A friend asked me if it was OK to delay sending holiday cards until late December.
I asked two questions: (1) Will you send me a card? (2) Does it contain a gift certificate?
Actually, I believe a late card is a great card. Here are three good reasons -- and two average ones – to delay mailing: 1. Excited recipients – Before the 25th, your loved ones got greetings from friends, plus peo-ple who could sell them something. The week after, they’ll welcome any card that doesn’t require monthly payments.
2. Longer shelf life – It’s likely those early cards got tossed out with wrapping paper. Not your later arrival, which might sit around until late January. (Money-saving hint: Add heart stick-ers to the envelope, call it a “Yuletide Valentine.”) 3. Enclose a letter – Between Christmas and New Year, recipients have nothing better to do, and will love to read letters about folks they met once at either a childbirth class or a school play.
4. Enclose money – Last year my old football coach got a card containing 25 cents, along with the message “I heard you needed a quarter back.”
5. Personal delivery – For an interesting night out – and perhaps a free meal – hand-deliver those cards to each door. When I tried this, some of my friends pretended they weren’t home.
But that’s OK…I hung around until breakfast.
WHAT’S THE BEST IDEA? – I’m writing a series of articles on humankind’s best ideas. Can you help me? E-mail me the best idea you’ve ever heard, plus your name and phone number. I’ll call you to get more details. E-mail Rix at [email protected] with the words BEST IDEAS in the “Subject” line.
