Updated: January 21, 2021, Originally posted: January 1, 2018

As the holidays come to a close and we all begin to settle back into our normal routines many of us might wonder if we should send thank you cards to those who made our holiday season so memorable. The answer to this common query is yes, you absolutely should.

Thank you cards are a way for your loved ones to know how much their gift meant to you, it is a tangible way for them to always keep you in mind and feel appreciated. A text or email is read, then deleted or forgotten about. A thank you note, however, sits on their desk, refrigerator or in a box somewhere to be reopened and reread at a later date. Maybe I am the only note hoarder out there but when we recently moved I found birthday cards and notes from my friends when I was in the third grade...fifteen years ago. If it truly is the thought that counts in the receiving of a gift then it should also be the thought that should count in giving the proper thanks, in which case, would be to write a thank you card. It goes to show your friends and family that you appreciate them and their gift enough to take the time to sit down, write a note, address it and put it in the mail, but in reality this only adds about five minutes to your day.

But what should you write in the note? This is where people often get stuck so I have outlined for you, the best practices for writing thank you notes after the holidays, or any gift-giving event, to friends and family!

1. Thank them for their gift, and be specific to mention what it is they got you so they know it was written just for them.
2. Tell them how much the gift meant to you, what you will use the gift for, how it will make your life easier, or why you enjoy it so much!
3. Add a personal touch with an inside joke, memory or something you enjoyed about spending the holidays with them.
4. Lastly, as you conclude your note be sure to thank them again for their thoughtful gift.

And that’s it! So simple and easy and it will be sure to make their day when they receive it! You can even go the extra mile and add a picture of you with them or you using the gift for an added touch of personalization and fun to your thank you cards!

-Beni @PlymouthCards.com