Packing up Christmas

Today is that dreaded day, the day where I tackle under the Christmas tree.  Despite that we cut down on the amount of presents bought and the money spent the number of gift bags and tissue paper looked like it grew.  When I tidy up this mess of Christmas I save everything that I can.  I have a bin that I put all the tissue paper that I can save in to re-use.  I flatten it as best as I can and fold it up for the container. When I was out shopping the Boxing Day sales with a friend I did pick up a package of white tissue paper half price in case I needed it.  I buy 1 new package a year, this year it was 64 cents.  The rest of my tissue paper is recycled from birthday parties and Christmas.  This little tip will save you a few dollars a year.
Next I sorted out every gift bag that was in the house.  Surprisingly we have a lot of gift bags!  I had two large plastic gift bags that the handle broke off of, and used one for Christmas and one for birthday themes.  I folded each gift bag into the "holder bag" and I should have enough to last eternity.  Until today these bags were saved each year but just shoved in an area of my basement.  I did find some Valentine bags that I added to my Valentine storage tub.  Not needing to buy a gift bag for each event saves at least $1.15 a bag.
I also went through the wrapping paper that I have and organized into two categories, Christmas and everything else.  I had bought the storage containers half price at Canadian Tire three years ago. I also weeded out the character wrapping paper that I had that I know the kids won't like anymore. Dora, really???Obviously forgot about that roll of paper for the past 4 years.  I filed that in the Yard Sale area of my basement.
Lastly, all the bows were placed in an open gift bow bag.  Although the stickiness is long gone, it is nothing that some Scotch tape can't fix.
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