Tis the season of gifting, and if you're like most people, wrapping gifts can often be an expensive, sometimes stressful and wasteful afterthought.
You might be surprised to find that you don't need to run out to the store to buy a roll of generic paper and some tacky ribbons. Even if you don't find alternatives at home in your recycling box or craft drawers, a trip to the thrift store may be the solution.
Consider wrapping your gift in something reusable, such as a basket, tea towel or fabric gift bag. Some gifts already come in attractive packaging, like homemade preserves or a bottle of wine, and might just need a paper label that can be dressed up with a stamp, sprig of rosemary, or cedar branch. Kraft or clean butcher paper can be a great canvas for children to decorate and use for wrapping as well.
A fun way to avoid wrapping altogether is to create a treasure map to find a present. The hunt ends up being a part of the gift and is great for kids, though adults are not immune to the thrill of earning their way to a prize. Your clues can be as simple as an image of the location of the next clue, or as complex as a riddle.
In a pinch, you can skip the wrapping by making the person receiving the gift close their eyes and feel the gift first, guessing what it might be.
The gift you never need to wrap is the offer of your time. What about making a book of coupons that can be redeemed with a few days notice? Include household chores or other treats your loved one would appreciate, such as a foot massage, and offer to organize the recycling, or a “skip the dishes” dinner night out coupon.
If you have a little time on your hands and are crafty, sew up a few fabric drawstring gift bags. These will make wrapping a cinch, and you can keep these special bags within the family so they are available every year. It will make cleaning up after Christmas morning a total breeze, and take the thinking out of wrapping for many years to come.
Whatever your plans are to celebrate the loved ones in your life this year, try your best to avoid guilt-based gifts. Check in with friends and family if you would rather skip the potential stress of gifting.
Suggest going skating, hitting the slopes, or having a dinner and games night instead. Also steer clear of cheap, plastic-laden gag gifts that will soon be headed for the thrift store or landfill in Powell River.
This season, focus on creating memories, not garbage.
Let’s Talk Trash is qathet Regional District’s waste-reduction education program.
