Export thread

My family don't wrap presents. We feel it is a waste of paper (get thrown away anyways and some don't recycle) We do use gift bags (usually no tissue) or just buy it for the person.

This drives my wife nuts. She LOVE to wrap presents. We spend hundreds of dollars over the years (10 years) buying ribbons, tissue papers, and some wrapping paper. Luckily, my wife use to work for Godiva and got a large gold wrapping paper which we use to this day.

I personally don't wrap gifts (unless a plastic sack counts) but I do occasional make an exception

Whats the point of not wrapping them? Where's the surprise then?

I wrap, though it's ugly. My wife wrapped presents last year, broken wrist and all, and made mine look shameful.

I did buy her a DVD and put it in her stocking and didn't wrap that. I don't wrap stocking stuffers.

Wrapping your presents is very simple. Here's some easy instructions :

I think wrapping them is stupid and wasteful, but I do it because people are gonna mope and whine about it if I don't. I sent my family's gifts in their own mailing packages and my mom still insisted she open them and wrap the ones that aren't hers. I can use gift bags for the people I'm going to see in-person, but stuff shuffles out of them in mailing.

escushion said:

I think wrapping them is stupid and wasteful, but I do it because people are gonna mope and whine about it if I don't. I sent my family's gifts in their own mailing packages and my mom still insisted she open them and wrap the ones that aren't hers. I can use gift bags for the people I'm going to see in-person, but stuff shuffles out of them in mailing.

Click to expand...

If I'm mailing something, or ordering from online, then I won't wrap. Generally speaking, the box it comes in isn't going to give anything away. Last year, I had Amazon ship "Friends - Scene It" to my wife with their wrapping and it was a pretty cheap job. Never again.

I always wrap everything I send as gifts. To my way of thinking, wrapping presents is a relatively easy and low-cost way of adding a little personal touch to the affair, to demonstrate a certain effort put into the thing instead of the mere "hey, look at what I got for you from the mall".

I wrap my presents because it's the tradition in my family. Plus, we always bring our presents to the base of the Christmas tree on Christmas Eve, and there's something... I dunno, magical?... about the abundance of wrapped gifts there. So many possibilities and mysteries...

I do, however, continue to use any cardboard boxes and gift bags when applicable.

LittleSin said:

Whats the point of not wrapping them? Where's the surprise then?

Click to expand...

The surprise comes when the crazy uncle actually comes across with a present....

For me the wrapping is the "it's the thought that counts" part. If someone doesn't wrap a present they give me I generally feel the gift was just perfunctory and I'm pretty disappointed. Frankly I'd rather not get the gift at all then.

I love wrapping presents for people. Getting just the right colors and ribbon combination. It's my favorite part of presents.

For sure. Nothing get's me excited for Christmas like watching the kids scope out the packages under the tree.

I always wrap presents for a variety of reasons; it's fun for me and the recipient, it's wise for shipping and it allows for the added surprise factor by intentionally misleading packages.

Two years ago my sister came in Christmas eve with this GINORMOUS box for me. I said to my mom privately, I bet she did that smaller box inside a smaller box thing. Sigh. My mom told me to just play along.

So dedicated to playing along to what I generally think is a really trite prank I opened the first box. Inside it was another box of course but i was surprised to see it was also wrapped. I opened that one. Inside it was another wrapped box. I went through at least 7 boxes all wrapped. Some were so tightly together I could barely pry them apart. I was laughing my ass off. Finally in the last box was Psych season 2 which I really really wanted. So the entire endeavor was awesome.

makare said:

For me the wrapping is the "it's the thought that counts" part. If someone doesn't wrap a present they give me I generally feel the gift was just perfunctory and I'm pretty disappointed. Frankly I'd rather not get the gift at all then.

I love wrapping presents for people. Getting just the right colors and ribbon combination. It's my favorite part of presents.

Click to expand...

I guess that is where we differ. I mean, if I take the time and money to buy a present for a person that should be good enough. Cause I don't buy present for everyone. There is a small group of friends I buy presents for (due to limit budget) some may only get a card.

A certain member of my family who shares the same initials as I do, once took their sisters favourite doll and wrapped it up in Christmas paper and stuck it under the tree. There was much crying over the lost dolly >

So if you're not wrapping presents you're missing out on both good and evil, you filthy neutrals.

makare said:

Two years ago my sister came in Christmas eve with this GINORMOUS box for me. I said to my mom privately, I bet she did that smaller box inside a smaller box thing. Sigh. My mom told me to just play along.

So dedicated to playing along to what I generally think is a really trite prank I opened the first box. Inside it was another box of course but i was surprised to see it was also wrapped. I opened that one. Inside it was another wrapped box. I went through at least 7 boxes all wrapped. Some were so tightly together I could barely pry them apart. I was laughing my ass off. Finally in the last box was Psych season 2 which I really really wanted. So the entire endeavor was awesome.

Click to expand...

One of my sisters put the other through that with six wrapped boxes. The next year, the pranked one came back with 17 layers of wrapping and boxes.

escushion;457796][QUOTE=makare said:

Two years ago my sister came in Christmas eve with this GINORMOUS box for me. I said to my mom privately, I bet she did that smaller box inside a smaller box thing. Sigh. My mom told me to just play along.

So dedicated to playing along to what I generally think is a really trite prank I opened the first box. Inside it was another box of course but i was surprised to see it was also wrapped. I opened that one. Inside it was another wrapped box. I went through at least 7 boxes all wrapped. Some were so tightly together I could barely pry them apart. I was laughing my ass off. Finally in the last box was Psych season 2 which I really really wanted. So the entire endeavor was awesome.

Click to expand...

One of my sisters put the other through that with six wrapped boxes. The next year, the pranked one came back with 17 layers of wrapping and boxes.[/QUOTE]

That is fantastic!!

Chibibar;457783][QUOTE=makare said:

For me the wrapping is the "it's the thought that counts" part. If someone doesn't wrap a present they give me I generally feel the gift was just perfunctory and I'm pretty disappointed. Frankly I'd rather not get the gift at all then.

I love wrapping presents for people. Getting just the right colors and ribbon combination. It's my favorite part of presents.

Click to expand...

I guess that is where we differ. I mean, if I take the time and money to buy a present for a person that should be good enough. Cause I don't buy present for everyone. There is a small group of friends I buy presents for (due to limit budget) some may only get a card.[/QUOTE]
Not addressed to me, but I still thought I'd offer my view.

I value my time and money as much as the next person, but I think wrapping gifts is an incredibly efficient process. Taking the hour or so each year to wrap christmas presents provides one of the best bang for the buck ratios there are, in my experience.

However, a lot of it depends on the person receiving the gift, of course.

TommiR;457804][QUOTE=Chibibar;457783][QUOTE=makare said:

For me the wrapping is the "it's the thought that counts" part. If someone doesn't wrap a present they give me I generally feel the gift was just perfunctory and I'm pretty disappointed. Frankly I'd rather not get the gift at all then.

I love wrapping presents for people. Getting just the right colors and ribbon combination. It's my favorite part of presents.

Click to expand...

I guess that is where we differ. I mean, if I take the time and money to buy a present for a person that should be good enough. Cause I don't buy present for everyone. There is a small group of friends I buy presents for (due to limit budget) some may only get a card.[/QUOTE]
Not addressed to me, but I still thought I'd offer my view.

I value my time and money as much as the next person, but I think wrapping gifts is an incredibly efficient process. Taking the hour or so each year to wrap christmas presents provides one of the best bang for the buck ratios there are, in my experience.

However, a lot of it depends on the person receiving the gift, of course.[/QUOTE]

True, but if you are willing to shell out say... at least 2.50$ per gift in wrapping (if it was THAT cheap and of course average) after 5 presents you could have bought another person who can use a present. You could have donate that 12.50$ to charity organization, or even buy a toy for tots (or another one. I usually buy at least 2-4 each year and drop them in the box) and that doesn't include taxes.

Of course, If I was a millionaire, I'll wrap everyone's presents

---------- Post added at 04:38 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:36 PM ----------

Note: I am not against anyone wrapping presents. My wife does it and spend tons of money (this year alone spend at LEAST over 50$ in ribbons and papers) that is like another PS3 game for someone or at least 5 games on Steam Sales I just personally find it a waste of good money that can go toward something else. Especially that 50$ is not going to get recycle or have a use for 50$ worth.

Since I see it as a very meaningful and fun part of the gift I don't see it as a waste at all.

Chibibar said:

True, but if you are willing to shell out say... at least 2.50$ per gift in wrapping (if it was THAT cheap and of course average) after 5 presents you could have bought another person who can use a present. You could have donate that 12.50$ to charity organization, or even buy a toy for tots (or another one. I usually buy at least 2-4 each year and drop them in the box) and that doesn't include taxes.

Of course, If I was a millionaire, I'll wrap everyone's presents

---------- Post added at 04:38 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:36 PM ----------

Note: I am not against anyone wrapping presents. My wife does it and spend tons of money (this year alone spend at LEAST over 50$ in ribbons and papers) that is like another PS3 game for someone or at least 5 games on Steam Sales I just personally find it a waste of good money that can go toward something else. Especially that 50$ is not going to get recycle or have a use for 50$ worth.

Click to expand...

:wtf: Okay, I didn't know gift wrapping was that expensive in the States. I usually buy a roll or two of christmas paper, a ball of that christmas present ribbon and a bunch of those nice cards you write the receivers' names on. Costs like 10 euros max.

If I had to fork over the kind of money you mentioned, I too might think differently.

We got three rolls of paper for 2 dollars. Im not sure where Chibis wife shops...

makare said:

We got three rolls of paper for 2 dollars. Im not sure where Chibis wife shops...

Click to expand...

A roll of ribbons (nice one) around 4-5$ a per roll
Papers.. usually different type for lots of presents usually runs around 2-5$ a roll (usually buy like 4-5 rolls)
bows - some of the nicer bows are $1.50 each
edit: and boxes. I try to recycle some boxes, but some presents require boxes those can go around from 50 cents to 3 dollars each.


now of course she DOES wrap a lot of presents for people. I think last year she wrapped over 30 gifts with some nice ribbons (those silk one with gold lace/sprinkles whatever)
it is not 50$ PER person... it is for the whole group.

There is no way it is $2.50 per gift for wrapping supplies.

Most people can wrap a present for pennies worth of materials, my wife's Aunt does ridiculously extravagant wrapping that would probably cost over ten dollars per gift.

My presents are usually wrapped. Even if I use newspaper comic pages.

When I was five alll my presents were wrapped in tin foil . it was fun.

The sound of unwrapping several tin foil wrapped boxes that would have ensued at my house with my siblings and I, that of ripping tin foil grinding against itself and small children shrieking with joy, would probably have made me hate christmas forever.

This was just birthday actually so it was only me opening them. I don't remember it making a bad sound.

The sound of tearing tin foil, like nails on a chalkboard for some, sends horrid shivers down my spine personally. One of those things I just cannot stand, like you and cilantro I imagine .

Well I was also five... and getting presents.

I hate wrapping, but I do it... or I let Jake do it. I swear, that guy is like freaking Santa Clause. He's so goddamn gleeful around this time of year. Buying and wrapping presents is my least favorite part of the holiday even though I love giving them. I just hate shopping, and my clumsy, chubby fingers hate wrapping. But him--he loves it. Like makare says, it's as important to him as selecting the gift itself. Even though I don't feel the same, I admit I'm touched by his desire for everything about a gift to be absolutely perfect from the selection to the choice of bow to the card.

...I think I've unwittingly uncovered yet another reason why I love that goober so much. Gah, this crazy season.

Everyone knows which presents come from me because they are usually the best wrapped, but more importantly, they never have a card.

I just write my message right onto the wrapping paper.

^I *LOVE* that. More people should do that.

Aw the tags are so cute though. This year we got old fashion string ones. Should be fun.

I like using either boxes that I can just tie ribbon around, or bags with a bit of tissue paper. Sometimes I like to use the Sunday comics as wrapping paper.

I talk with my wife (I gotta get her to post here) she reminded me that she only use SILK ribbons (with wires in them) those cost more and thick wrapping paper... She does not use those cheap wrapping thin paper that almost tear (dollar store and stuff)
Trust me, those ribbon cost. Also we seem to keep buying scissors each year (good one like material scissors)
She also wraps stocking stuffers.... yea... she does that.

phil said:

I like using either boxes that I can just tie ribbon around, or bags with a bit of tissue paper. Sometimes I like to use the Sunday comics as wrapping paper.

Click to expand...

You know, I kinda like that too. When I was a kid and saw movies where other kids had presents placed in prefect little brown boxes with a simple red ribbon around it, I thought it was so charming.

Chibibar said:

I talk with my wife (I gotta get her to post here) she reminded me that she only use SILK ribbons (with wires in them) those cost more and thick wrapping paper... She does not use those cheap wrapping thin paper that almost tear (dollar store and stuff)
Trust me, those ribbon cost. Also we seem to keep buying scissors each year (good one like material scissors)
She also wraps stocking stuffers.... yea... she does that.

Click to expand...

I totally am pissed if stocking stuff isn't wrapped.......I wrap everything and in pretty decorated usually cartoon like paper...I enjoy peanuts paper or sometimes even spongebob ! Yep I'm a big baby and I'm proud of it lol !~

I once wrapped the Monty Python Flying Circus complete collection pack in tinfoil, with a paper napkin inside and next to a little carton of chocolate milk. Nobody expected that, even though I'm probably the only one to find this funny.

Otherwise, as I usually get everybody dvds, I usually use envelopes to wrap the presents. My sister finds it pretty weird that the presents form my letter to santa (and the 3 wise men) always come wrapped in this weird way, but she actually likes that hers usually have nice stickers on and inside them.

There is some psychological value to the act of removing, via somewhat violent means, the present's veil to discover its innermost secrets.

Chibibar said:

I talk with my wife (I gotta get her to post here) she reminded me that she only use SILK ribbons (with wires in them) those cost more and thick wrapping paper... She does not use those cheap wrapping thin paper that almost tear (dollar store and stuff)
Trust me, those ribbon cost. Also we seem to keep buying scissors each year (good one like material scissors)
She also wraps stocking stuffers.... yea... she does that.

Click to expand...

In my defense I have used the same roll of wrapping paper for over 8 years and it will most likely last another 10 before I finish it and the smaller rolls I buy only one of those a year. ( need the mix in the colors under the tree.
It is true that I do use the more expensive ribbon for the presents which is about 5$ a roll but I do not use the full roll each year and use it for other items as well.
The scissors... I can only say they are good at running away. Whenever I need a pair of fabric scissors there is none to be found which causes me to have to buy a new pair.
Presents should be wrapped it gives the person the fun of opening the surprise. I do tend to go overboard but I did spend a few years wrapping things proffesionally so sub standard wrapping will not do for me. ;P

In my family presents from our parents and relatives came wrapped, and went under the Christmas tree. (Except for our Christmas Eve present of pajamas, which usually weren't wapped.) Presents from Santa Claus were never wrapped, but we did have totally awesome stockings that my mom made for us out of felt. Each had our name on them, and then two different classic toys and a wrapped present. I'm going to make the same for my kids (if I ever have any) and I hope I can do as good a job as my mom.