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Christmas

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Original poster

No wrapping paper - too miserable?

67 replies

MarmaladeTeepee · 27/09/2020 07:08

My DC are nearly 11 and 9 so the days of large, bulky presents are behind us and realistically all of their presents could now fit in a large sack. Would it be utterly miserable of me just to put all of their presents in a sack without wrapping them? I'm just thinking of the sheer envionmental waste that is wrapping paper, but at the same time I don't want to be a total kill joy. Does wrapping paper really make much of a difference?

OP posts:
whirlwindwallaby · 27/09/2020 10:36

I don't use paper. It's so depressing to see all that paper gathered up after you've unwrapped everything, it's only used once then thrown away. Recycled or not, it's still single use and such a waste. I reuse gift bags, paper and cloth ones, that are passed back and forth between family members, and a Christmas stocking for DS.

cricketmum84 · 27/09/2020 10:36

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unexpectedthird · 27/09/2020 10:39

Brown paper is a great idea or you could use fabric which can be reused?

Having said that, my main presents, as a child, were never wrapped and I didn't even know it was odd until I was an adult. Christmas was most definitely still exciting so perhaps you could wrap smaller items and leave bigger ones unwrapped?

Cheesypea · 27/09/2020 10:40

You've got three months!

everythingisginandroses · 27/09/2020 11:12

I am pleased to see that wrapping is The Law around here, wouldn't expect any less. Xmas Smile

speakout · 27/09/2020 11:17

Send them over here.

I love wrapping presents!

I set aside an afternoon, a large glass of festive cheer, some christmas music and spend a couple of hours having the best time. Always a day I look forward to.

SqidgeBum · 27/09/2020 11:20

We use brown paper so it's completely recyclable, but also I reuse gift bags for other family members, and santa doesnt wrap. Only presents from Mum and Dad get wrapped. Santa ain't got time for that 😂

Ninkanink · 27/09/2020 11:21

You don’t have to use brown paper. Buy a load of fabric and ribbons and reuse every year.

GreyishDays · 27/09/2020 11:23

Fabric is a lovely idea.

Or tissue paper just kind of wrapped around with no tape?

waitingforadulthood · 27/09/2020 11:24

I'm going to wrap in cloth this year. I've been collecting tartans and will wrap in Japanese style using safety pins and bows etc.

SnuggyBuggy · 27/09/2020 11:27

We also have some cloth bags that get reused, saves a lot of time too

Justajot · 27/09/2020 11:52

We've got a stach of gift bags that has accumulated over the years. We're moving to them rather than wrapping paper. Santa might still use wrapping paper.

BashfulClam · 27/09/2020 11:57

Mine were always wrapped and it was exciting seeing it all. A girl
I worked with never wrapped hers and just let two unwrapped piles out. I thought that seemed a bit crap. No anticipation, no unwrapping...

woodhill · 27/09/2020 12:00

We tend to use gift bags and pass them on. Some wrap but not unrecyclable stuff

ilovepixie · 27/09/2020 12:24

Can't understand people who don't wrap presents.

whirlwindwallaby · 27/09/2020 12:30

@ilovepixie

Can't understand people who don't wrap presents.
No wrapping paper doesn't mean unwrapped though. You can use gift or fabric bags, fabric with ribbon or a safety pin, or presents in a stocking or sack or pillowcase. You still have the anticipation taking them out of a sack one by one, just without all the waste.
Cherryrainbow · 27/09/2020 14:30

I'm going for recyclable brown wrapping paper this year!

Part of it is my own personal gripe with my OH that he doesn't wrap presents, he just sort of dumps them in front of me and there's no excitement or wow its like oh OK. Then I have to sit around and watch him and everyone else get all excited about unwrapping theres! Would it kill him to at least get a nice gift bag? Lol x

mam0918 · 27/09/2020 14:57

we wrap presents from us under the tree but all santa stuff is unwrapped

I think having something to unwrap is nice but wrapping everything is crazy and wastefull

icode · 27/09/2020 17:42

I leave mine in the Amazon boxes/wrapping Grin

Job done.

Jenasaurus · 27/09/2020 17:44

The look of wrapped up presents in a pile under the tree is one of my magical memories of Christmas. I do agree that its wasteful, what about using the same idea as Amazon, those pretty drawstring bags that are reuseable. I am not sure where they get them from but I love the way their gifts look when wrapped.

DaughterX · 27/09/2020 17:46

No- one's mentioned yet the families that put all the presents out, unwrapped, the night before so the kids come down to a "toy shop-style" extravaganza?
I'd never heard of it until Mumsnet and I still think it's crazy

drspouse · 27/09/2020 17:56

Gift bags (paper are more environmentally friendly).

squeekums · 27/09/2020 17:57

kill joy
boring

wrap the damn presents
im 32 and still love unwrapping

tinselvestsparklepants · 27/09/2020 21:29

News paper or old road maps with red ribbon/ string looks gorgeous. And you can really rip it up with no guilt! ( I come from a family where mum would iron the wrapping paper for reuse!)

elQuintoConyo · 27/09/2020 22:00

We wentvall-fabric 5 years ago. 9yo ds loves seeing the same bags and fabric every year - "my train set came in this bag!" etc.

I also do the same for birthdays, more variety of fabric, too.

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