With all the gift giving I handle this year, I realized I never had to purchase a gift bag. I get leftovers from secret Santa, white elephants, gifts from friends/colleagues, or from my parents house. I also use nice store bags and no one bats an eye because it's a gift.
I have all these bags piling up and all these events to attend. I even end up getting more holiday bags back so why even spend a penny on them. I share the love and give some to my parents and after gifting each other we just snatch back the bags 😆 and reuse them for the next event.
It's weird to say it out loud, but the holidays are pricey and if there is something I can save on, it's gift bags. Am I the only one who does this?
I Barely Buy Gift Bags or Paper and I Like That
byu/RoseMaleficent1994 inFrugal
Posted by RoseMaleficent1994
26 Comments
My boyfriend likes to rip gift bags open and I’m always appalled. Like, sir, we could have saved that. It was perfectly good.
I absolutely save and reuse any gift bags, bows, and tissue paper that survive the party in good condition.
Do this all the time I’ve eyed up some lovely ones I’m receiving this year I can use next year 🤣
I have a under bed box full of gift bags. I also have decorative gift boxes that go under the tree prior to Christmas and store my ornaments, and use those for gift giving as well.
I will occasionally end up buying a bag, but it’s very rare.
I use to do this bit sometimes the bags get creased in my cupboard and they took up to much room in my tiny flat so now I donate them to my local charaty shop and buy them back as needed
My husband and I have been using the same bag to gift each other for birthdays for a decade. It’s a bit ratty but I am too attached to recycle it.
Our entire family basically rotates gift bags. Been doing it for years.
For my friends’ birthdays this year, I used the Trader Joe’s mini totes! They’re also $2 and were very well received 🙂
I reroll and reuse my expensive ribbon every year
This year I splurged on velvet gift bags for some clients, I’m giving them out like they were foster kittens and really hope they’re going to a good home where they will be reused and not discarded.
I haven’t had to buy any bags this year because I’ve saved so many. It’s really nice.
10 years ago, or longer, I was with a group that wrapped Christmas gifts for our homeless (hoodies, gloves, bathroom essentials, sleeping bags). We were asked to bring scissors, wrapping paper & tape.
At the end of the evening there were tons of supplies that nobody wanted to carry home, so I did. I took the tape and extra scissors to a local school for the teachers to use. I kept the wrapping paper for me.
I still have wrapping paper from that evening that I’m using to this day.
Some of my bags and boxed are over 20 years old. They look great and if they fall apart, a little tape works wonders.
My family saved gift bags, bows and wrapping paper if it was in good condition. We reused as much as possible.
We reuse them and have been reusing them for years. Also get them when they go on clearance after the holiday, never have to buy bags.
I always save gift bags and I honestly have too many, especially since I prefer wrapping gifts. I used a couple today but my gift wrap storage is soooo full!
Was raised doing this, and our depression-era grandparents would try to reuse wrapping paper as well.
My favorite hack is using previously received holiday cards and gift bags that have been used enough times to make gift tags. I have a paper punch in the shape of a gift tag and you can be really intentional on how you place it to maximize the image. My gift tags always look awesome!
I found a bunch of large fabric tote bags for a couple bucks a piece at thrift stores. Add some ribbon if your fancy. It is like an extra little present that people can use, or pass along as wrapping for a gift. I think they will last much longer than paper bags.
We saved bows and gift bags! If you got a bow on a gift, there’s a good chance it was at least 10 years old.
Yes, absolutely. It’s what’s inside that counts so save your money for the actual gift and be frugal. For my family, it doesn’t really matter at all what the bag looks like, even with creases and such. It’s just to hide the gift until it’s opened.
We have a rule in my friend group that the bag stays with the person who brought it unless the gift is too heavy to carry. We’re all poor
Same.
We are nearly out of all gift giving (finally) but the stuff just multiplies.
When I do have to buy new wrapping, I get bags that are ultra neutral. I also tie the tag to the bag so that they can reuse it.
I actually have way too many got bags and tissue paper. I don’t think I’ve bought a single one.
As I kid, my grandmother taught us how to unwrap a gift. The paper she fancy she would line all the clothing drawers with the paper. My favorite was the gift paper that had violets and roses on it. She had it in her top drawer.
Other pieces she would reuse to wrap other gifts.
I do the same thing ….learn from the best grandma
The last time I needed to buy a gift bag for a really large gift, the prices for that size bag were sky high. I found a large zippered thermal bag that costs less than the paper gift bag, got that to put the gift in, so they ended up with the gift I had to give, plus a big thermal bag as a bonus.
We shamelessly reuse paper, even if it doesn’t cover the box and cut other paper into shapes to make “cards” or tags