I'm going to share a radical thought here: you really do NOT need to buy new cards for recurring occasions! Hear me out...
The feeling of giving and getting a card (or multiple cards) on a special day is absolutely lovely and affirming. It indicates thoughtfulness and a depiction of what the recipient means to the giver. This is potentially of great significance in a new or budding relationship, or with young(er) children, and I am not suggesting a repeal of card-giving.
But if you've been in a relationship for a long time, buying those cards can start to seem wasteful; how many trees need to die to communicate the same loving thoughts year after year, and how much money needs to be spent to do the same? (Seriously, greeting cards are EXPENSIVE these days -- especially if you like to give a few cards for each occasion). While Hallmark would beg to differ, in my opinion there are five annual occasions which likely compel a person to get a greeting card for a loved one:
Birthdays
Anniversaries
Valentine's Day
Mother's Day
Father's Day
So, how do you show that you care (enough to give the very best) and remember those important days while helping to save the planet and some money? For me, the answer lies in recycling the same cards year after year! After all, as we age, the likelihood of remembering a card given to us a year ago diminishes greatly, so the same great card can be used over and over again.
How does it work?
Simple! When you have found a really perfect/ great card for someone, you know it. You can tell by the reaction. When you hit the jackpot (the recipient laughs or cries or shares it with others), just take the card back after the recipient has oohed and ahhed for however long is appropriate in your family. Stick it in a drawer, with the occasion on the envelope (ie "for my husband on Valentine's Day" or "Happy Birthday, John" or whatever). Pull out appropriate card next year.
If you are concerned the recipient may remember the card, then alternate cards every other year (2 sets -- one for years ending in an even number, another set for years ending in odd numbers).
The Ground Rules
Among couples/ families, there needs to be an agreement by both parties. If it is for an aging relative, you can pretty much just re-use the cards without the envelope -- realistically nobody over a certain age is going to remember cards from a year ago (especially most septuagenarians or octogenarians (or those older)).
So save a tree and always have the perfect card on-hand for the holidays you and your loved ones celebrate.
But remember, you still need to remember the actual day to give the card!
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