I have struggled through the years with how to write a thank you card. My mom worked on this with us kids off and on growing up but somehow it still does not feel natural to me. Over the last several years I have learned some thing that make it easier. Though I still struggle with actually getting them written and in the mail.
Do I Need To Write A Thank You? I Already Told Them That
Yes and no. No you don’t need to, no one will die if you don’t but feelings could be hurt if you don’t. If you can in your crazy life write and send a thank you for gifts, friendship and meals brought to you, do it! You will feel better and there are few better ways to show your gratitude to those who mean the most to you.
However as someone who can be so overwhelmed that I can not function I will be the first to understand that sometimes writing and sending cards is just not possible. But remember sometimes doing something that is what the “ideal you” would do, is what you need to do to pull yourself out of the funk.
So Why Write and Mail A Thank You Card in The Digital Age?
Because it is the classy, ladylike thing to do. Now it is still very important for men to write thank you cards as well. But we are here to develop into a classy woman that earns the title of “lady”. A lady takes time out of her busy life to show others how much they mean to her in a meaningful way.
There is something so special about receiving a thank you card in the mail. It makes you feel seen and appreciated. Having something physical in our digital age stands out. It takes time and thought and some expense. We have a loneliness epidemic currently, let us reach out to those that matter to us and make them feel seen.
What If I Am Bad At Writing?
I recently got a thank you card that was one sentence long, most likely the same sentence sent to everyone and upside down in that card; but I still really, really apricated it. So what if you are bad at writing? One of my mottos at this point in my life is this:
Don’t be afraid to be seen trying.
Even if your card seems like it was written by an elementary student the fact that you still wrote a thank you and sent it in the mail will still be special. The important things are these 1. They have to be able to read what you are writing and 2. Write and spell as well as you can, especially their name.
Does a Thank You Card Need To Be Long?
No, it does not. Your thank you card can be short, sweet and to the point. However if you want to write a longer card/letter do not be afraid to do so.
What If I Am Bad At Spelling?
Still do it. I am not good at spelling at all. As an adult who is dyslexic I frequently either type up what I am going to say on my computer and use spell check or type it up on my phone to help with spelling.
When Should I Send A Thank You Card?
Anytime someone goes out of their way to do something nice for you. Especially if there is a gift or service involved.
How Soon Should I Send The Thank You Card?
As soon as possible. For most things within a few weeks. For weddings or other such big events within a month is considered standard.
Is It Too Late To Send Them A Thank You Card?
It is never too late to send a thank you card unless the person is dead. My baby is six weeks old now and I am just starting to get my thank you cards out. Again this is not something I do well right now but it is something that I value and something I am striving to get better at.
Better Late Than Never
What Supplies Do I Need To Write A Thank You Card?
You can write a thank you card with just a crayon and note paper if that is all you have. However some stationary and a few nice pens with make the job easier and more fun. I recommend having some blank thank you cards and envelopes or some blank cards that you stamp, embroider or write thank you on.
If you are using printed thank you cards go for ones that are blank on the inside, the pre-printed message is never helpful and just gets in the way. Look for ones that are classic and show off your personality. Personalized stationary is a great way to have some fun when write your cards/letters. Or even easier simple download and print these beautiful printable thank you cards below!
Make sure you have some nice pens that you like. My favorites are Precise V5 Pilot Pens. You want something that feels nice in your hand and writes smoothly. They don’t have to be expensive just functional. encouragement
How To Write A Thank You Card
- Start with “Dear Mrs. Smith,” or the name you call them. Spell their name correctly! If you are not especially close to an adult use Mr. Mrs. or Miss.
- Say “thank you” and say what you are thankful for. Such as “thank you so much for the beautiful blouse that you sent, I love it!
- Mention specific details of what you like about your gift. Or say how you are going to use it. Don’t lie if you don’t love it get creative about your praise, say “it is the most unique shirt I have ever seen” or “the mirror will look so good in our entryway hall”. Or “we are going to use the money to buy her the dress that she really wants”
- Use a forward looking statement, “I can’t wait to see you next month” or “we would love to have you over to show you the new house”.
- Express your gratitude again, “thanks again for remembering my birthday” or “I really appreciated the gift, thanks again”.
- Sign off with warmth, “Sincerely” or “All my best” or “Love” or “God Bless” or “Yours Truly” or “With Thanks” etc.
Great advice. I intend to get better at sending out thank you cards. They really do cheer people up!
Now if I can just follow my own advice and get the rest of my thank you cards out.