The only downside that I can think of to Christmas is wrapping presents – I absolutely hate it. You can always tell which is my gift in a Secret Santa present line up – it’s the one with no smooth edges or corners, bits of sellotape hanging off it and the odd tear in the wrapping paper.
I just about manage to get by with wrapping my family and friend’s presents (with a lot of help from the gift bags I save throughout the year) and making them look half way presentable but tackling the kids presents is my worst nightmare. I do have my own little system to make it as easy as possible for myself but if you have any better ideas, I’d love to hear them.
I always buy two different types of wrapping paper in bulk and allocate one type to each child, then I make sure that I wrap each of their presents in the same paper so I don’t have to write out any gift tags – I prefer to think of this as time-saving rather than lazy, no matter what Mr Frugal says and if I’m honest, I do quite like the fact the they’re colour coordinated 😉
Top Tip – If you’re going to do this make sure you remember who’s wrapping paper is who’s as there was much confusion here last year when Miss Frugal opened up a Ben 10 figure that was wrapped in her paper!
This year, to save time, I’ve been thinking about doing what one of my friends does – she puts all her children’s presents into a Santa sack unwrapped and they just get one out at a time. I just can’t decide if I think this is a good idea or if it’ll take some of the fun out of Christmas morning; surely one of the best bits about Christmas is coming downstairs to find a pile of presents all wrapped up and then getting to rip the paper of them one by one.
What do you think?
Wrapping isn't my favourite thing to do, and I can never get it very neat, but I would still wrap as I think a sack may take some of the excitement away.
My secret santa gift this year at work however is in a cardboard box, and I haven't wrapped it! The shame.
Mine are always a mess but I think it's better to be like that than not wrapped at all – everyone's comments have definitely persuaded me 😉
Ill always wrap even though mine always turn out much like yours. As long as the paper is in the recycling box it's okay for me! I dont like the sack idea, im sure the children would love it its still a surprise especially if they have to just dip a hand in, but as adults (okay big kid) I like to rip open the paper and be (hopefully pleasantly) surprised! x
lol I usually end up wrapping my own and even though I know what's in there, I still get excited unwrapping them 😉
Sorry, but I'll always wrap…it's part of the magic!! 🙂 My kids love it!
I know, it wouldn't be the same if the gifts weren't wrapped would it. I'mm definitely going to wrap!
Now I love wrapping them all up. I add christmas decs and bows as well as tags. However when mine were little they had different paper and even now I have to do this as I don't put tags on for them. They each have a stocking on the bed as well as a santa sack. Santa even leaves them a gift to open after midnight mass. And might I add they will be 24 and 16 this year!
X x
Oooh if you love to wrap you can come and do mine 😉
We have stockings for Christmas morning as well and I'll still be doing that when they're the same age as yours x x
Nooooo to the sack!! I'm 35 and would still vote for wrapped presents everytime. So exciting to see a pile of wrapped presents – having them in a sack just wouldn't be the same. I hate wrapping presents and am very lazy but do think it adds to the excitement!
If I had my way I wouldn't wrap anything. It's just such a waste. We've taken most things out of their boxes already so that on Christmas morning we don't have a living room full of cardboard and those stupid plastic ties that seem to be attached to a single toy in their hundreds! Hubby has co-ordinated wrapping paper to save on tags so that's one bonus for me. My children are still young enough to enjoy unwrapping their gifts but hopefully (for me) in a few years time I can place everything in a sack!
we do that aswell as it takes forever to get some toys out of their packaging these days and they usually need batteries installing so we do that in advance too…