Cards. Waste of Money?

[albertGQ]

What do you guys think of cards? Are they a waste of money? Do you like to give them? Do you like to receive them? There are cards for so many occasions. Christmas, Easter, Birthday, Anniversary, Father's Day, Mother's Day, etc. I don't care much about getting cards, I only care if there is cash or a gift card inside. Or an accompanying gift.

I loathe buying cards. I think it is such a huge waste of money. After receiving a Father's Day card from my son (bought by my fiancee) and a Father's Day card from my fiancee, a birthday card from my son (once again bought by my fiancee), birthday card from friends, etc, I felt it was overboard.

I have since made a "no card" rule in my household. I no longer have to buy my fiancee a card for any occasion and have told her to not get me one as well. This only saves us about $50 a year, but we can put that $50 to much better use

Anyone else hate giving and receiving cards as well?

[GreenTeaFrapp]

I agree 100% with this sentiment.

The worst part is do you throw them away or do you keep them even though you're never going to look at them again.

The exception to this is homemade cards from kids. Everything else is a scam perpetrated by Hallmark.

[alltherage]

Loonie store. Anything over $1 is a waste, however if it's someone special I will sometimes splurge on a better card. I find the writing, jokes, images, sounds, etc in the $4 cards are way higher quality.

[Bertuzzied]

Just make your own. Goto winners and buy a scrapbook kit for $8
You can make 30-40 cards out of that. hehe. Plus they are customized. You can have a
Happy Bowel Movement Day if you wanted to.

[troutman]

Someone I know recycles cards. Scratches out the names, and re-gifts them.

[ken0042]

When cards used to be $1 or maybe $1.50 I thought it was a nice gesture. Now that you are looking at ~ $5 per card, I would rather get a $5 Tim's gift card, or something.

[Ironhorse]

We don't do cards, even for kid's birthdays, unless its a home made card. I'd rather add another $5 to the budget of the gift we're buying.

[Bring_Back_Shantz]

Meh, I don't always give a card if I'm giving a gift (usually don't in fact), but if I'm giving cash I'll usually buy a card just so I've got something to hold the cash.

That being said, when I do buy a card, I actually put some effort into finding one that I think is particularly funny/appropriate for the occasion, so it isn't a complete waste of time/money.

[Knalus]

Originally Posted by albertGQ

I have since made a "no card" rule in my household. I no longer have to buy my fiancee a card for any occasion and have told her to not get me one as well. This only saves us about $50 a year, but we can put that $50 to much better use

Anyone else hate giving and receiving cards as well?

I wish. My wife thinks I'm so uncivilized because I dislike cards. For me, it's the mess, not the cost that drives me crazy. Where do you put them? When can you throw them out (without getting an evil eye)? Where do you frickin store them for the month or so it takes before you can throw them out?

On top of this, I just got married, now I have a giant box of wedding cards that all now have sentimental value (apparently).

[habernac]

Originally Posted by Knalus

I wish. My wife thinks I'm so uncivilized because I dislike cards. For me, it's the mess, not the cost that drives me crazy. Where do you put them? When can you throw them out (without getting an evil eye)? Where do you frickin store them for the month or so it takes before you can throw them out?

On top of this, I just got married, now I have a giant box of wedding cards that all now have sentimental value (apparently).

It's not worth arguing over. My wife loves cards. I get cards from her and the kids, keep them for a month and toss them in the recycle bin.

[Regulator75]

I actually stopped buying regular cards and started making my own.

I'll buy blanks and attach a personal photo to the front.

I know the receiver appreciates the custom art instead of a crappy sappy card from Hallmark.

[awildermode]

Originally Posted by GreenTeaFrapp

I agree 100% with this sentiment.

The worst part is do you throw them away or do you keep them even though you're never going to look at them again.

The exception to this is homemade cards from kids. Everything else is a scam perpetrated by Hallmark.

half or more of the 'holidays' are invented by Hallmark.

[Sainters7]

I usually don't buy cards anymore, with the exception of Mother's Day. There is an odd tradition amongst the men in my extended family to buy the most hilarious card you can find for Christmas/birthdays, and all the guys keep trying to out-do each other, they keep getting funnier and funnier. So if it's one of those guys bdays, sometimes I'll spend over half an hour trying to find the funniest card. It's good stuff.

Aside from that though, I don't buy cards.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by awildermode

half or more of the 'holidays' are invented by Hallmark.

There was a Simpson's episode where marketers were trying to invent new holidays, like Product Day and Christmas 2.

[Sainters7]

Originally Posted by troutman

There was a Simpson's episode where marketers were trying to invent new holidays, like Product Day and Christmas 2.

Happy Love Day everyone!!

[Machiavelli]

I tell my family members not to bother giving me cards, and I'll do the same in return.

[jeremywilhelm]

Sent one to my Dad for fathers day with a little note in it, other than that, no cards in 10 years.

[algernon]

My girlfriend is a big-time scrap-booker, so making cards is a lot of fun for her. We sat down and made cards for Mother and Father's day for our parents/grandparents. Each of the recipients of my cards really enjoyed them.

I probably used $4 worth of paper to make 5 cards -Plus I appeared sensitive to my ol' lady.

[FireFly]

I buy cards if I can't afford an actual present and it's the thought that counts. Usually I spend a long time trying to find the perfect card for an occasion. If I buy a present, the person gets no card.

[Antithesis]

I dislike receiving Hallmark cards and I dislike giving them. I'd rather some poorly-worded but well-meaning and heartfelt sentiment on a napkin from someone I care about than a poetic Hallmark crapfest. Thankfully my wife agrees with me.