Holiday Cards

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-22-1999
Holiday Cards
6
Fri, 11-26-2004 - 10:47am

When are you going to be sending out your holiday cards?

Have you been cutting back on the list of people you mail them to?

Do you have a cost-saving method this year you are using regarding your cards?

What is a reasonable amount of money to spend on a box of cards?

Do you put anything in with your cards like notes, pictures, money?

Avatar for cl_beckymk
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
In reply to: littlesbigs
Fri, 11-26-2004 - 3:49pm

I usually send mine out today but didn't get to it....I was waiting until I got Luke's 1 year old pictures done (I've procrastinated on that but I *really* need to get it done or he will be way past 1 year and pictures to me are priceless...I at least need the yearly professional ones done!!!).


I think I'm just going to have to send them out though as I don't know if I will get it done in time...I have a coupon for the 1 hour place but then I got a better coupon for Sears, so I think I'm going to go with Sears and just send them out without it (I would imagine in the rush for people doing Christmas pictures, I won't get them back quickly!).

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-14-2003
In reply to: littlesbigs
Fri, 11-26-2004 - 11:38pm

My cards are ready to go, I just need to purchase some Christmas stamps to go on the envelopes.

Christmas cards are one area that I splurge on. I usually stamp my cards, but this year I made a photo collage and printed it out postcard size on photo paper to make some really nice cards. The photo paper was a little pricey, but I really like to personalize my Christmas cards and this way I was able to include a lot of pictures in a 4x6 space.

I include a family letter to let everyone know what we are doing and some interesting things that have happened to us over the year. I have drastically reduced the number of people that I send cards to. I used to mail out about 60 cards, now I only send out about 35. DH has a big family and this is the only time of year that we have contact with some of them.

Windy

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-22-1999
In reply to: littlesbigs
Sat, 11-27-2004 - 9:39am

When are you going to be sending out your holiday cards?
Probably a week before Christmas because I have very few to send and mostly in-state.

Have you been cutting back on the list of people you mail them to?
No, it has remained about the same, but it is not a long list.

Do you have a cost-saving method this year you are using regarding your cards?
Ummm.....I still have leftovers from prior years hidden in the desk, so I am going to send out those. I doubt a lot of people will remember them from years ago.

What is a reasonable amount of money to spend on a box of cards?
A One dollar box is fine from the dollar store. I do like really fancy cards, but this year I'm sending out whatever I still have leftover in the house. I don't want to spend more than $1.50 on card, but it depends on the cards.

Do you put anything in with your cards like notes, pictures, money?
Sometimes I write a note in the card.....I was thinking of computer printing some old holiday pictures this year and sending those with the cards for a laugh.

Littlesbigs

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-27-2004
In reply to: littlesbigs
Sat, 11-27-2004 - 3:15pm

I'm only sending out one card this year to my good friend who is in the military and won't be here for the Holidays, I'm going to splurge and get him a nice Hallmark one and include a personal message as well.

Other than that my circle of friends and family are all in my area so I won't be sending out holiday cards to everyone in my address book this year :o)~

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-28-2003
In reply to: littlesbigs
Sun, 11-28-2004 - 12:21pm
I don't really enjoy sending out Christmas cards all that much...I feel that they should get a personal note. Last year, because we moved so far away and there was so much to tell, I finally resorted to the family newsletter idea..just for my husband's family who we don't see often. This year I might do the same, but I will definitely keep the number of cards below 20. I used to send out a lot more, but we never got back nearly as many as we sent, and though it certainly isn't a contest, after a few years of this, we just decided we'd had enough. I will buy a box of Hallmark cards, if they seem fitting...I don't worry about cost so much on these once a year things. What will really save me money is cutting back at the grocery store! LOL Heather
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-18-2004
In reply to: littlesbigs
Sun, 11-28-2004 - 5:00pm

I sent my cards yesterday. I counted 38. Now all I have to do is send the oneies and twosie for people I forgot or people who send me cards that I wasn't expecting to get cards from. That is about the same number as last year.

I do the family photo card and a letter. The paper and envelopes for the letter were about $20 and the photo cards ran about $75. We had to get our picture taken for DH's job and just decided to go ahead and order the photo cards so it would be done with.

Next year I'll go to Sears or Wal-Mart and have the photo cards done much cheaper.

Last year it was just as expensive for us to do it ourselves and the photo cards weren't nearly as nice. I guess we just don't have the right printer.

I will also stock up on the paper and envelopes for the family letter at this year's after Christmas sales. I didn't do it last year because I knew we would be moving and I know with 95% certainty tha we will stay here another year so I'll just store everything.

Hope everyone has a bright Holiday season.

Kellie