The Greeting Card Dilemma: Balancing Sentimentality and Affordability

I don't want my blog just to be a platform for me to express my opinions, and after last week's rant about Tipflation, you might think it is. But today, I have something new that I want to share. (See what I did there, I changed rant to share) 

Sunday was Mother's Day, and my wife, like my mother, deserved to be celebrated in the most meaningful way. And they were. 

But let's talk about the cost of Mother's Day cards - they are exorbitant! It's not just Mother's Day cards. The entire greeting card industry has gotten out of hand. Prices have been steadily rising, and it's hard to find cards that don't cost an arm and a leg. It's time to take a stand and recognize that we can still express our love and appreciation for our loved ones without breaking the bank.

First, let's take a closer look at the industry's history: The following was found on Wikipedia, Greeting card - Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greeting_card

The history of greeting cards can be traced back to the ancient Chinese, who exchanged messages of goodwill to celebrate the New Year, and to the early Egyptians, who conveyed their greetings on papyrus scrolls. By the early 15th century, handmade paper greeting cards were being exchanged in Europe. The Germans are known to have printed New Year's greetings from woodcuts as early as 1400. Handmade paper Valentines were exchanged in various parts of Europe in the early to mid-15th century, with the oldest Valentine in existence in the British Museum.

The first Mother's Day card was created in the United States in 1910 by Anna Jarvis, who had campaigned for a day to honor mothers. The Mother's Day card industry boomed in the early 20th century and remains a popular way to express appreciation and love to mothers and mother figures.

"Why not give both my mother and my wife a card on Mother's Day? After all, they both deserve to be recognized and appreciated for all that they do." Well, because of this:

In recent years, the industry has become highly avaricious, focusing more on monetary gain than on providing quality service.

There are certainly critics who feel that the greeting card industry has become overly commercialized and profit-driven in recent years. Some argue that the industry "focuses too heavily" on producing off-the-rack cards with generic sentiments rather than creating more personalized and meaningful messages. Additionally, some critics point out that the industry is quick to capitalize on any occasion or holiday, often marketing cards and gifts for holidays that were previously not associated with card-giving. However, it's also worth noting that many people still find value in giving and receiving greeting cards as a way to express their feelings and connect with loved ones. Ultimately, the industry's success and evolution will depend on the changing preferences and habits of consumers.

While the greeting card industry can sometimes feel overly commercialized, there are still ways to celebrate occasions like Mother's Day without overspending. One option is to make your own card or gift, which not only saves money but can also add a personal touch that shows you put thought and effort into it. Another approach is to focus on spending quality time with the person you're celebrating rather than buying a costly card. For example, you could plan a fun activity or outing together or simply spend time at home cooking a special meal or watching a favorite movie. By being creative and thoughtful, it's possible to celebrate occasions like Mother's Day without feeling pressured to overspend on greeting cards or even gifts.

My wife, for example, just informed me today that she had found a great way to save money while still celebrating special occasions - she bought last year's cards from the local dollar store and got two for a dollar! That is a huge difference from the nine-dollar and ninety-nine-cent card depicted on this blog post's cover.

Little things like this can make a big difference to your family's budget, and it's still a lovely way to show someone you care on their special day.

Ok, so maybe this wasn't a rant, and I hope you think so too. But when I saw the price of the card my sister gave my mother Sunday, well, I just couldn't help but write this post.

-Marshall