3 types of cards for every household

Certain occasions deserve a thoughtful note from friends and family. However, most of the time when these events occur, you’re scrambling to find appropriate greeting cards to send in the mail. You don’t want to be that person whose letter arrives two weeks late, so to avoid this problem, be sure your home is supplied with at least three types of cards.

1. Thank you cards
Throughout your life, there will be numerous opportunities for you to show someone your gratitude. One of the best ways to show your thanks is with a heartfelt note. The best part about having this useful stationery is there are so many situations in which it will come in handy. For instance, if friends or family give you a gift, you can send them a card telling them how much you appreciate their thoughtfulness.

Another common use for thank you cards comes after a job interview. Make a good impression on a potential employer by promptly sending out a thank you in the mail. A few tips for an interview thank you note include: mentioning a topic discussed during the conversation to show you were actively listening and highlighting a couple of skills you weren’t able to mention during the meeting.

2. Congratulations cards
Life creates wonderful moments each year that are cause for celebration, whether it’s a wedding, the birth of a child or some other exciting event. Express how happy you are for the people you care about by sending a congratulations card. When people receive your note in the mail, they will know how important they are to you.

To personalize each card that you send out, consider adding a hand-crafted paper decoration inside that fits with the occasion. For instance, if someone just graduated, create a small graduation cap with a tassel, or, if you’re artistic, sketch a small picture inside to accompany your note. People will enjoy the extra effort you put forth to make them smile.

3. Repeating event cards
There are certain events you know are going to happen every year, so you might as well be prepared. A few cards you’ll want to have on hand include birthday cards and various holiday cards. With these items available at home, you’ll no longer be sending late cards in the mail because you forgot to pick one up at the store. All you’ll have to do is flip through your collection to retrieve the appropriate number of cards for a given occasion. A few particular cards to keep around include these popular seasonal themes:

• Easter
• Thanksgiving
• Christmas
• Hanukkah
• Holiday
• New Years

As the holiday season approaches, start making a list of all the people you’d like to send a card to. By doing this, you’ll ensure you don’t forget anyone important and you’ll stay more organized during that hectic time of year. Another suggestion, noted by Entrepreneur, is to send your cards out by the start of December. This will ensure that your cards reach their intended parties before the new year arrives. If people get a holiday card after the event, it’s not as impactful, so be sure to stay timely on your card sending.