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Original poster

I can’t stop buying presents until I’ve used all the wrapping paper.

36 replies

nightmarestrange · 30/11/2025 15:01

I am driving myself mad.
I have to use all the wrapping paper and strategically made all the paper and presents fit.
Now husband has asked for another gift which means buying more wrapping paper and now I am compelled to buy more presents to use up the rest of the wrapping paper because I can’t have any left over.
Whats wrong with me why I can’t I get over this it’s constantly on my mind until the wrapping paper is all gone.
I have bought far too many presents but I can’t stop until I have matched the presents and paper just right.
I hate this but I also love the challenge. I wish I could put it out of my mind.
Anyone else do this, I’m highly expecting not.

OP posts:
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Firefly1987 · 30/11/2025 22:51

It does sound a lot like OCD. I have it (not officially diagnosed but it couldn't be more obvious) and I have similar compulsions to finish things off- it's weird because I'm broke and I should be saving things but I'm just unable to. I also binge eat-if there's cake or chocolate there I won't be happy until it's gone. I can't save anything. I hate taking pills because I hate a full packet or bottle and am just really glad when I reach the last one! It's very odd but I just assumed it was OCD related.

bridgetreilly · 30/11/2025 22:31

Give the roll to someone else to use. Donate it to the school. DO NOT BUY MORE PRESENTS.

MySilentLions · 30/11/2025 17:01

nightmarestrange · 30/11/2025 16:50

A few people mentioned OCD when I had my assessment for ADHD the assessor asked me if I thought I could have OCD and I said no definitely not because I don’t clean obsessively or wash my hands he said about intrusive thoughts but I said no…. Perhaps he was on the right path but I thought he was just ruling it out.

OCD isn’t (just) about cleaning or washing hands. This is a tiny fraction of the compulsions people may suffer. It has become the popular image through a few tv programmes and stock social media images but if you do some research, you will quickly find that compulsions can be about many different things. I do think it sounds like you have a fixation on this issue.

NoSourDough · 30/11/2025 16:54

i have OCD - this sounds like you may have. Intrusive thoughts. I couldn’t care less about cleaning stuff but if I have a theme and hook into it, it’s a problem. You may need some therapy if this is becoming a bigger problem for you.

Original poster
nightmarestrange · 30/11/2025 16:50

A few people mentioned OCD when I had my assessment for ADHD the assessor asked me if I thought I could have OCD and I said no definitely not because I don’t clean obsessively or wash my hands he said about intrusive thoughts but I said no…. Perhaps he was on the right path but I thought he was just ruling it out.

OP posts:
RitaFromThePitCanteen · 30/11/2025 16:31

For the new present, buy a single sheet of wrapping paper instead of a full roll. That should help until you have a chance to address this compulsive issue.

TheBeaTgoeson1 · 30/11/2025 16:29

Don’t feed the….

PumpkinTwistyWindToots · 30/11/2025 16:27

nightmarestrange · 30/11/2025 15:22

I don’t see why I can’t either and it makes perfect sense to do that.
I just can’t leave it unmatched. If I have little scraps or off cuts I will always buy something small to use it up. Now I have a whole roll and I can’t put it out of my mind even though I can see no rhyme or reason to my thinking.

Show quote history

This is verging on a mental health issue to be honest, on the obsessive compulsive end with a dash of shopping addiction. This is really unhealthy and you need to find a way to stop. Put the leftover paper out with the recycling if you have to.

TwoMintsLoose · 30/11/2025 16:09

Wrap up the Christmas treats? They can open on first day of school holidays and I’m sure they’ll enjoy unwrapping to find an abundance of chocolate etc.

NoGoodUsernamesLeftForMe · 30/11/2025 16:02

Use up the paper for Pass the Parcel. One small gift in the centre and a sweet in each of the layers, or a joke etc. Use up all the paper that way? Kids love playing that. Or look up how to make gift bags out of wrapping paper. Make lots of bags ready for next year.

VimesandhisCardboardBoots · 30/11/2025 15:41

Christ, you'd be bankrupt in our house. DP used to work for Toys R Us and when they went bankrupt came home with an industrial roll of wrapping paper after her last shift.

Every present for the last 8 years has been wrapped in it. It has become a running joke in our extended family that they know exactly who certain presents are off without looking at the tag. We're still not even 3/4s of the way through it. I've said I'm not buying a coffin when I die, I'm just going to be wrapped in spotty wrapping paper like a Mummy.

ThreeRandomWordz · 30/11/2025 15:32

OP you need to sort out your underlying anxiety/OCD.

Could wrapping empty boxes to use the extra paper work as an interim solution if you can just throw away the wrapping paper?

AzureCats · 30/11/2025 15:31

How about the thought that the only planet we have to live on is dying and overconsumption is partly to blame. That may take your mind off your wrapping paper woes. Just put it away and use it again next year.

imaginationhasfailedme · 30/11/2025 15:30

Definitely a fixation on this but leave that to deal with in the new year.
Any more surprise gifts, than a gift bag with some tissue paper will be lovely.

Teenagerantruns · 30/11/2025 15:29

You definitely need to buy the single sheets..a big roll for kids and single sheets for everyone else, you can triple wrap small presents?
Or be organised and start wrapping next year's.

Lilyhatesjaz · 30/11/2025 15:27

Could you turn the left over paper into christmas decorations, something like snow flakes that you could make with your children, then it would be used.

BestZebbie · 30/11/2025 15:26

Make a matching paper chain to decorate the tree and switch to reusable gift bags next year to solve this problem.

Extragreen · 30/11/2025 15:25

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JamesWebbSpaceTelescope · 30/11/2025 15:24

Go the total opposite. Buy a storage bag and fill it up.

Example on amazon

123456abcdef · 30/11/2025 15:23

wrap your last present and then donate the paper to the local school. I’m sure their PTA or on of the classes will put it to good use

Original poster
nightmarestrange · 30/11/2025 15:22

ilovesooty · 30/11/2025 15:16

I don't buy wrapping paper. All my gifts go in appropriately sized gift bags.

I don't quite see why you can't store wrapping paper until next year.

I don’t see why I can’t either and it makes perfect sense to do that.
I just can’t leave it unmatched. If I have little scraps or off cuts I will always buy something small to use it up. Now I have a whole roll and I can’t put it out of my mind even though I can see no rhyme or reason to my thinking.

OP posts:
ilovesooty · 30/11/2025 15:16

I don't buy wrapping paper. All my gifts go in appropriately sized gift bags.

I don't quite see why you can't store wrapping paper until next year.

Lilyhatesjaz · 30/11/2025 15:14

Next time you use it up. If you need to get one more present, buy a single gift bag to put it in.

Elmo230885 · 30/11/2025 15:14

Just buy a single sheet?

Extragreen · 30/11/2025 15:13

What kind of wrapping do you buy?

op… you’re being silly
but this could indicate a deeper
problem

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