15 ways to repurpose those holiday “unwanteds”

• Take all those leftover chocolate bars, giant Hershey’s kisses, etc. and freeze, taking them out when needed to grate chocolate to put on top of desserts.
• Instead of tossing your Christmas tree onto the curb, cut it up and throw it in the fireplace. This will save money on kindling – plus you burn calories chopping up the tree! If you live near a farm, goats love to eat Christmas trees. Just ask the farmer first if it’s okay as some animals are on a strict diet.
• Leftover gift wrap can be folded and used for another year, or depending on what it is made of, can be put in the fireplace.
• You can also shred leftover gift wrap to make New Year’s confetti! (Idea by One Good Thing by Jillee.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

• Shredded wrapping paper also makes great packing material.
• Crinkled gift tissue is perfect for wrapping up all those delicate ornaments that can break when you put them in a box to store away for the following year.
• Sell unwanted gifts at yard sales or eBay – or return or regift.
• Got leftover candy canes? Don’t save them until next year – they tend to get sticky. Instead, check out these yummy recipes from Recipes 4 Living. Oreo peppermint balls, anyone?
• Leftover candy can be sent to our troops overseas through Operation Gratitude. Spare your hips the extra calories by treating the troops to a care package!
• Leave it to Martha Stewart to come up with a clever and classy way to recycle your Christmas cards. What you need: holiday cards, cardboard, craft glue, scissors, needle and thread.

 

• Send used (any occasion) cards to St. Jude’s Ranch for Children. They will recycle your used greeting cards and create new holiday and all-occasion greeting cards. The “new” cards are then sold to support programs and services for abused, neglected and homeless children, young adults and families.
• Now that your kids have all these new gifts, have them clean out their outgrown toys and donate them for a write-off. Here’s how to determine the tax deduction value of donated items.
• Returning books or CDs without a gift receipt or any receipt is nearly impossible these days. But you can donate these items to your library for a write off. Tax season is right around the corner!
• Unwanted gift cards can be sold, traded or regifted.
• Repurpose Christmas tree branches to make a lovely “Evergreen table” like this one put together by Inspiring Homestyle.

What do you do with your leftover holiday “unwanteds”?