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AIBU?

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Original poster

To think this is a widely understood unwritten rule?

344 replies

GiftTag · 09/05/2026 16:41

At a birthday party and as I was dropping off the present with the others another mum noticed we hadn't written on the gift tag. She asked if I wanted a pen so I could write on it and I politely explained I never write on the gift tag so the bag can easily be reused (this one was actually already being reused probably from my own child's party).

She thought this was completely bizarre and genuinely didn't seem to be able to comprehend that this was quite normal behaviour.

She continued to repeat of course you write on the tag that's why its there and how would they know who the gifts was from (I did say the card was in the bag). She seemed stuck on a loop even asking others nearby if they had heard of people doing this before. It not me is it? This is not weird, most people don't write on the tags so the bags can be reused?

OP posts:
Jk987 · 09/05/2026 17:33

So how does the recipient know who it’s from? They won’t be able to say thanks!

Flamingojune · 09/05/2026 17:32

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Ive never heard if it. Guess i must be an airhead bimbo

JustSawJohnny · 09/05/2026 17:31

GiftTag · 09/05/2026 17:29

Plenty of people do just chuck them away, many people are just incredibly wasteful unfortunately. That's part of why I don't write on the tags because they are more likely to be reused than just chucked away.

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Plus, if they're black or have a 'shiny' surface some areas can't recycle them.

iamfedupwiththis · 09/05/2026 17:30

UniquePinkSwan · 09/05/2026 16:43

I think you’re the weird one. I don’t know anyone who does that

I do it all the time

Original poster
GiftTag · 09/05/2026 17:29

Flamingojune · 09/05/2026 17:28

Whys a paper bag going to landfill

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Plenty of people do just chuck them away, many people are just incredibly wasteful unfortunately. That's part of why I don't write on the tags because they are more likely to be reused than just chucked away.

OP posts:
LoyalMember · 09/05/2026 17:29

Gift bags, and bottle bags are widely reused. Me and the wife have loads of them in the cupboard.

JustSawJohnny · 09/05/2026 17:28

Not unusual and the other Mum sounds a tad OTT to be so shocked by it.

I think it's a lovely, considerate practice. If it's a nice bag I hate the thought that it will soon be in the bin.

Better to leave the tag clear and hope it gets re-used.

I must admit, this is common in the (to use Mumsnet speak) 'naice' village we live in. Notsomuch with extended family.

Flamingojune · 09/05/2026 17:28

Happyjoe · 09/05/2026 17:21

Reuse gift bags is excellent. It's just landfill so makes sense. Don't write on tags unless leaving a few gifts for different members of a household at Xmas.
Ours get used, the cat loves to curl up in the big ones.

Edited

Whys a paper bag going to landfill

Peaceplants · 09/05/2026 17:27

My sister mentioned this recently. I've been reusing bags for years and just take the tags off, but apparently it is the norm where she is not to write on them. She lives somewhere much posher than me, so I imagine that's it 🤣

It is weird to offer a pen, I think and probably also weird to discuss why not.

LoyalMember · 09/05/2026 17:27

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Kingdomofsleep · 09/05/2026 17:26

Another issue with naming the bag tag is, at the end of the party the hosts tend to collect all the gifts together into the biggest gift bags to make it easier to carry them home. So the gifts inside the bag are from multiple people.

The only failsafe strategy of helping them identify the giver is a sticky label on the gift itself saying To X, Love Y.

FreddysFingers · 09/05/2026 17:23

ToKittyornottoKitty · 09/05/2026 16:43

You are both weird. And you know the gift tag is removable right? If it’s been written on you can just remove the tag and use the bag

This is exactly what I do

Happyjoe · 09/05/2026 17:21

Reuse gift bags is excellent. It's just landfill so makes sense. Don't write on tags unless leaving a few gifts for different members of a household at Xmas.
Ours get used, the cat loves to curl up in the big ones.

YoullWishYourLifeAway · 09/05/2026 17:21

I’ve just put a gift in a gift bag. There’s no tag on it as I’ve ripped it off. I think it’s common to reuse bags, it’s not too common in our circle to not write on the tag, but I’m always secretly pleased if it’s blank.

WhatAMarvelousTune · 09/05/2026 17:06

In your scenario, people are continually passing gifts bags around with empty tags on them? I don’t see anything wrong with passing the gift bags around but would just remove the tag if I thought it was going to remain empty as people reused it

7in1Pond · 09/05/2026 17:06

I do the same as you, op. I worry that the next person might not spot I had written on the tag and give someone the bag with the wrong name on 😂

SandwichSuperstar · 09/05/2026 17:05

bridgetreilly · 09/05/2026 17:03

By your strategy, no one ever gets to use the tag. So that is a complete waste. First user of the bag writes on the tag. Everyone else has to add/make their own tag.

Yep or just stick the card in the bag like the OP did.

Allywill · 09/05/2026 17:05

In your scenario who writes on the tag? The second person to use it? Or is it never used? Personally I don’t reuse gift bags because I inevitably can’t ever find them when I need one so for the sake of £1 I’ve decided not to bother.

bridgetreilly · 09/05/2026 17:03

By your strategy, no one ever gets to use the tag. So that is a complete waste. First user of the bag writes on the tag. Everyone else has to add/make their own tag.

SandwichSuperstar · 09/05/2026 17:03

GiftTag · 09/05/2026 16:53

For those wondering about bags getting mixed up surely that's a possibility even without writing on the tag, especially if you reuse bags which you've taken the tag off?

If I reuse a bag that has no tag, I stick the card in it with the gift.

I think it's a bit weird to buy a bag and leave the tag blank so someone else can write on it.

What if they feel the same and the tag never gets written on?

Taggy McTagface will have led a pointless life.

SardinesOnButteredToast · 09/05/2026 17:03

I don't write on the tag so that the recipient can reuse it without it looking obviously like a reused bag. Environmentally friendly.

crawlingovertheline · 09/05/2026 17:03

I don’t write on the tag either and I always reuse those I’ve received.

SpaDaysForAll · 09/05/2026 17:02

It was a meeting of two minds

x2boys · 09/05/2026 17:02

GiftTag · 09/05/2026 16:58

The same way they would if you reused the bag later down the line after removing the tag? The card inside tells them who it is from?

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You can buy packets of gift tags problem solved

Original poster
GiftTag · 09/05/2026 17:01

FlatErica · 09/05/2026 17:00

I’ve never heard of this. I do reuse gift bags but I always write on the gift tag. What’s the point of even buying a gift tag if you’re not gonna write on it?

You don't buy the gift tag, it's already there?

OP posts: