How to wrap HUGE boxes for cheap (or close to cheap)

[momto1]

So my mom and dad bought my DS and niece these HUGE gifts. So I asked my Mom how she was going to wrap them. She said she did not think she was going to. OK I may be a little biased but I think they should be wrapped, our kids are only 2 and 3. So now I guess I will be wrapping them or at least getting the stuff to get them wrapped. I suggested a fitted sheet or a complete sheet set, that way they can be used. She kind of thumbed her nose at me on that. Am I being ungrateful? I feel they spent almost $200 on the gifts so what is an extra $10 to wrap it? Am I missing the true holiday spirit? Any ideas would be helpful since I need to get something done today or tomorrow.

Thanks!

Happy Holidays!

[Pipanella]

I've used newspaper before, for large gifts.

[cata5]

I was just looking at last year's pictures of the gifts under the tree and there were a few things unwrapped. I think the kids were excited to see those items as they came down the stairs. A vivid memory from my childhood was seeing a game unwrapped under the tree. I don't think the little kids care as much as the older kids about unwrapping the gift. They just like to be surprised with the gift itself.

Garbage bags work well though they are not as pretty. OR you can buy a tree bag pretty cheap. They sometimes have them at the dollar store.

[certified]

Buy paper tablecloths at your local discount store in any color. Bige enough to wrap very large gifts and cheap!

[kmarr]

I have also used newspaper. Maybe you could suggest wrapping them for her in that. Anything else is a bit much. Insisiting that they be wrapped is a very bad idea. Remember they are her grandchildren so these are from Grandparents not parents. You may wrap all your gifts if you like but she may do what she wants with her gifts. We got quite a few unwrapped gifts when we were young and we loved them just as much.

[tlspiegel]

Sometimes it's harder for an older person to wrap gifts than you realize. While reading a lot of the posts here and at another Forum, many are complaining and are young people - it's not necessary for a big gift. Kids don't care. Give your parents a break! I highly doubt if it's the cost of buying wrapping paper and bows etc. It's just hard for them to physically do it, or they just don't want to bother. Sounds like they spent plenty on gifts and that's really nice. Some grandparents don't do a thing!

[Twinplets]

We had two huge boxes among the piles of stuff for the kids, and my thought was to use some of the big Toys R Us bags that all the stuff came in. Put one on one end, tape it to the box, then put another on from the other end, and tape it to the first bag. DH decided we didn't need to bother, and he was right because the kids didn't care when we gave them an unwrapped present. So now I know that we don't need to bother wrapping the other one, either.

[3tbear]

I've used newspapers too. Or I'd buy one of those large red plastic bags that fits a large gift, they even come with the yarn tie and don't cost that much.

[Rockabillie]

Originally Posted by Pipanella

I've used newspaper before, for large gifts.

Me too; I use the comics so the wrapping is colorful!


I do think one should be grateful for such bountiful gifts and not loose sight of the meaning of gift-giving. Older people have to budget their money and often sacrafice to buy things for their grandchildren. It is ungrateful to then criticize them for not wrapping them.

[momto1]

I really guess I should not have explained the situation and just asked how to wrap big presents.
First of all my parents are not old, 58. They are not on a limited budget as you should be able to see by the price that spent on the gifts. I did say that I would do the wrapping, didn't I?
Anyway, come to find out my Dad felt that they should be wrapped, so he did.
I never critized them ever! I would never do that. They also knew that I did not think that they should be spending that kind of money on a present but they did anyway. I am grateful and so is my DS.

I learned a lesson, just ask the question and leave the details out or people will jump all over you.

[Rockabillie]

Originally Posted by momto1

Am I being ungrateful? ... Am I missing the true holiday spirit?

I don't think anyone jumped on you honey.


You DID ASK if you were being ungrateful.
Every once in a while amongst the mad dashes to the mall, the frantic shopping, the last minute wrapping, we all need to be reminded what gift-giving and the holidays are really about.