Reusing Wrapping Paper

[crosses]

Is it appropriate to reuse wrapping paper for a gift? I have always done this, but I had some relatives over this past week and one of them was appalled that I would reuse wrapping paper. Is this not a socially acceptable thing to do?

[lieweheksie]

My mom, MIL,and I all reuse wrapping paper. In fact if I know the gift is going to someone who does reusue I try and and wrap it in the foil type paper which is easy to reuse
Just make sure you dont regift the paper to the same person :_))
As for the relatives, with the probelm I find the Eco answer normally works- that I'm trying very hard to keep paper out of landfills...

[DivaJen]

I do it. It's become a joke with my MIL (who also does it) - we keep giving each other the same paper back and forth! I actually learned from her that with the help of an iron, you can make used paper and tissue look like new, and no one ever has to be the wiser...

It's not as if someone's self-worth ought to be tied up in whether or not they get brand-new gift wrap to rip off of their gift... but that's my humble opinion.

[crosses]

Good, I feel a little better knowing that. I never really thought a whole ot about it until I was confronted.

[mom-from-missouri]

I iron and reuse my gift paper,.-also reuse gift bags. But for a longer lasting idea for Christmas, I have dyed garage sale pillowcases, or made my own out of rements, then wrapped the top with a pretty cord. One year I found some red and green velvet and these bags have been going back and forth in my family for years now. Depending on what items you place in the cloth gift bags, you may want to place a shoe box in the bottom for some support. You can also buy newspaper end rolls at the newspaper for about 12 cents a pound. That is great for your children to decorate to make their own wrapping paper. (It also works well for table coverings for large dinners, and if you place crayons around, kids can color on it while waiting for dinner to be served)

[Tree0164]

We reuse gift bags all the time! I never thought about ironning them.

I would use wrapping paper but with 3 boys they usually get ripped up pretty well.

[2moretrees]

There is nothing wrong with reusing wrapping paper. Your relative I think was out of line trying to force her opinion on you.

[luna-mia]

I can't believe someone would be offended that you are reusing giftwrap! I mean its actually a HUGE waste IMO. I say hold your ground and save your pennies for more important things!