Reusing gift bags

[Aroundtheworldin80moves]

A conversation that occurred with my Mum today
DH asked me while I was on the phone if we had any gift bags left, joked about cutting the previous tag off.
My mum then asked me if reused gift bags and seemed shocked that we do. I've got one that seems to come back on a biannual basis for example.
She claims that no one does this (except my DHs family, as obviously we do to get that particular one back

So are we the only ones?
YABU... It's just you
YANBU... We reuse gift bags

(They get retired when they get grotty. But they still last a few uses!)

I’ve never bought a new one and wouldn’t dream of throwing one away!

YANBU, isn't that exactly what they're for? I have loads! Utterly irresponsible not to re-use them. I hate that with some people some weird sort of "I'm not poor or cheap" etiquette comes before waste prevention.

YANBU

Why would you bin something perfectly usable to buy it again so someone else can bin it.

They get reused until they fall apart, it’s super wasteful to just throw them out.

Does she hate the planet? Of course people reuse them. Wasteful and daft not to.

Cant remember the last time I bought one, just reuse.

Throwing them away would be ridiulously wasteful. I could easily afford to buy thousands of gift bags but wouldn't dream of it. Unless they're massively stained/bashed up (in which case I'd find another use for them) they're getting used again.

We always reuse them! A friend and I have been giving the same two back and forth for about 10 years. Everyone I exchange gifts with does the same. It’s incredibly wasteful otherwise.

Definitely reuse. I hate waste and most wrapping paper cannot be recycled. I prefer gift bags because they can be used over and over. I think k everyone we buy gifts for refuses. Certainly some Christmas ones have been back and forth a few times.

I wouldn't even consider not re-using gift bags - my crocheting in a gift bag that's at least 10 years old.

Its the rule in our family that you never write on the gift bag tag so that it van be re-used again and again.

I purposely don't write on the tags so the next person can use it.

Much more eco friendly than either cotton bags or wrapping paper.

I don't think I've EVER purchased a gift bag!
I'm going to break that tomorrow as I need 3 bottle ones for a group and only have 1 (that my dad gets a bottle in for Christmas, and then leaves the gift bag here).

I bought a huge stack of pristine gift backs from my local charity shop yesterday- all 5p each.

Yep I reuse them they even have their own drawer. Everything from wedding bags to birthday bags. I reused one yesterday for nursery presents

Everyone I know reuses gift bags! It's weird not to.

What she do with them? Just throw them away? That seems really wasteful to me, my friends and I don't even wrote on the label anymore as we know that they'll be reused (hopefully a few times)

My friend’s got the same first name as me - we gleefully recycle each other’s gift bag to each other as well as the tag every year

Absolutely yes, especially the lovely ones my sister gives us, they’re far posher and nicer than the ones I buy! 😁

My friend and I have been exchanging the same two gift bags between us for well over a decade now. Why wouldn’t you?

Absolutely. I have a lovely selection this year - and bought none of them!

😅@Chasingsquirrels
If only I could I could drop you about 30 bottle bags 🐿

As a teacher I have a seemingly endless supply. Every gift I give is given in a bag but at the end of every term I get a load more to top up my stash! Then I had a baby and I now have enough for the next 20 friends who get pregnant 😂

They’re far too nice and hard wearing to only be designed to use one surely?? And I’m sure most can’t be recycled so it would be very bad for the environment to throw away after one use.

Your mum thinks your DHs family are the only ones who do this? I'd argue your mother is the only person who doesn't!

No sane, normal, sensible, rational human with any degree of intelligence throws them away!

I buy them new when they’re reduced, got some lovely big ones reduced to 20p a few years back which were ideal for dressing gowns. I re-use for family and friends and receive re-used ones too. Tbh it takes quite a few uses before you can even tell. At Christmas my family will usually open their gifts and take them home leaving the bags here ready for next year