Greeting Card Guilt—What to Do?

Have you ever wondered what you should do with the greeting cards you receive for your birthday or other holiday? You set them on the mantle to display them, and months later they're still there, collecting dust. Or maybe you've moved them from the mantle and shoved them in a drawer because you felt guilty about throwing them away.

If you've done either of these things, you are not alone. Because of the emotions involved in greeting cards, many people get stuck when it comes to what to do with them and they become a clutter culprit. Here are some thoughts and questions to ask yourself to help you think it through.

• How many cards do you think you will receive over the course of your life? Is it realistic to hang on to them all? Would you go back and look at them all if you did, or would you simply shut down by the sheer amount of them?

• Did the giver simply sign the card? If it is simply signed, you may want to display it for a few days and then let it go to the recycle bin.

• If you are saving cards for your child, think about what they will appreciate later in adulthood. Most of us won’t be able to remember many of the guests at our first few birthday parties. Saving one to two cards per year is likely more than enough. The pictures will be more valuable than the cards.

• The most special cards are the ones that are homemade or have something sentimental written inside but you should be selective about which of these you save as well. The ones you do choose to save can be stored in a memorabilia box or scrapbook. Remember, it’s all about having a place to put them and creating a boundary of how many to save.

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