Are Greeting Cards A Money Pit?

[Mr. DS]

As I get older, I personally hate the idea of dropping several dollars on a card someone probably is going to read once and throw away.  That and when I receive them, I usually don't take time to actually read them.  So yes, to me greeting cards are a money pit.  Maybe our society has brain washed us into thinking people who are suffering a loss in the family want a card to read.  Or perhaps traditions say we HAVE to send a Christmas card.  Maybe people are convinced they have to get a card to put birthday money in.  (Give me the money and I'll be fine personally) Maybe I'm a curmudgeon.  How do you feel about greeting cards?

[Ash]

There have been certain times when I feel like they're a total waste of money.
But that depends on who I'm buying it for.

However, I do love shopping for them.  
Whenever I try to find a humorous card for a friend or loved one, I'll spend an average of a half hour to 45 minutes looking at and reading hilarious cards!
Some of them are downright crazy.  I'll stand in the card aisle laughing my ass off at some of the s**t written in them.  

Then again...Ever look at a card you thought was going to be funny and then you almost got sick because of how sappy it was?

I'd say 75% of the time they're a waste of money.
But 25% of the time they're not...they're totally worth it.  

[Patient7]

I say sometimes, seeing as how we have "just because" or "blank inside" seriously I watched a comedian once, I can't remember the name, and he said and I quote.

The guy who sells blank inside cards must go to sleep laughing, "They're buying a crease!"

Or Jim Gaffigan's

Yeah, that sounds like something I'd say.  Yeah that took me thirty seconds to find it.

You kind of have to hear how they're saying it to get the joke.

[Menard]

As I get older, I personally hate the idea of dropping several dollars on a card someone probably is going to read once and throw away.  That and when I receive them, I usually don't take time to actually read them.  So yes, to me greeting cards are a money pit.  Maybe our society has brain washed us into thinking people who are suffering a loss in the family want a card to read.  Or perhaps traditions say we HAVE to send a Christmas card.  Maybe people are convinced they have to get a card to put birthday money in.  (Give me the money and I'll be fine personally) Maybe I'm a curmudgeon.  How do you feel about greeting cards?

At least the effort to look and buy a card does require thinking about someone, and that is the point of a greeting card.

Sometimes, people can say the dumbest things, perhaps unintentionally, when they write in a greeting card.


I did not care for the sentiment expressed after my mother's death of ' she's in a better place'. My thought to that was ' how the hell is being six feet under and decomposing a goddamn better place!?!'.

I did, however, have one work associate who took the time to write something reflective in a card, and it was well received and I still have the card.


I have an aunt with whom my only contact with is the birthday and Christmas cards she sends out. I don't celebrate either occasion, but it reminds me that someone remembered and that is something she does for everybody because it's all she can afford.


Keep the money, send me the card.

On my 15th birthday, I had received a birthday card from my grandparents. I was used to getting cash from them, so it was time for spending money. I got the cash, but apparently they did not get an envelope that fit the card so they cut the card to hold the money, and it made it unreadable. It kinda hurt.


Sometimes we just like to know that someone is thinking about us, or we want to let others know we are thinking about them. If you really don't have much to say, a phone call can be an uncomfortable situation, but a card cures that.


If you don't want to throw more money into the money pit, might I suggest a technique I like to call a letter.

[Mr. DS]

Whenever I try to find a humorous card for a friend or loved one, I'll spend an average of a half hour to 45 minutes looking at and reading hilarious cards!
Some of them are downright crazy.  I'll stand in the card aisle laughing my ass off at some of the s**t written in them.   

Actually the ones at places like Spencer's make me laugh.  Recall buying one once with an old lady flipping the bird  and the caption inside saying "Sometimes Words Aren't Enough"

Sometimes, people can say the dumbest things, perhaps unintentionally, when they write in a greeting card.

Agreed, I've received a few of those in my days.  People sometimes end up sounding cheesier than the ones with the paragraphs on the front.  Anyone ever been subjected to those? 

If you don't want to throw more money into the money pit, might I suggest a technique I like to call a letter.

Or in my case emails.     For some reason I don't mind letters.  No frilly design or cheesy dialog.  Well I guess that depends on who sends them.   

[CheezeFlixz]

When I was younger I got cards, someone would say "Oh what a lovely card, that was very thoughtful." and even tho I was young I'd say 'Yeah, but I'd rather have the cash they spent on it."

My wife buys cards, and I'll see them and flip them over and say "What $4.95??!!" damn why don't you just give them $5, at least they could buy a freakin' Happy Meal.

I tell people don't buy me a card, if you have a deep need to send me a card just drop $5 in a envelope and spend that. But with e-cards nowadays, most of my friends and family sends those and that's fine by me. I don't even do personal Christmas cards anymore. So yes I think paper cards are a big waste of cash it's all a racket, just like diamonds. But that's another topic.

[JJ80]

I like to send cards but only for occasions like Christmas, Birthdays, Mother's/Father's Day, Get Well Soon etc. I think it's the decent, thoughtful thing to do. However, they now seem to be making cards for any and every occasion, no matter how trivial.

[Killer Bees]

I'll try and stay and rant-less as possible 

Greetings cards are a waste of time and money.  I don't often buy gifts, let alone cards and I never get any of either.  My teenage son just wants money for gifts, a card would end up underneath his bed with all the other crap in his room.

Every time I see stacks of greeting cards for occasions like Valentines Day, I wonder who are these suckers who buy this stuff?  What happens to the millions of cards that don't get sold?  I don't even realise days like Mother's Day or Valentines Day are upon us until I see the cards in the stores.

I always think a card is insincere.  Just give me money or buy me a coffee and we'll stay friends   

[Mr. DS]

Killer Bees, you are such a wonderfully intelligent young lady.