Family Greetings cards

I showed my visiting 32-year son a Mother's day "card" he made on a folded paper when he was in high school. The protestation (against being "monitored") and the faith in parental loving intention came through on the paper that made us both laugh and moved. I am glad I kept this card to show him the joy child brings. Hint, hint,,, get married and enjoy what Ihave ! Other than this I totally agree that cards should be recycled,

My late dad almost always left the card writing to my mum. Going through mountains of old cards at my mum's recently I found a birthday card he had sent to me, so a rare find! Also came across a Christmas card my lovely gran had sent to me in the 1970s - the decade she passed away. So both very special cards and will never be thrown away by me but will be destined for the bin one day. I've taken to scanning the greeting cards I want to 'keep'.

Sadly, I am a hoarder too! I have cards from my 21st Birthday (I'm 72) and have kept cards from people long deceased, such as my own grandmother, and my late husband. Yes. I really must throw them away, as the relatives remaining in my family don't even remember most of the people who sent these cards. I'm the eldest, and I have a sister who is fourteen years younger than me. My granddaughter never met my parents, Aunts, Uncles etc. all of whom are "gone before", as indeed is her own father.

This thread has reminded me that I have 3-4 shoe boxes full of old greetings cards from over the years. I also have a similar amount of old photographs...... We're now in our mid-60s and with both sons living permanently outside the UK better get a move on and get rid of them [besides emptying the loft!

I keep cards for a year ,whatever they are and then recycle them. I don’t have room to hang on to them ,since having to downsize after losing my DH ,which happens to be 11 years today.

Two days max.....then bin. Have kept the last one my mum sent me....can’t seem to bin that one yet! It’s been 12 years.

I had to get rid of a lot when we moved, and from time to time I get rid of a bit more, but I still have some of the more special ones, especially those sent when my parents died, those my children and grandchildren made me etc.
I am on the verge of another big clear out as I move my stuff into the small bedroom. What doesn’t fit will have to go. Sad, but realistic, as I know my children will just chuck everything away.

Incidentally , cards with glitter on should not go in the recycling!
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I keep the cards that made me double over laughing,( you know who you are Edinburgh sister!)

I’ll occasionally look at them and laugh all over again.?

I've got maybe 4 or 5 sentimental ones, but otherwise, out they go. With regards to other items, I'm not the best at de-cluttering generally, but every so often, I'll have a purge, and feel so much better for doing so! ?

I used to keep that sort of thing, but last time we moved I destroyed them, realising that I never looked at them, no-one will want them after my death, and honestly, I don't care for the thought of strangers going through that sort of thing.

The messages that meant something are stored in our memories, after all.

I have kept all the cards from when my DCs where born along with their nametags/wedding cards and special anniversary cards.
Usually I keep birthday cards up for a week or so then throw them away unless they are handmade from my DGs such as I received this year from my little GGD aged 3yrs.

I keep the most recent cards from husband and children. Each year I get a new one I throw away the card form previous year. I also still have the last birthday card my Mum sent to me before she died which I actually put up with my other cards on each birthday.

I keep one or two special ones and a few of the things they made in school. I’ve binned the rest!

I needed the space so sorted through a great pile of cards I'd kept over the years. Got rid of a lot but kept some gems and made a couple of large collages with them.

I have kept a lot of things, not just cards but other 'sentimental' bits and pieces, but after my mother passed away at Christmas time we had to clear her old house ( it was council and they wanted it back!) very quickly, the amount of junk she had collected was horrendous, every bill she had even gotten from the year dot! I swore blind my daughter would never have to go through what we did, so am sorting stuff bit by bit and getting rid

I think I have all of my Mothers Day cards, especially the ones that he made me when he was little. I also kept all of the cards that were sent when he was born and put them in a scrapbook. Many of those that sent them are no longer with us so the messages are very special as he was my 3rd time lucky baby - I lost 2 before him.
Christmas cards go for recycling as do birthday cards.

bin them all they've don there job now recycle them

I keep them all. When my FiL moved into a NZh last year we cleared his stuff and found piles of cards his late wife had saved from the children and GC it was so lovey reading them to my FiL and he was welling up at some cards from his late wife. I said “shall we keep them in a box for you to look at FiL?” He looked at me and said “No, bin ‘um, I can’t be doing with clutter!!!” I have them alongside mine now for my DD to sort when I’m gone???

Always kept all cards etc from DS going back to things he made at school but then on one house move some boxes went astray and one of them contained the cards. I was heartbroken at the time but since then I have regularly cleared out the new pile. Like you say who would want them when I'm gone?

all those poor trees....

There are some I can't part with. Just birthday/anniversary/Christmas cards with signatures only I can happily chuck but longer, more personal ones or hand drawn ones I really can't bring myself to.
Clearing my parents' house, I found the letters and cards sent after Dad died. They were absolutely beautiful. People, family and patients wrote such lovely letters of their memories of Dad that I couldn't possibly throw them out. Somehow they were so personal. I can't explain how it makes me feel. I'm looking at the bulging file they're in now!

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

I have saved my Wedding cards, my 21st Birthday cards,Birthday cards when my children were born, but apart from that I have telegrams my mum saved, when I was born, thats going a long way back,I think my Daughter will apreciate them, the others will be re cycled I hope!

Today 09:57 CarlyD7

Can I PLEAD with you to tackle this now and not to leave it for others to sort? ... The whole task took me well over a week (not to mention the tears shed when I was going through them and couldn't stop myself reading the messages) and it was so tiring... etc

I’ve enjoyed looking at old cards and letters left by loved ones. It only takes a minute to throw what you don’t want to sort when you’ve had enough, or if you don’t want to look at all. No need for all this pleading and hand wringing. Jeez.

Schools would be glad of them ..Especially the pictures