Ask the Frugal Counselor a question and win her recipe book!

[CMack]

Dear Mary,
I'm so pleased you are still taking questions at Wise Bread! Will there be another chance to win your cookbook? I already own my own copy, but they make wonderful gifts!
I attended a wedding shower this weekend and was really struck by the amount of waste in money and resources. All the gifts, somewhere around 60 of them, were wrapped up beautifully in bags, boxes, tissue, paper, bows, and cards. It was all torn off and discarded filling two garbage bags. It seems such a shameful waste!!
I have two weddings coming up in the fall and have purchased down comforters for both couples. I would like to wrap them in some way and considered reusable sheets, however that adds about an additional $30 to the gift, which is more than I can spend. Do you have any suggestions on how I might present the gifts in a way that is both environmentally friendly and frugal? Thank you and I hope I can find you here at Wise Bread for some time to come!

[Mary Webber]

How very nice to hear from you! Yes, I, too, have been struck by the packing and wrapping waste around gift-giving. A comforter cover would have made lovely wrapping, but as you say, that really adds to the cost of the gift. A set of nice pillowcases might work, although it could be a challenge to get the comforters squished enough to fit!

Just plain white tissue paper, especially for weddings, with a lovely ribbon would do. Or consider just be-ribboning the comforters themselves. If it's got to be bags or boxes, at least visit your local dollar store where really nice quality wrappings are available. I know we've wrapped birthday presents in nautical charts, topgraphical maps and anything else that the recipient just might want to keep.

I also like baskets for gift-giving, especially if they are being re-cycled or have been bought really cheaply at the thrift sotre, yard sales, etc. A can of spray paint works miracles on tired baskets - think pink or blue for a baby present, white with silver glitter for a bridal gift, etc. - and a fancy bow on the handle can really dress it up nicely too

While it's sometimes hard - and downright chintzy-looking! - to gather, smooth, and save wrapping papers for re-use, especially at something like a bridal shower, the ribbons, even the boxes and bags, are a different story. And I'll bet ytou're creative enough to come up with lots more cleaver ideas of your own... just be sure to share them with the rest of us please!

[CMack]

Dear Mary,
What a great idea to use maps as wrapping! I have a drawer full of old street maps that will look awesome as gift wrap, especially for the large packages I have to cover. Thanks for a great eco-friendly AND frugal idea!!

[Mary Webber]

The Farmer's Markets and roadside stands are chock-a-block with fresh fruits and veggies... Are YOU taking advantage, shopping local and eating fresh?

[purplefdu]

*squeals in delight* just got mine in the mail today. Husband was dying to figure out "what I ordered that weighed so much" lol. I've been working on getting my work for the day done so I can spend the evening reading.

[Mary Webber]

Excellent! Give me a shout if you have any questions...