The holidays are already expensive enough, without the added expense of wrapping paper and gift bags. It can be shocking how much it is just to wrap gifts that are about to be ravaged by children and family anyway. Save yourself at least part of this added expense by taking advantage of one of these 5 alternatives to expensive wrapping paper. These wrapping paper alternatives often use items you already have lying around the house.

5 Wrapping Paper Alternatives

1. Butcher Paper & Twine

Butcher paper is growing in popularity not just because it is inexpensive, but because it gives your presents an up-scale but rustic look. Butcher paper is readily available at big box stores and comes with a lot more yardage than your typical wrapping paper. Add some simple twine and a handmade gift tag to create a beautiful but casual look for your Christmas gifts.

2. Newspaper

If you have a newspaper description, you have fun wrapping paper readily at your disposal. Wrap the gifts in the section of the paper most appealing to the recipient for a fun added touch. The comics for kids, sports section for the men in your life, and so on.

3. One Large Gift Bag or Sack

When you have multiple gifts for one person, consider purchasing one large gift bag or sack instead of individually wrapping items. My grandmother always had a large gift bag for each person with gifts stacked inside. You can either lay tissue paper over the top to conceal what is inside or quickly wrap each item with cheap tissue paper.

4. Dollar Store Savings

When you want to stick with the look of traditional wrapping paper but don’t want to pay the hefty price tag, take a trip to your local dollar store. You can get everything from wrapping paper to tape and often at a considerably lower price than you would pay at other stores.

5. Fabric Scraps

If you are a sewer, chances are you have some extra fabric laying around. If not, Christmas fabric is readily available at your local craft store if you don’t already have a stockpile. Cut a piece large enough to surround the present, gather it at the top, and tie it shut with a piece of decorative ribbon. This is a great idea for those oddly shaped Christmas presents that are difficult to wrap with traditional wrapping paper.

Hopefully, these wrapping paper alternatives have encouraged you to try something new this year. If you have an idea we haven’t thought of, share it with us on our Facebook page. We would also love to see any photos of uniquely wrapped Christmas presents that you would like to share.