The Easiest Way to Wrap Presents

Okay, maybe I lied. I'm pretty sure the easiest way to wrap presents is either to have them gift-wrapped at the store or to buy a gift bag and drop them in a gift bag. But both of those typically require more financial expenditure than a large roll of gift wrap and some tape. So this is easiest way to wrap presents cheaply.

No, I'm not going off on a tangent and showing you how, through clever use of coupons, I was able to get all of this for $0.05!! Because I've never in my life seen a coupon for Gourmantra meal kits but if I did, I would snatch it up right away because they are awesome except for the fact that they cost $4.99 a box!

Anyways, these boxes are my secret for wrapping Christmas presents. Near the holidays, I start saving all empty boxes--cereal boxes, Bisquick boxes, macaroni and cheese boxes. And then I put whatever presents I'm giving away in these boxes before I wrap them. This accomplishes three very important purposes:

1. Square or rectangular shapes are the easiest shapes to wrap and have them turn out looking nice, however, not all presents are square or rectangular. Add an empty box from your cupboard, and you've suddenly turned whatever you just bought into the appropriate present-wrapping shape.

2. The shape of the boxes helps disguise the actual identity of the present from clever gift-receivers who like to peek at their presents and analyze what they might be. This is especially important in our family! I mean, come on--everyone knows the tell-tale shape of a cd or dvd case! And if the present is soft and squishy, that gives you a hint that it might be a sweater! But make the present in the shape of a cereal box, and there's no telling what might be inside!

3. These boxes cause momentary confusion on the part of the person opening them if they don't already know that you are in the habit of wrapping presents this way. "Oh, thank you, Rachel, I always wanted.....Bisquick??" And then they are happily surprised by the more appropriate contents of the box.

 This method in action. Note the store-brand Wheat Chex box. 

So there you have it. That's my strategy. And yes, I know there is such a thing as buying cardboard boxes specifically made for gift wrapping, and that's probably the classier way to go. But this is more environmentally friendly, if that makes you feel better about being thrifty.