The "Greetings Cards" Binder 

See also:  [Greetings Cards] [Secret Shelf] [Sources Binder] [Trivia]

    There are some projects, like preparing greetings cards, which we do time after time.  Why not systemize purchasing greetings cards so this project is done once a year and the cards are finished as each person's special event comes up?  

    May I suggest that you fix up a 2" binder with 16 pocket folders which have been 3-hole punched.  Label each folder with the various months of the year:  January, February, March, and etc.  Label the last four folders:  Weddings, Babies, Condolences, and Congratulations.  Take twelve sheets of lined paper, label them with the months of the year and make lists (by the month) of all those people who should be getting birthday greetings from you.  For instance, there are your parents, in-laws, children, spouse, nephews, nieces, cousins, church and business associates.  Make one trip to the store (or have a good look through your greeting cards mail order catalog) and purchase your greetings cards for the whole year.  Tuck each card inside the flap of its envelope and place it in the appropriate month's folder after you have written the person's name where the postage stamp will go.  When the first of each month comes, prepare the cards with personal notes and mail them off several days before the birthday.  You will never have to go to the store at the last minute again to pick up that special card .

    Special occasion cards can be purchased in the same way.  Purchase congratulations, graduation cards, bridal and baby shower cards in bulk and store them in the appropriate pocket folder.  Consider purchasing Mother's Day cards, Father's Day cards, and holiday cards (such as Halloween cards) five years at a time.  Label the envelope under the stamp area as to which year you will use the card:  2008, 2008, 2010, etc.  

    Christmas cards are another matter altogether.  Usually you send out far too many cards to be kept in a binder.  You may prefer to purchase your Christmas cards in the after-holiday sales and store them with your Thanksgiving decorations.  This way, you will  always know where they are when that occasion comes up and can get right to that project, a project which seems to hang over your head during the holiday season until you have them mailed.   And what about an even greater effort to systemize holiday cards?.  During the after-holidays sales this year purchase Christmas cards for the next five years.  They are really small to store and it is one more chore you will be able to forget for several years to come.  Happy shopping.  This is one project that feels really great to have done!    

Find more helpful ideas in "House of Order" Handbook, Chapter 19, "Greeting Cards Binder". 

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