Ettiquette and what occasions

I was just wondering as an oldie on here, compared to you young uns,
I know it is ettiquette after a wedding to send thankyou cards,
but what about after the birth of a baby,
when I had my three children back in the days, we used to send thankyou cards after the baby had got presents
so feel free to answer yes or no
                  thankyou cards after a baby is born
                  for the presents :yes
and what other occasions would you give thankyou cards and what will you teach your children re thankyou's for presents

I don't send thank you cards for anything. And I've never received one in my life!

I see them as a waste of money personally. I don't see anything wrong with just saying a thank you

See in my opinion if you are giving someone a gift it is because you want to do something nice not because you want to get a card out of it.

So long as the person shows appreciation thats what matters. I would rather have someone call me to say thank you or say thank you to my face than receive a card in the mail.

Everyone I know ends up biffing cards out so thats where my whole mentality of it being a waste of money comes from. Cards aren't cheap either.

kebakat wrote: See in my opinion if you are giving someone a gift it is because you want to do something nice not because you want to get a card out of it.

Totally agree! I don't send thank you cards for everything (like, not for a b/day pressie). As you say they are expensive too. But for 'special' things (wedding/baby gift) I would or if I felt that someone had really gone all out - just to let them know that I appreciate the extra thought etc.

I totally agree that a verbal thank you is sufficant. I just like cards... (and I don't expect them, nor feel upset or peeved if I don't recieve one)

The worst is when people just open something that you've given them and then move on to the next thing....and never say thanks!

And I don't consider myself old fashioned and I like getting a thankyou card in the mail, I have had a few over the years

I am the same as Jazzy and totally agree with all her points.

I make roughly 6-8 special christmas cards every year (since having lucas) and I put a lovely photo (last 2 years we had professional ones done, not sure if my budget wil stretch this year though, might have to do my own photos) of Lucas on the front and buy trimmings to decorate the front of the card, it does end up costing me a little but they end up all keeping their cards and leaving them on their mantle piece for the year after! I only give them to 3 aunties, 2 grandma's, my parents and anyone else that comes to mind at the time. They really really appreciate them

As for thank you cards only time I have done them is after the birth, I thanked everyone personally when they gave me gifts at the hospital etc, but waited until he was a couple months old to send an official thank you letter with photos.

Definitely wouldn't go to the extent of sending them for birthdays and christmas, that's what the good lord gave you a voice for- much more personal and meaningful to say it in person I think.

I think it is just good manners to send out thank you cards! I have been to a couple of weddings and have gotten zip which I think is totally rude. I went to a wedding where they had a wishing well account and put some money into that, but never got a thank you so I don't even know if they got it.

For my 30th I sent out thank yous as had a party and I got lots of lovely gifts and for wedding as well for those that where nice enough to send us even just a card. Put a photo on it as we got married in Fiji and people said they really appreciated it and got some comments from older people that younger people don't seem to do it so much anymore.

People like receiving stuff in the mail as we are such an electronic society now.

People are saying it is expensive, but isn't really.

Red wrote: I think it is just good manners to send out thank you cards! I have been to a couple of weddings and have gotten zip which I think is totally rude.

I agree! Well I thought it was rude until I read this thread and am now starting to realise that people just don't do it anymore!

Wow, interesting to hear other people's point of view on this one as I have always considered it bad manners not to send a thank you for a wedding gift. I always send thanks you for special occasions such as wedding, engagement, baby arrival and usually a verbal thank you for things like birthdays and christmas. It doesn't have to be costly. I used a notepad for baby thank you notes which were $7 for pad of 20. I had over 80 to do so there was no way I could afford cards over $1 each. I have received so many thank you notes/cards etc over the years and they are always very much appreciated. They can even be made for next to nothing by printing them out on your own computer.

Also, I don't think I'm old fashioned!

So, am still thinking about this. I def think that any present that is not opened in front of the person should have a thank you note sent, if anything its a nice acknowledgement that you actually received the gift. Yes, an email or text would do the same thing but it is nice to get something other than a bill in the mail.