Birthday Cards

I kept the last birthday card my Mum sent me as hortly before she died of pancreatic cancer. We knew she didn't have long left and I expect she got my sister to get one for her to give to me. We very year on my birthday I put it up with my other ones. I save it carefully for the next year. I don't keep other ones. I did keep a special rainbow card my DGS sent me he had drawn himself during lockdown when I couldn't see him. The rest are enjoyed for a week then recycled.

Over the years I have kept those cards really pretty or special in some way and now can look back on them and remember the people gone from my life.

Yes, I keep some ‘special’ ones

I have many years of cards and stuff up in my loft. Cards from close family and what my children sent me when they were little. Birthday from my mum and dad when I was about 8.
Valentines cards from my ex husband. Our wedding cards.
All our children's cards when they were born.
Their first dummy, wristband from when they were first born.
First romper suits and dress.
Playschool and School paintings. Pottery things they made.
School reports and a few of my report
Decorations from our wedding cake and that of my sister. My sisters first teddy. She didn't want it.
And the list goes on. .........
Mine are going to curse me when I'm gone.

I keep special (home made) ones from special people.

I used to keep special birthday cards, christening, communion and confirmation cards for my four kids recently was having a clear out and asked the kids if they wanted to keep and they all looked at me as if I was as made as a hatter so out in the recycling they went

I'm currently enjoying my 70th birthday cards which have been up for a week.

I actually had my birthday in January while on a trip to visit family in NZ for 6 weeks, so only opened all my cards when i got home.

They are too special to have up for a short time but i will eventually bin them.... just not yet. I do take a photo of them all with the bouquets I got too.

I've binned other special cards when in a clearing out mood. As others have said, our children will have less to clear our when the time comes.

I’ve kept all my cards from my husband & children & will keep the Grandchildren’s too. That includes: all birthday, Christmas, Anniversary, Valentines & Mothers Day cards. Just had my 70th & had a party so got a lot more cards than usual - so am keeping those too, and we have all my husband’s from the rest of us as well.
Downsizing soon but hopefully we’ll find space for the box of cards.

I kept postcards too but no-one sends them these days. I put them in a photo album, it’s fun to re-read them.

I have kept the last birthday card from DH. He could barely write, and a message was beyond him, but it is very precious. That Parkinson’s reduced such a clever and literate man to scrawling parts of words still feels tragic but that he tried so hard matters enormously.

Ahhhh.
How poignant.

I would love a postcard.

last year i decided to throw away all the cards my husband had given me, he died 20 years ago, i still have the cards my son has given me over the years and he is now 37, i know it is sad but it is just who i am.

Do keep some of the special birthday ones, normally up for a week and then in the recycling bin, always seems a shame to chuck out.

How about photographing or scanning them ? Then they'll take no physical space, but always be available for a happy trip down memory lane

Granmarderby10

I would love a postcard.

From a particular person, or just a postcard from anyone?

My Mum used to make a children's party game by cutting christmas cards in half diagonally then mixing them all up. The children had to match the halves and the one who collected most pairs won a prize. This reminded me of that and I probably should try it on my grandchildren. I never did that one with my own children.

I also make gift tags and new cards from old ones, but I tend to leave cards up until the next event bringing cards. This last year I went away for 3 weeks at Christmas so didn't put any cards up, so my birthday cards are still on the mantelpiece from last year!

I used to, now they go. Less items for my children to dispose of.

Thanks to all, so many suggestions. I've not quite made my mind up what to do with all my received cards (only family ones I have to add). I do look through them from time to time and they def bring back so many memories esp from my daughter and now grandchildren. Think I may just keep them for a little while longer. Each to their own as my DM used to say.

Oh my goodness! How brave! I still have mine from more than 50 years ago!!

Who is going to have the task of dealing with them? Get rid! Think of others!

I keep a few of the extra special cutest ones my children and grandchildren give me. The ones my elderly father sends I keep for 12 months then replace it when my next birthday comes around. My husband and I each have a funny one for each other that we keep and give every year (😂) but the rest get recycled after a week of being on display.

I always keep the ones from my family, sons, daughters in law and grandchildren. I have Birthday, Valentine and Christmas cards to and from my then boyfriend in the 60's (who became my husband). They are precious to me and many is the time I get them all out and read through them and they brings tears to my eyes as they were the start of a nearly 60 year old relationship. I kept all our grandchildrens drawings they made for me. I am sentimental and have all the decorations from our wedding cake, place settings and invitations and telegrams, even the glass tumbler I was given at school when Queen Elizabeth the 2nd was crowned. God help our family when they start to look through the big ottoman memory box, I know they will find it very interesting as I wrote a diary about our lives in the 40's onwards and how I met their dad etc. etc.

I wish my mum and dad had done the same, I would have loved to have been able to read all their cards they sent each other and seen their wedding invitations etc. they are a part of our history.

I have a lot of them because when friends went on holiday they always sent postcards, many of them were very rude and I still have a few of them in photo albums.

I love receiving cards , enjoy for a week then head to the bin - unlike my DH who hangs onto them , drives me mad ! But in the grand scheme of things I know it's no big deal!