How to Save Money on Christmas Wrapping Paper

As the holidays get closer and closer, we all see our credit card bills mounting as we purchase gifts for friends and family. Saving money at this time is absolutely critical if you want to not go bankrupt by the new year. One of the things that I find myself spending more money on than I would like is wrapping paper. It’s amazing to me how much we spend on something that is just going to get torn up come Christmas morning, so I’ve devised some ways to save money on wrapping paper that will take some of the ouch out of holiday spending.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Keep any left over wrapping paper from the year before. Many people throw away left over wrapping paper rolls once the holidays have passed, which seems such a waste. Saving it until the following year means you will spend less on wrapping paper once the holidays roll around again.

2. Shop for wrapping paper at dollar stores. Most dollar stores stock cheap Christmas wrapping paper for a dollar or two a roll. You can get some very pretty paper for about a quarter of the cost that you would pay at a department store.

3. Use the funnies. The funny pages on Sundays are in color, and since you will most likely be recycling them anyway, this is a good way to get another use out of them. If you save the Sunday funnies for three or four months before December you should have enough to wrap presents with.

4. Make your own wrapping paper. This is a great project for kids because they can decorate the paper themselves, and then you can use it to wrap their presents with.

5. Wrap your gifts with brightly colored cloth. If you are a crafter or sewer that has pieces of pretty cloth lying around then this can be a great way to wrap your gifts because you can still use the cloth for other projects after Christmas is over.

6. Purchase your wrapping paper at the after Christmas sales and then store it for the next year. Most stores have left over wrapping paper once the holidays are over and the day after Christmas can be a virtual bonanza on Christmas items with most of them being 50% off.

Tips & Warnings

• You can purchase a roll or two of brown shipping paper for you and or your kids to decorate and then use it as wrapping paper.
• Cutting out snowflakes, and other holiday shapes from colored construction paper and then gluing them to home made wrapping paper is another way to be festive.
• Wrapping paper that you purchase at the dollar store is not going to be as sturdy or thick as what you might purchase at a department store, so being careful when cutting it and wrapping presents is crucial.