How to Save Money on Wrapping Paper

_{Waiting until the last minute to wrap your gifts? Find out how to wrap presents like a pro, save money on wrapping} _{paper and reduce waste while you’re at it.}

Ways to Save Money on Wrapping Paper

Waiting until the last minute to wrap your gifts? You’re not alone. Before you run out to the store to purchase wrapping paper, you will want to know all your options.

We know giving gifts to friends and family for special occasions, birthdays and holidays is a wonderful thing. The not-so-joyous part is when you have to spend hundreds of dollars on gifts for the family and have to dish out more money on wrapping paper.

Purchasing gift wrapping, especially when purchased at a specialty store, can cost you as much as $10 per single roll. Even big box stores can help manage the cost a little, but a three-pack for close to $15 is still a bit too much. At first, it may seem like a bargain, because you will be needed multiple rolls, but these costs can add up quickly.

It doesn’t have to be this way. There are several ways that you can save money on wrapping paper. Here are a few tips to help you save money on wrapping paper.

Shop After Holiday Sales

One tried-and-true way to save money on wrapping paper is to purchase a large amount of it once the holidays are over at a deep discount.

After Christmas, clearance sales are an excellent way to purchase all the wrapping paper you need for the next holiday season at clearance sale prices. You can easily save up to 75% off and get the cute wrapping paper you desire.

But think ahead too. If you spot paper without holiday images on it, absolutely use it for birthdays or other gift-giving opportunities.

Check the Dollar Stores for Wrapping Paper

Wrapping paper doesn’t have to be designer or expensive to be beautiful. Check out the wrapping paper selection at your local Dollar Tree, Dollar General, or other discount stores to see what they have to offer.

Plain or solid color wrapping paper can always be jazzed up with a fancy bow or a nice card too, and by purchasing solid colors you can use it for more than one occasion (just birthday, wedding, etc.). Thrift stores and yard sales can also be a great inexpensive place to purchase wrapping paper.

Save the Scraps

It can be very easy to cut more wrapping paper than you need when wrapping up a gift. Don’t throw that extra paper away, though.

Instead, save your wrapping paper scraps for when you have a smaller gift to wrap down the road. It makes for a uniquely wrapped gift. It is a tradition in our house that every Christmas each child receives a gift wrapped in scraps.

Find and Use Fabric as Wrapping Paper

Think outside the box. You don’t need to use paper. Fabric is a great way to upcycle an old project into a beautifully wrapped present. You can take an old Halloween costume or an old t-shirt and use it as wrapping.

Using the Japanese art of Furoshiki, you can simply tie the fabric ends together and make a bow. If you choose a scarf as your fabric, your “gift wrap” is part of the present too.

Using Brown Paper Bags

Put your brown lunch bags or grocery store bags to good use by turning them into gift bags or use them to wrap your gifts.

Get some colored markers and put your drawing skills to use. I love the look of white markers on the brown paper bag. It is simple and gives it a farmhouse rustic feel.

Make Reusable Gift Bags

If you are handy with a sewing machine, you can make reusable gift bags from leftover fabric scraps, and even outgrown clothes.

If you don’t have any fabric but want to try sewing reusable gift bags, you might check your local thrift store, or ask about a discounted price on scrap material at your local fabric store. You can find a tutorial for making reusable gift bags here.

Not only will you be saving money on wrapping paper, you will also be recycling and helping the environment too!

If you aren’t particularly handy with a sewing machine, you can still purchase gift bags that can be used multiple times if they are taken care of. For example, if you use gift bags for Christmas presents, just fold them after the holiday and store them away until you need them again next year.

Reuse Items You Already Have

We all have empty Amazon boxes lying around, old maps, old newspapers, and even scrapbook paper. Just because you need to wrap a gift doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to run out and purchase wrapping paper you recycle and repurpose items you already have.

Think creatively and use items that you already have on hand to create a beautifully wrapped gift. A cardboard box can be decorated with stamps, paint, markers, and a pretty bow. Scrapbook paper, maps, and old newspapers also offer interesting and creative ways to present your gift that will stand out.

Lastly…

There are so many ways to make gift wrap more sustainable. Using what you have on hand and alternatives to paper can help you save money. Plus, you will have beautifully wrapped gifts for your friends, family, and loved ones without having to spend a small fortune on wrapping paper.