Does anyone send (or receive) paper greeting cards?

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badatmath

Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
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I have one elderly relative that I still send 2 paper greeting cards to but I kind of low key resent it. It isn't the cost I just think it is stupid to drive to a store and waste money on something that will be thrown in the trash anyway. . . I keep telling myself to buck up it only takes a few minutes but after a lifetime of cheesy worthless cards I don't want to buy more. Nor do I want to get any. But I don't want to be rude by just stopping. Well, okay yes I kind of do want to be rude I guess . . . hence the reason for the thread. No idea if this would be upsetting to the relative but likely so as everything upsets them.

Does everyone else still buy cards/like getting them?
 
We send them to our parents and a few close friends, but not many. And about 50 holiday cards in December.

Despite the ease of electronic communication it is still nice to get snail mail that isn't a bill or junk mail.

We go into a card store 3 or 4 times per year and stock up on what we need.
 
I send cards occasionally, but they’re always the cheap kind, $1.00 max. I’m also still trying to use up cards and postcards and stamps from back in the days of my grandparents and parents if I can. Some of my envelopes can have ten stamps or more, none of the forever variety. My goal is to be done with cards within a few years
 
We still send around 100 cards out every Christmas. My wife still sends at least 30 birthday, sympathy or thank you cards to friends and relatives every year.

You want to surprise someone and show you really care? Send them a handwritten, hand addressed multi-page letter in your own handwriting. Mistakes and all. It will be the first one they have gotten in years. Maybe ever.
 
I send out a few a year, for birthdays and Valentine's Day. I get them at the supermarket or CVS. If I happen to be shopping at a dollar store, I'll get them there instead because they are expensive otherwise. The local dollar store closed a few years ago, so it is a little out of my way to go to the next closest.
 
Birthday cards, anniversary cards and most of all, Thank You cards.

We like receiving them too. They're like little presents that you have to open to see what's inside.

Just shows that you cared enough to take the time.
 
My aunt is 88 and living in assisted living. I still send her a birthday card, a Christmas card, and a Mother's Day card every year. (She "mothered" me through some difficult teenage years). I know she appreciates the cards.

I send birthday cards and anniversary cards to a handful of friends, and I receive birthday cards from them. My grocery store happens to have a wonderful variety of cards, so I browse there and pre-buy cards throughout the year when I think of it.

For several years I've also been sending retirement cards to friends (in fact, one is retiring in three weeks)! Those are fun to choose and send.

I have two young folks in my life to whom I've sent birthday cards since they were born - and this week I bought graduation cards for them - they are both graduating high school; time flies!

I enjoy hunting for just the right card for each person for each occasion. I don't begrudge the cost, or the time required - it brings a smile to people I care about, and that is priceless to me.

I don't buy Christmas cards at the grocery store; I buy a box every few years on sale and send out a few cards every year. That way I have a variety of cards to choose from depending on the personality of the recipient.

A few years ago a friend of mine took the front of a Christmas card I sent her and used decoupage to decorate a lovely wooden box with it, then sent me a picture of it. She is my super-crafty friend! 😍
 
Christmas time. Not many but about a handful.
 
Sympathy card: always (a death is an event when I can't imagine not sending a card)
Thank you card: sometimes
Birthday: Only 1 a year now
Thinking of you: occasionally, when someone I love is going through a really rough time
Winter holiday: a handful each year

I probably bought my last Valentine's Day card this year, for my mom before she died. She loved cards; they were one of her last remaining joys.

My husband and I no longer exchange cards on any occasion.
 
Parent is in assisted living (Alzheimer’s) and we send cards for any occasion. We visit at least once a week and Mom has the cards all taped to the wall in her room.

We have a big drawer of blank cards at the house and when our kids come by we encourage them to grab a card to send to G’ma.
 
badatmath said:
I have one elderly relative that I still send 2 paper greeting cards to but I kind of low key resent it. It isn't the cost I just think it is stupid to drive to a store and waste money on something that will be thrown in the trash anyway. . . I keep telling myself to buck up it only takes a few minutes but after a lifetime of cheesy worthless cards I don't want to buy more. Nor do I want to get any. But I don't want to be rude by just stopping. Well, okay yes I kind of do want to be rude I guess . . . hence the reason for the thread. No idea if this would be upsetting to the relative but likely so as everything upsets them.

Does everyone else still buy cards/like getting them?
Click to expand...
“It’s the thought that counts.”

But really, why bother seeing friends and family in person when you can just hop on Zoom and call it a day?
 
I am having to declutter/recycle all the decades of cards with basically no content that DM received but never cleared out afterwards. Plus all the cards she bought meaning to send, and then rebought when she couldn’t find the originals. Not to mention all the “free” blank greeting/seasonal cards that charities send her!

Sometimes I ask DM if she wants to save a card with a message or photo written inside, but for the most part she is ready to let them go now.
 
A few christmas cards, mostly to family. I am done spending lost hours of my life standing in the store looking at card after card going "nope" and leaving with nothing, or paying $7 for a card.

I usually still get a Mother's day card for Mum. But rarely anything else.
 
We send Christmas cards, but the list has dwindled over the years. If someone doesn't send one to us for a couple of years, that's a sign that they're not into it and we respect that.

Birthday cards to kids and grandkids. I suppose they think it's a quaint, old-fashioned quirk.

I'd say in-person events like birthday parties or weddings do still require brining a card. But I think the whole idea of mailing paper cards will probably die out with our generation.
 
DW does for Birthdays and Christmas. Not many to send anymore.
 
I still send them for relatives and friends. Unfortunately, I sent out four sympathy cards last week. I need to get a graduation card for my oldest granddaughter soon.

I will admit that I like getting cards also. I did not receive a birthday card from my daughter and son this year and it did hurt my feelings. I would never tell them this though.
 
I do exchange cards with those who like to do so. I typically look for cards at the dollar store, other than Christmas cards. I used to buy them in boxes, but since we've had grandchildren, we design our own cards (as do several of our relatives).
 
Yes. They seem to be very much appreciated. I really don’t get the question if you look in any grocery, drug, or dollar store they all have a wide selection at various price points so obviously they are popular. I often get a humorous card along with a serious one for most family members and friend events. They do get pricey but places I go also feature a selection for 99 cents.
I guess OP is mostly venting
 
jazz4cash said:
Yes. They seem to be very much appreciated. I really don’t get the question if you look in any grocery, drug, or dollar store they all have a wide selection at various price points so obviously they are popular. I often get a humorous card along with a serious one for most family members and friend events. They do get pricey but places I go also feature a selection for 99 cents.
I guess OP is mostly venting
Click to expand...
I look at it for about 2 seconds and pitch it in the trash. I just wondered how others felt.

I haven't ever gotten ones with any nice notes. Mostly people just sign their name which is all I do as well. Just another obligation to check off.
 
Last edited:
badatmath said:
I have one elderly relative that I still send 2 paper greeting cards to but I kind of low key resent it. It isn't the cost I just think it is stupid to drive to a store and waste money on something that will be thrown in the trash anyway.
Click to expand...
If you're going to look at it that way, there are many things we use which end up in the trash after we've had our use from them. I get good use from the cards I receive before they get recycled. I don't send or receive many cards these days but the ones I do get I enjoy. Birthday and Christmas cards remain on display for a while then, each year, they get bundled up and put in a box. I like to look through the old ones from time to time to see who was sending me cards, and to read any extra little messages they might have included. I look after my neighbor's kitty whenever she goes away. She doesn't need to, but she likes to give me a small gift as a thank you, along with a card with a handwritten note of thanks. The gift is usually something edible. As well as the (very few, admittedly) Christmas cards sent and received in the mail, I send and receive Christmas cards with neighbors on the street each year.

Call me old-fashioned, but I think that notes and cards, especially if unexpected, can be a welcome surprise.
 
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