remember to send birthday cards

my computer did all the work for me. I bought a Mac, put people’s birthdays in my address book, and they automatically show up in the calendar. I haven’t missed one since!

this was my 2006 resolution and i’m trying to keep going in 2007. i use my outlook calendar at work but i don’t think i have them alllll in there yet. i also got married last year and don’t send cards to my in laws but i try to remind my husband to.

I have been doing great at this so far (halfway through the year) and I have created a reminder on Amazon for all the important birthdays throughout the year, so I’m marking this done-but-want-to-do-again for now.

I need to make a list all my best friends and my family members’ dates of birth. Yike!

[edit] Ooh, and their addresses. I feel a spreadsheet coming on, or maybe even a database – what a nerd I am!

I did finish up my mom’s gift and a handmade card but it didn’t go out til today, one day after the event. HOWEVER, I did remember to call her and I did find out that they have been skiing all week and she wouldn’t have gotten it til they get home later this week anyway.

I have 3 more birthdays to do in January. The one later this week is finished, with wrapped presents and completed card and everything. The other two involve handmade gifts so I need to get on them…

My first goal: Mom’s birthday is January 2nd. I want to get her card and gift in the mail tomorrow.

This is something that I have figured out how to do, and it is not painful at all.

In my beat-up old address book I have a running list of birthdays and anniversaries. As I find out about a new one, I add it right away. That is the hard part. The easy part is getting the cards done.

Every once in a while (every other month or so) I sit down and review the upcoming birthdays/anniversaries. I write everyone’s cards (address them, return address them, sign them). But then I leave them unsealed so that I can write more if necessary as the day gets closer. Most importantly, I write the date of the birthday where the stamp belongs. As the cards sit on my desk, basically ready to go, I eyeball the stack to see if any need to be mailed that day/week.

When it’s time to mail one, I stick a stamp over the written date, seal it up and mail it off. If I’ve spoken with the person lately, I might add a post script or include a photo or something, but usually they are good to go as-is.

I buy cards in bulk to save $$, and find that this method has kept me in good graces for the past several years.

Hope this helps.

I want to be rock solid in remembering birthdays. I want to keep a stack of birthday cards in my drawer and keep all my friend’s and relative’s birthdays on my calendar and remember to send a note on their birthday. That would be cool.