Gift wrapping supplies are expensive.
Standard rolls of gift-wrapping paper can cost as much as $10 per roll, then there's the additional cost of bows and or ribbons, tape and cards.
Listed below are some alternatives that you might consider when wrapping your gifts for others.

• Use neutral paper.
  Instead of paying a lot of money for pretty paper that will be destroyed once the gift has been opened, purchase some plain brown or white butcher paper.
  It is much cheaper than regular gift-wrapping paper per square foot, but it can also be purchased in bulk for even greater savings.
  
• Wrap a gift in a gift.
  Wrap the gift in a decorative tablecloth, napkin or dish towel.
  The wrapping can washed and used by the recipient of the gift.
  Or you can put the gift in a eco-friendly reusable shopping tote.
  
• Be creative.
  Wrap some of your gifts in ordinary household items such as maps, paper bags, scrapbook paper, tissue paper, scraps of fabric or wallpaper.
  Use your imagination!
• Accessorize gifts wrapped in neutral paper.
  If you are wrapping some gifts in neutral paper, accessorize the wrapping with some greenery or pine cones from your own yard.
  Or you can use some old costume jewelry and yard to decorate some of your packages.
  
• Don't wrap bulky items.
  Instead of going to the trouble and expense of wrapping a large, bulk item, why not take a picture of the item and wrap that instead.
  The real gift will be in hiding in the back bedroom or a closet.
  It will also make it harder for the gift recipient to guess what the gift is.
  
• Reuse before recycling.
  If any of the paper can be reused for wrapping or can be used for another purpose (such as drawing paper for children or package filler), don't be ashamed to do so.
  Ribbons and bows can be easily reused.
  

By being creative, you can still wrap gifts in a festive, interesting way while saving money.
Your friends and family will admire your initiative!