How to Save Money on Christmas Cards

One of the simple joys of the Christmas season is opening the mailbox to find it filled with Christmas Cards. Christmas is one of the busiest times for the postal service because of the overload of Christmas Cards. The average household receives an estimated twenty to thirty Christmas cards each year. Adding up all of those cards makes the card industry extremely happy. The expense of Christmas Cards seem to keep going up each year, add the increase of postage and Christmas Cards become a larger expense.

A little history on Christmas Cards
It may surprise many but Christmas cards are not an American creation but were first made in London, England. The first Christmas card was sent by Sir Henry Cole, a wealthy businessman in 1843. Cole had the desire to help children in need and wanted to remind his friends of the needs of destitute children at Christmas time. Cole wanted to send a large number of Christmas greetings but did not have the time to write each greeting individually.

With money becoming tighter with each passing day and other expenses competing for our income, Christmas cards often drop on our list of priorities. How can people save money on those Christmas greetings?

Stop sending cards
One easy way to save money on Christmas Cards is to simply stop sending them. Many people simply open the card see who it is from and then either add it to the pile or throw it away. Sometimes it seems rather pointless to send all of those cards for people just to throw them away. In some ways, Christmas cards are another waste of money during the holidays.

Send a letter instead
Take the time to actually write something and send out a letter. Christmas greetings were originally handwritten letters. Take a few minutes to write out some letters or make a mass letter. Many times people do not write anything on the card other than their name which is extremely impersonal. Writing a letter may take more time but it could save some money.

Buy inexpensive cards
Stop buying those expensive cards. Most people do not care what kind of card they receive. Those fancy cards are far more expensive. If sending cards is important do something that costs less money. Finding inexpensive cards is not difficult because Christmas Cards are everywhere before Thanksgiving. Take some time to find some that are less expensive.

Buy only what is needed
Many times people buy several boxes of Christmas cards to send but only send a few. Buying cards that never get sent is a total waste of money. Make a list of people to send Christmas Cards and stick to the list. Do not buy extra cards because it is simply a waste.

Send fewer cards
When making the Christmas Card list start trimming down the list. There are always relatives or friends who never send Christmas Cards. Take them off the list and save the money on those cards. Too many Christmas Cards are sent out of some sense of obligation or duty. Do not send any cards that are unnecessary.

Make use of e-cards
The internet is a wonderful tool for staying in contact with people. Make use of the internet to send electronic greeting cards. Do an internet search to find a site that offers free e-cards and begin sending them out to friends and family. Everyone gets a card and a personal greeting but with no cost.

Buy after Christmas clearance cards
Another easy way to save money on Christmas Cards is to buy them during clearance sales after Christmas. Not all of those boxes of cards on the racks sell before Christmas. Take advantage of deep discounts after Christmas to make the most of the holiday dollar.

Hand deliver to save postage
Instead of sending cards out to those who might live nearby, take the time to hand deliver the cards. This works especially well with group settings such as parties, co-workers and church gatherings. Saving on postage is still saving money.

Christmas Cards are a wonderful tradition of the season. Try not to get wrapped up in unnecessary expenses with the cards. Take some time to plan out who to send cards to, find ways to save on the Christmas Cards and look for ways to lower the cost of postage. Saving on Christmas Cards can be quick and easy. It just takes a little time and effort.