollar, but you have to consider how little you’re actually getting out of the deal. Most of the wrapping paper sold in these stores only have a few feet on them. You can buy a lot more wrapping paper by foot at a department or holiday store for only a bit more than what you would pay at the dollar store. Most other supplies won’t give you the right amount for the money either. Yes, you can find great deals on this stuff on occasion, but make sure you stop and weigh your options before your purchase the supplies just because you think they’re cheap.
9. Bulk Shopping
Truly, one of the best way to shop for wrapping supplies is in bulk. Whether you buy pre-made packages at your local department store or you go to a bulk shopping store to buy large quantities at once, this is usually the best way to get the most out of your money. Bulk shopping allows you to get more per foot and so much more than you could at other stores. Not to mention, with all of the excess supplies, you can store them and save them for next year. Some packaged deals are a great buy too as they will offer everything you need from wrapping paper to bags and ribbons. So, if you can afford to spend a few dollars more on supplies, this is the best way to keep your budget down in the future.
10. Clearance
Although you might need wrapping supplies now, one of the best ways to get more for your money is to hold out until the holidays are over. This will allow you to get all of the supplies you need at a price that has been reduced significantly. So, when you’re shopping you may want to keep an eye out to see if there are wrapping papers or other supplies you’d love to have. Then, head out as early as you can on boxing day and claim your prize at a heavily reduced price. Of course, one trick to the clearance section is to hold out as long as you can, but often the nicer supplies will disappear on the first clearance day. You can also hold out until the middle of the year when Christmas in July sales happen or online stores are simply eager to get rid of old stock so they can move in the newer items.
Wrapping up gifts is part of the fun when it comes to the holidays. However, you shouldn’t have to worry about spending a lot of money on something that is going to be ripped up in a matter of seconds. These gift wrapping tips should help you find just what you need to get ready for the holiday while saving you some extra money that may even help you recover from the tight budget the holiday season created.
