Here’s how I never bought wrapping paper again…

It was about four years ago when I was in the basement wrapping presents on Christmas Eve. I had just worked all day grading essays and was so grumpy. As I wrapped the presents with paper from the store that I just knew was going to go right into the garbage the very next day, I made a promise out loud to myself that I would never do this again.

In 2017, we lost recycling services in our area, and I became highly aware of what I brought and what I put into the trash. I remember just about crying when I would hold an item over the garbage that I used to put in the recycling bin. It pained me to drop it in the garbage. I now understand that most of what I recycled wasn’t recycled at all, but I wasn’t aware at the time. So, in some ways, I am thankful we lost recycling because it set me on a path to become much more aware of how much trash we were producing as a family and what I could do about it.

I want to emphasize, of course, that I am far from perfect. It’s a process. I have made great strides since 2017, and we have cut our waste in half at least, maybe more. I also want to emphasize that I also realize it’s not right to put the burden for all this on the individual when corporations are absolutely trashing the place up one side and down the other. However, it can’t hurt to try. I am a believer in the saying “every little bit counts,” and while I am reducing my footprint, I am also saving us so much money. It’s a win-win, I think.

After that Christmas when I promised I would no longer put Christmas paper in the trash, I decided to buy some holiday-themed fabric on clearance (along with some nicer ribbon in bulk) and make gift bags. Somehow, however, in the chaos that is my life on this little farmstead, I never made the bags, but when the next Christmas rolled around, I decided I was going to use that fabric anyway.

So I cut the fabric into small, medium, and larger pieces, and I just rolled the presents right up in that fabric and tied them with a bow. When I was done, I thought the whole thing was so beautiful! I mean, rustic and a little bit like a first-grader did it, but still beautiful. It just looked humble and pretty to me. So I was like, forget the bags, this totally works, although I would still like to have a bag or two for the oddly-shaped gifts.

After that Christmas, I saved all the ribbon and fabric and used all of it again the next year. And the next. I have found that I sometimes have to cut new ribbon, but you would be surprised at universal a long ribbon is. Sometimes, presents get a little much on the ribbon. Sometimes, presents get a very small bow. But I am reusing the ribbon as well.

Over time, this is saving us a decent amount of money, and I feel so much better not throwing a bunch of stuff in the trash. So, if you want to try this, grab some lovely fabric and some good ribbon, and I think you will be pleased. Humble is good.