are birthday cards a waste of money?

Question

I am not being cheap or non traditional, but it seems to me there is a billion willion zillion pounds market for all sorts of cards and we are wasting so much money on this every year. There is also the environmental angle with the waste of paper. I don't see why we can't just keep the birthday card we buy our partner for example and bring it out next year and maybe update it every decade or so with a new card purchase.

Answer 1

I didn't realize how worthless they really are until my grandma slipped up and said she throws them away... and somewhere down the line i guess your made to feel that you need to show up with one..

Answer 2

Yep, you are right. It is a massive industry. But what better or simpler way to say Happy Birthday, or Deepest Sympathy or Well Done or I Love You or any message you what on a Happy Day Card (the blank one where you write your own message). I love receiving cards and I love sending then. I get pleasure in finding one that has the words I am not capable of writing. I get pleasure from the pleasure that others get when they receive them. And for the cost from 50 pence plus a stamp (if you need to post it).

Why not give yourself a treat. Send a card to someone you love for no other reason that you love them. What Joy.

And you can do your part for the environment by looking for the cards that are produced from recycled material.

Answer 3

What about making or receiving home made cards just tell friends and family that you don't want them to purchase cards from the High Street shops or supermarkets as you do not want to contribute to their profits. You could also send one or receive one via the net. Their are sites where people can design their own. For a different card try the link below.

Answer 4

those new e mail cards are quite cute that you customize online. best of all they are free. i think that is the way to go as the price of cards is really too much. the cost of postage keeps going up and now you have to pay even more to mail an oversized envelope and most of the good cards are. unless it's a special holiday / reason, i'm going to be using more and more e cards. maybe weddings / funerals will still get traditional hallmark cards. the rest are getting a cute, creative , clever little email. most people prefer email now to paper mail.

Answer 5

I guess that depends on the person. If you are trying to be romantic, make your own card or write some sort of letter saying how much you love and appreciate your mate.

I believe it is one hundred times more meaningful to make your own card or write a poem or something because it shows them that you really do appreciate the person when you go the extra mile and make something yourself.

Answer 6

Part of me agrees with you, but the other part loves receiving them, for all sorts of occasions! I have an aunt & uncle who have been exchanging the same cards for 40 years! Looking a bit dog eared now I suppose!

Answer 7

Yes they are, for visiting the person in his/her house on his birthday is the most inportant thing and not buying a card.
the card is only a paper and will not last for more than 1 year.
so just a visit and not paper.

Answer 8

I understand what you are saying. Cards for every occasion, real or made up "Congratulations on your daughter's husband taking out the trash" sort of stupidity.

I reserve the card giving for BD's and Mother's day. Easy to reuse or remake the card.

Answer 9

My next door neighbor used to do it with her husband and he didn't know it was the same card every year.
I really like to buy cards for people because I pick out certain cards for certain people.

Answer 10

I personally love to receive birthday cards. It shows that someone is thinking of your special day. For me it would never be a waste of money.

Answer 11

we used to own a shop and the cards cost about 10 to 50p imagine how much the superstores rip you off. normally we buy a bottle of wine or chocs. instead of a card + the pressy.