‘Genius’: Woolies shoppers re-use 20c bags as Christmas wrapping paper

A shopper has stunned her followers after revealing a “genius” Christmas hack using Woolworths shopping bags.

A Melbourne mum has shared her “genius” hack for saving big on festive wrapping paper.

With Christmas just around the corner, Aussies are feeling the pinch more than ever as the cost of living crisis continues.

From gifts to food, decorations and lights, many of us are guilty of spending more than what we would like to at this time of year.

Even simple things such as wrapping paper can add up, especially with big families – but Shantelle Conway may have found the perfect solution.

The mum shared a now viral video to TikTok where she showed off how she transformed her Woolworths paper bags into chic gift wrap, finished with a twine string bow.

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The paper bags can be found at Woolworths. Picture: TikTok/Shantelle Conway

She cut along the lines of the bag. Picture: TikTok/Shantelle Conway

“I did my shopping at Woolworths the other day and I got their reusable bags and at the bottom I could see the little scissors image,” she said.

“They are reusable for your shopping but you can actually use them as wrapping paper.

“I bought this cute cheese board, and decided to chop one of the bags up and give it a go.

Shantelle cut off the bag handles, along with the bottom of the bag and down one side of the bag to have one long sheet of wrapping paper.

“I laid the paper out, folded it over and stuck it all down. Then I did the corners.

“If you want you can add a little bow. I put some twine on it. I love it.

“I wasn’t sure how it would look but gave it a go and loved it.”

The mum said the wrapping paper was “quite thick”, adding that she needed to double up on sticky tape when wrapping.

The 20c brown paper bags feature watermelon-shaped Christmas trees and are found at the Woolworths checkouts.

She bought a cheese board to wrap up for Christmas. Picture: TikTok/Shantelle Conway

The Woolies bag was transformed into wrapping paper. Picture: TikTok/Shantelle Conway

They are slightly more expensive than the 15c plastic reusable bags, however many are noting how this will help them save on wrapping paper this Christmas.

“I actually love this idea, it doesn’t look bad either,” one wrote.

“This is how it was done in the ’80s and early ’90s before plastic bags. My mum always used the brown paper bags for wrapping paper,” another commented.

“This will save so much money on something that just gets thrown out anyway,” someone else said. “Mind blown. Absolutely doing this.”

Earlier this year, a New Zealand woman was praised for her brilliant hack to avoid wrapping paper altogether.

She used glitter-covered cases she found at Kmart to help gift presents to a four-year-old and six-year-old.

“I really despise wrapping paper, so with two birthday parties this weekend … I found these glittery cases at Kmart,” the woman wrote on Facebook.

Many of her followers were shocked at how great it looked. Picture: TikTok/Shantelle Conway

Shantelle added some twine string as a bow. Picture: TikTok/Shantelle Conway

“I filled them with little items worth $1 to $5 such as hair accessories, touchable bubbles, colouring books, whoopie cushion, nail polish, fancy pens, and then topped it up with chocolate and lollies.

“All up, each one cost about $30.”

The woman said she hated the idea of spending money on something that would immediately end up in the bin and hoped the kids would use them, or that they would be regifted.

Dozens of social media uses praised the woman for her idea – while others took issue with the use of plastic.

“My two and six-year-old LOVE their ‘brief cases’ and even though we have had them a year they bring them out and play with them every weekend,” one person said.

Another said: “Love these; my kids would love to receive something like this. Ignore the plastic police, you have done great.”