The burning question this Christmas

Having inherited the thrift gene, I keep last year's gift bags and re use them. DD does the same so we all seem to exchange and re exchange the old familiar (but cheerful) bags. They can be livened up with new tags made from recycled Christmas cards cut up with pinking shears.

All the gift wrapping that is left here, I put in a big bag and use for firelighting

Ordinary gift wrap without any metallic glitter can go in recycling.
So that’s what I use, with sellotape.
Who wants a present wrapped up in newspaper ( fish and chips!) or in brown paper, shudder.

Every year I say I’m going to be more responsible, and every year when I’ve failed to do anything about it, I order reams of shiny paper from John Lewis.

Every year, I say I’m definitely cutting down on present buying, and every year my present wrapping room looks like a branch of Hamleys.

I have the very best of intentions, but something always seems to go wrong.

Christmas gift bags tied with ribbon-collected and reused each year. Initial outlay was about £15 on Amazon for 40 bags - now on year 5!

Well, I let you off Lilylaundry it’s nearly October!
And you’ve reminded me that last c———-s I promised myself to get started early and MAKE as many c———-s goodies myself...starting with the wrapping paper!!!

I bought brown paper with printed reindeer on it last January,everything should be wrapped and ready to go by 1st of November,then I can concentrate on the 10 cakes that I'll help the GD's to decorate although I may just do my own as their skills have come on in leaps and bounds this year

.Christmas day will be here as my daughter is too sick to even think about it .Might be 20 for dinner maybe more as we always ask anyone who hasn't family to go to to join us.I love Christmas ..even with 25 to buy for,I do collect all year though so I'm organised

Oddly enough, the local recycle center will not accept giftwrap of any kind-

We do No 4 have done for years although we recently started a Secret Santa for the adults which is working well with a limited amount everyone gets a good present.

Trouble is now my GC have started having babies the list of under 18s is growing all the time ?

Thanks everyone for your views and actions this Christmas. I can just picture my family's faces if I turned up with umpteen presents wrapped in a red top!

Maybe the regional newspaper paper will be a better bet but there again .....

Paper - mostly saved from last year.
Gifts (for a small family): for adults - small items only - mostly charity-shop purchased, (i.e. second-hand) if possible. Or maybe some (modest) edible treats.
For overseas DS & DiL: a "t-shirt type" clothing item each (sustainable cotton if possible). For 2 x DGC, something special that they have wanted, or maybe cash! (Plus a few small items, as in the adult's gifts.) For DH & me - we do each other a little stocking with a few small gifts, like the adults. Gifts for friends - no longer do these, because we've agreed with the friends to give to charity instead.

Because of our business there are quite a few people that we really do HAVE to thank with a gift at Christmas and it would just be bad business not to.

Yes that goes on the business books
But it can feel like I buy more for people like that than I do for loved ones!

" chocolate santas"

I dont find that its family that are the problem. Its all the other stuff:

The boxes of biscuits and bottles of wine that are "thank you" "tips".
Like the secretaries at work, business associates, babysitters who turn up with trinkets for the kids and you have to reociprocate.

I dont MIND chosing thoughtful gifts for people I love, its all the tat for associates. You cant be the only one not chipping in at work etc. Its all the swapping of boxes of biscuits/sweets/wine, every time you go to someones house at Christmas or neighbours pop round with a load of christmas santas for your kids, then you have to get christmas santas for THEIR kids!

Family and close friends: no problem! You can do secret santa or say no adult gifts or swap meaningful gifts

But good god! All the biscuit/wine swapping! Eugh!

Presents for kids only - time to stop the massive consumerism of Christmas.

Gift bags of various sizes reused every year then brought back home when the gifts have been given out at the relivant house's,they get folded and put back in the case until next year.

I wrap in Christmas paper that can be recycled (no glitter). I buy for 2 daughters SIL, 2 granddaughters ( my only grandchildren ) 2 godchildren , 4 friends and 2 neighbours children. I don’t mind and like finding nice things for everyone. Not got huge amount of money but spread buying out so have already started. Immediate family make lists so anything we choose will be liked, lists long enough to be a surprise as nobody would get everything . We love Christmas and go a bit mad!

I will wrap everything in the cheeriest Xmas wrapping paper I can find, apart my XR obsessed devoted grandson. He can have newspaper.

4

As a family we adopted 4 years ago but we only buy or give money for the under 16s.

Exception since I move a long way from my daughter is that she and I buy each other a light small surprise gift (under £20) as we post them.

Gift inside, tag on handle

Hope this works better
www.amazon.co.uk/Clearance-Lunch-Bag-Insulated-Quistal/dp/B07DKJ6R3Z?tag=gransnetforum-21

I dont buy them from Amazon though I buy them locally

Ooo no my link went wrong: not the ugly black one! The pretty ones

This sort of thing. More pricey than dosposable gift bags but it then counts as part of the present:
www.amazon.co.uk/DWE-Lovely-Oxford-Waterproof-Canvas/dp/B07B8NL4L7?tag=gransnetforum-21

I use nice re-usable lunch or shopping bags as the gift wrap a lot.