Talk to More Th>n about reusing everyday items to make Christmas a little easier - £240 voucher to be won! NOW CLOSED

[MichelleMumsnet]

More Th>n want to talk to Mumsnetters about Christmas and the their top tips on using everyday items in an imaginative way for making it a little easier.

Here's what More Th>n have to say, "Life can be full of little frustrations. At MORE TH>N we want to help, and that's why we love collecting and sharing all sorts of tips and tricks that make life that little bit easier. We like to think of them as 'helping hands', those clever ideas you never knew you needed to know. We're always on the look-out for more great hints to share, so if you've got a top tip, let us know and Merry Christmas!"

For inspiration, watch the video clip below and then share your own tips on this thread.

So, what do you think of the tips given in the video? Have you used any of these ideas this year in the run up to Christmas? Have you got any more to add? Perhaps you keep your presents in a locked suitcase to make sure prying eyes don't spoil any surprises? Or maybe you keep small Christmas ornaments in old biscuit tins to keep them safe and together in one place? Whatever it is we'd love to hear about it.

Everyone who adds their thoughts to this thread will be entered into a prize draw to win a £240 Amazon voucher.


Thanks and good luck,

MNHQ

[frogger74]

Be prepared get your decorations and cards and wrapping paper in the january sales and presents if you can afford it. But stick to your limit, Dont be tempted to buy more at christmas time.

[Trills]

I only ever buy plain silver or red or gold wrapping paper.

Birthday?
Christmas?
Wedding?
It works for everything.

[FannyPriceless]

When buying Christmas wrapping paper I overestimate but include a roll of a plain colour like silver or red. It can jazzed up with a Christmassy ribbon but if any is left over it's fine for non-Christmas present wrapping the rest of the year.

[lostdomain]

I keep the little Christmas cards that DC's classmates sent to them the year before, then cut off the greetings side and use the image side to make tags. You get really gorgeous, good quality card tags for nothing that way, and can choose ones that suit individual family members.

[CaptainSinker]

I like the idea of making tags from old cards. I hate throwing away beautiful cards. Think we will do that one this year,

We always save boxes and padded envelopes (and Amazon packaging) for sending gifts through the post. Also re-use giftbags. Some have been doing the rounds of the family for years!

[HamletsSister]

I haven't done this but have, occasionally, received Christmas postcards made from the picture half of an old Christmas card with a postcard template glued to the back to write on.

[petalsandstars]

This year I put the spare scissors, new tape and gift tags in a bag so they are all together when I get a chance to do some wrapping rather than having to collect them each time. Christmas non perishables have also been spread out over a few weeks shopping.

[4yoniD]

Another here who cuts up old Christmas (and birthday!) cards to make gift tags.

I thought that film had some quite good ideas - surprising as those sort of things are generally rather shit imo!

[tinypumpkin]

Another one who cuts up Christmas cards for DC 'art projects' at Christmas. I do also reuse gift bags etc as well as festive biscuit tins if I ever get around to making home made gifts.

[YoniRotten]

Use last year's cards to make homemade gift tags. A nice little craft for the little ones, especially if you have those zig zag scissors.

[FestiveChopinLizt]

I keep last years cards and use them as my list for the next year. Then cut them up for tags and use the remains for firelighting. Guess which North Eastern Scottish town I'm from

Also I put everything to do with Christmas including music, books, CDs, recipes, decorations all in the same boxes in the eaves so they don't clutter the house in the rest of the year.

[OhYouMerryLittleKitten]

We use carrier bags as bin bags.

[MrJollyLivesNextDoor]

Buying presents in the sales throughout the year is a very good idea.

Keeping them all together preferably with a spreadsheet-type-list is also a very good idea. This prevents you from buying gifts for people without realising you have already bought them earlier

[BeCool]

I use last yearsXmas cards, cut down, as this years gift tags.

I reuse gift bags. Seem to get lots of those given to us - out they go again this year.

I buy most stuff online over a few months. I rarely pay full price.

I've had one afternoon at shops and a few lunch hours. I'll avoid shops completely now. I acknowledge this is possible as I'm not cooking but going to be a guest Xmas day. But I'm ignoring any last minute panics that arise in me.

[MrJollyLivesNextDoor]

OhYouMerryLittleKitten we stopped doing that when the 5p per carrier bag charge came in

It's been 2 years now, and I still forget to take my bags for life with me when I go shopping

[Lurleene]

When making up a hamper type gift I never buy a basket to put the presents in - I reuse a cardboard box and cover it in Christmas paper. Saves me money and it can be recycled too.

[SoloXantiaClaws]

I hide my Christmas gifts for the Dc's in plain sight. If they happen to see them, I say they are for someone else.
If Dd is out with me and I spot a piece of clothing that is a potential gift for her, I size it up against her and tell her it's for one of her friends and that it's a secret/surprise, so she mustn't tell...has worked so far!

Start buying non perishables months in advance. One or two extra's in the trolley spread the cost without too much pain on a weekly basis.

Reuse old cards as tags.

[missorinoco]

I reuse gift bags, and buy cards/gift wrap in the sales.

I keep used oil bottles, especially pretty ones, and am attempting to use them for home made vodka gifts this year.

Also use hair bands for wrapping paper if I am out of elastic bands.

[CheeryCherry]

Like the egg box and lights ideas. I box up our decorations and label one box 'advent' so I know to get that one out in November... it has our cloth advent in it, the Santa hats and wreath/floral decoration bits in. We dont need the other boxes until mid December then.
We also keep old sets of lights - label led broken- so that we can use the bulbs as spares.

[joanofarchitrave]

Long ago my family were very skint, but very suddenly, so that we still had 'stuff' around. My mother said it was time I stopped having a stocking. I was reluctant (being 10) and asked if it was the expense or the time; she said it was the expense. So we agreed she would wrap up things from around the house, so that I still had a stocking to open. I still enjoyed it.

[rootypig]

Love all these ideas on the thread!

We - this year have made an advent tree using large twigs from the park in a vase (looks better than sounds!) and putting home made labels, like ornaments, to make n advent tree - an activity each day. Try to make them Christmassy - first one will always be put the Christmas tree up! Baking and present making features heavily too. So scheduling the Christmas chores in a fun way I guess.

Love the 2d Christmas tree on the wall idea using crafting materials like old fabric and sweet wrappers. Especially for LO's rooms, when they would pull decorations onto themselves or eat them

[quiltmum]

I started making reusable gift bags from lovely Christmas fabric years ago. The first time I did, I suggested that the recipients either keep the fabric and make something out of it, or give it back for me to reuse the following year. Bags are tied with ribbons that came off napkins at a posh restaurant (I asked and they were destined for the bin). Tags are parcel labels with fabric stuck on. They are handed back for reuse too.

I wrapped everyone's presents yesterday in less than an hour and they look fab.

We also give jars of 'sand art' brownie mix in litre kilner jars, and ask for the jars back to refill the following year.

I also use egg boxes to keep decorations safe, and collect up silica bags with them too. Dry the bags out on a radiator while the decorations are up.

Cards are hung on nice wide Christmas ribbon with pretty coloured paper clips which are pinned to doors.

Only presents from father Christmas are wrapped in paper, and amazingly he has managed to use exactly the same paper for years! Isn't he clever!

[gazzalw]

I always re-use gift wine bottle bags....could carry on recycling those for year methinks!

Use a wooden Advent Calendar which will last a life-time and more than pay for itself.

Sorry, have to go with the artificial tree too....

[bluebump]

The loo roll holder is a great tip.

I save any gift bags that are still in good condition and reuse them throughout the year, not just at Christmas. I just gave my colleague 3 wine bottle gift bags to save her buying them as I had loads (my friend moved abroad and gave me loads to add to my collection!)

I always lock my presents in a suitcase, my son isn't particularly aware that they are all bought and ready to be looked at but it saves him accidentally coming across them.

I am going to have a good read of this thread to get some new ideas for next Christmas!

[SaltySeaBird]

I always make my own tags and reuse wrapping paper when I can.

Some great ideas here though.