If I am putting money into a greeting card or if I am going to a party where there will be lots of presents, then of course I used greeting cards. Cards are also good to reach out to someone after a big life event, whether happy or sad. But I buy the cheapest ones, usually 50 cents, because the card is merely serving a purpose and will get thrown away. Recently, a friend send me a Halloween card and my son's aunt sent him a Halloween card. Of course I appreciate the thought that went behind sending a card, please don't misunderstand me. But for my son, especially, (he is three) he was excited to get mail but didn't really care beyond that. When I want to cheer up someone's mail, I will spend the lowest amount possible for a card, or just maybe write on a piece of paper a little note and use the money that would have been spent on a card for a small present or a gift card. A matchbox car is 88 cents and he would have played with that all day. The most he can do with a card is draw on it like he would any piece of paper. I don't want to sound ungrateful, it's just that store bought greeting cards seem like such a waste of money and if you are going to spend a few bucks, why not send a tangible present?
So cleary cards mean something different to different people. What I mean is sending a card with nothing inside, not even a picture, no personal words, just a "love, so and so". If my SIL had sent a picture of the kids from a birthday party or just even a pic of her own kids it would be so much more meaningful. I recently recieved a lovely letter from a former teacher and it really meant a lot to me. To me, a card is a cop-out. It like, yeah, I thought of you but I don't think of you enough to send you something you could really appreciate or write some special words to make it personal. To be fair, I am somewhat "in the closet" about my feelings on cards except to my close family.
And Tracy, I would not say he was "thrilled", ok? He was excited for a minute but then he realized it was just a picture o a dog dressed as a pirate and he was over it. lol
I generally refuse to buy greeting cards if I am giving the gift in person. I instead make a cute post card type name tag with a cute stamp on it and a written message. I'd rather put $3-5 into the gift.
For Mother's Day and Father's Day, though, I do mail a card but I also choose one that is cheaper. I think store-bought cards are such a rip-off!
I am so not a card giver myself. Gift works for me. If I give money then yes a card at the $1.00 section. They are just going to trash it. You are not alone. ;)
There is a running joke in my husband's family. They often use the same card numerous cards. No one writes anything inside the card. We just buy various envelops and enclose a sweet note. It started when my SIL was doing through a divorce years ago and was on a limited budget so she would re-purpose the cards as a joke to family members. We have one card that has made the go around for over 7 years. We think it's kinda funny.
Cards are great and it's a shame that technology is impacting them. A card shows that someone thought of you either in advance or maybe "just because."
I'd much rather get a card in the mail than a last-minute text on my birthday, or if I'm ill.
And yes, cards are stil cheaper to send than presents. This is a good lesson to teach your son. Someone is thinking of you and it doesn't have to be material.
I have a limit to the amount I will spend, but I do love when I find the "Perfect Card" for someone. Pugs for my dad, White fluff pups for my mom, Special Quotes for my best friend...etc...It is worth it to me to send it and show them I was thanking of them.. Otherwise I will use my personal notes or cards.
I also appreciate the perfect card given to me. I know they took the time to search for it or thought of me when they saw it.
I actually have been saving one card for a young man who is in Medical School. I purchased it the day he announced he would be attending Medical school. For his graduation I will pop it into the mail.
When our daughter was young, I had her make her own cards. I just used one of her drawings had her "sign it" and then I would date it, pop it in an envelope or roll it up with some ribbon .
I agree 100% cards are a waste of money and paper but some people still expect them.
I hate cards. They signify to mean lots of dead trees and wasted money.
The one thing I love about having kids is that they can make people cards. It keeps them occupied and the people they give them to loves them.
I only buy cards if I absolutely have to, and any card given to me is thrown away almost immediately (with that said, I have cards hubby gave me and I gave him, but only because of the notes inside!)
I haaaaaate store bought cards! Buying them (which I have done exactly ONE time in my life), receiving them, the dumb guilt I feel when I throw them all away en masse... I would rather receive someone's ACTUAL thoughts written on the back of gum wrapper than another "What is a Grand-daughter?" Hallmark number. I *love* stationery, just hate canned sentimentality
I am with you. I like pictures. I just bought a good Canon printer, so lately I print out a picture, write in the back or insert it with a card to make it more special. For the kids birthdays, I get my kids (who are 7 and 4, so a bit older than yours) to hand make a card for the birthday friend. I am with you.. I don't put a lot of value on an expensive card. I do have a box of cards (blank inside) which is a lot cheaper than individual cards and I use them for many different occasions. Best
When I'm picking out a card it takes forever because I have to read through every one just to make sure it fits for the person I'm getting it for. I usually don't even look at the price LOL. If I'm sending it then I'd rather send a gift card with it rather then send a present, it seems like a waste to pay for shipping.
I'm with you. Since the text in the card is already pre-written it seems not very personal at all. I'd rather get a short letter written on a plain piece of paper or even an e-mail than a card without any personal text.
presents cost more to send.
Cards are smaller , cost less postage, and there's no hassle of having to wrap it twice.
I buy the better cards because well , that's what I like and I can't usually actually think of something else to say to write something in it.
I don't mind cards, getting them or giving them. What I hate is having to go through a million cards that drone on and on and on with corny dribble just to find one that just says happy birthday or congratulations or is blank inside (jackpot!). I would much rather write my own words inside, but do appreciate having a pretty card to write it in because no one would want a hand drawn card by me, lol!
I am all over the board on cards. I love getting them from certain people. People I know went thru that long visit to a card shop and invested the time to find the one with just the right words. Like when my beloved niece wanted to tell me she was pregnant, in the Mothers day card I ALWAYS have gotten since she was old enough to buy them with her own money (whether her Mom, my sister, liked the idea or not). She was about 6 and I was 13 when I started getting them...Grandma (my Mom) took her shopping! LOL
But those cheap, I just plucked it out for a card to offer ones...I would rather they skipped it and sent me a text or email or called me.
When I am going to a party and offering a gift in person...mostly birthdays where the items are opened there...I just make a cutesy namecard TO and FROM deal. Most weddings and graduations I give money or gift cards, so I get a nice card to ut it in. I only LIKE the nice ones that cost more..fancy paper and all. I buy the ones I would like to recieve I guess.
I love getting cards. And I send cards to my grandchildren even if they can't read. It lets them know that I'm thinking about them and that I took my time to go buy a card. I have, in the past, send a card with pictures from a weekend that my grandchild spent with me. I see them all the time, it's not that. But in between visits, they are thrilled to get a card in the mail with a picture to remind them of the fun time they had at grandma's that weekend. So. I definitely don't believe it's a waste of money, I believe it's an investment in my relationship with my grandkids. I know that when they get older,. they will tell their kids how their grandmother used to send them cards in the mail and they loved getting them! How could that memory be considered a waste of money!
Cards in our family are displayed for the week of the birthday/celebration etc. Christmas cards are displayed for a month. We all do it. I appreciate them, and unfortunately have got into Spike Milligan's habit of never throwing them away (he apparently kept every piece of correspondence he received).
I think you answered your own question. He was thrilled to get mail.
I'm with you..I don't really get cards either. I think they're being phased out anyway though..with the help of modern technology and handheld gizmos. A card, to me, is more than a thought, but less than a gift. So if I wanted to see how someone was doing, I'd email or text, but I wouldn't send a gift in the mail. Same if I was on the receiving end..I'd rather someone email me than send me a gift every time they want to talk to me. Then my house would be full of "stuff"!
Cards can be used for so much more than throwing away. I love getting cards. I save special ones. the memories they evoke years later when going thru the box is precious. But for the kids. cut out special parts and use for bookmarks, cut them out and make matts for pictures, use them for gift tags, use them for art projects. I buy the cheapie cards for things like weddings and baby showers as they are like you say just to hand over the gift. but a special card can say everything you sometimes can't open your mouth to say. Sending written correspondence is a lost art int he united states. I am sad about that.
