Remembering Special Days

[Janet]

Every year I write down all the birthdays and anniversaries on the new calendar in hopes that I will remember to send out cards and let others know I'm thinking of them...which I am. I even put it in my MS Calendar and I'm reminded a week in advance. Still I forget quite a few..... anyone else do the same thing? Any better way to remember? I give them a quick call if I forget to send a card.

I do write them down and stick a note in my handbag, but since I don't go to town that often...I forget to look at the note. Please...don't mention old age...LOL.

[gja1000]

Janet, it doesn't matter how hard I try - I usually forget someone or something that I was supposed to remember. My cell phone has a calendar. I look at it multiple times a day because my day (at work) is never the same. I have meetings at different times of the days each week, so I have to keep a calendar. I can put birthdays/special days on my calendar, but if I don't do something about it the moment I look at it, I will forget. It is sooo frustrating.

I also have trouble remembering to buy a card/gift when I go to the store. Even though I live in town, sometimes I just can't make myself go to the store. I don't know what the solution is, but if anyone has one, I'm willing to try it. Maybe if I taped a calendar to my computer monitor, set a box of multiple occasion cards on top of the monitor, I could remember

[Janet]

I was just told that myself.....a box of cards already bought. I usually like to find one to fit the person I'm sending it too, but I guess it would make it much easier to remember if I had them already here. I guess I'll either buy a box or just buy a card for each person and have it here ready. I've got to do something. I know how special I feel when I get cards and I want others to feel the same way.

[Marilyn]

Janet, this is an ongoing struggle for me, too. I have all the birthdays, anniverseries, etc. on my appointment calendar, so there is no excuse. I have boxes of cards and cards that I've bought at various times all organized ready to go. All I need to do is get them out and address them. Still it does not get done.

One thing that I have done that has worked is set aside one day a month to address and stamp all the cards for the next month in advance and put sticky notes one each one with a date that it has to be mailed. I keep the stack of cards handy and mail as the dates arrive. This has worked, but takes the discipline to sit down and do it once a month.

Good luck. I'm still trying to do better at this myself.

[Gina]

Janet as you can see you are not alone, I to forget and its getting worse. I have a daily planner and I write down birthdays etc. when I do remember . I even jot down what to do for the day on a piece of paper. lol But then I forget to buy the cards. I try to call the person if that happens. But like you I receive many cards for my birthday and it feels wonderful and I hate when I do not reciprocate. Maybe the solution is to buy a box of all occassion cards to have on hand.. Even though its not personal its the thought...

[gja1000]

I like to buy personal cards too - but the boxed all occasion come in handy when CRS sets in Sometimes when I am buying cards, I buy for hubby/family cuz I know they will like it. I stick them in my dresser and usually I remember.

[Marilyn]

You can still buy personal cards, just do it once per month. I also have a membership to American Greetings online and they have a "create and print" feature where you can create a personal card from one of their many templates and even change the wording if you want. You can print on card stock for a large 1/2 page card or on 8-1/2" x 11" paper for a quarter fold card. Walmart and the office supplies sell the 1/2 fold and 1/4 fold envelopes in white and also in assorted colors if you match the envelope color to one of the colors in the card, it really looks nice. I think Hallmark has this feature on their website also.

American Greetings has a few free create and print cards so you can check it out and see if you would like to do this. For Christmas, I used their site to print name tags for gifts, money holders, and even some cute little candy cane holders that I gave to the children at church.

Using this feature, I can print cards during lunch at work or even late in the evening. Just another thought.

[DianaB]

I'm really bad with birthdays. I just got caught up with my birthday cards from summer just a while back. I kept thinking that I was going to go out of town and buy gifts but it just never happened so everyone just got some money. My whole family knows how bad I am.

My Mom goes to the dollar store and buys cards for the whole year for her family and my step-dad's family. She must go ahead and address them so that they're all ready to mail out. I don't know how she knows when to mail them but you could put Post-it Notes on them with the date to help you remember when to mail them. My Mom's pretty organized. I used to be too!!!

[Janet]

LOLOL....Diana I use to be sooo organized too...to a fault mind you. Now....I just feel like I'm in a spiral of confusion sometimes...lol.

Some of these ideas are really good...I do want to check out the online ones for sure. Maybe when my online calendar pops up a birthday or other special occasion....I could just go straight to the online greeting cards and print one out....hmmmm .

[Tiramisu]

I find that I'm much more organized at my work/office (chained to my desk), so I use my calendar there as my best reminder. I struggle with remembering to buy the cards ahead of time, but try to work them into my stack of bills and send them like paying a bill!

[Janet]

Well, I don't make resolutions, but I sure hope I do better this year with my card sending.

[Marilyn]

Originally Posted by Janet

Maybe when my online calendar pops up a birthday or other special occasion....I could just go straight to the online greeting cards and print one out....hmmmm .

Actually the American Greeting website has a feature where you enter the birthdays you want to remember and they send you e-mail reminders as the day approaches.

Janet, you inspired me. This evening I addressed all the birthday and anniversary cards that need to be mailed during the remainder of January. All I need is stamps and they are ready to go. I will be mailing two of them tomorrow. Next I'm checking to see who all I need to send Get Well cards to. This really isn't hard, just takes a little committment. I have all the addresses and dates in a database, so why not utilize it. Duh..

[Shada]

Not only do I not have a new calandar yet, my old calandar is still on October!!!

[Janet]

Originally Posted by Shada

Not only do I not have a new calandar yet, my old calandar is still on October!!!

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I'm going to town today to get some cards...some personal ones and some boxed ones. I want to do good this year and brighten someones special occasion.

[DianaB]

Originally Posted by Shada

Not only do I not have a new calandar yet, my old calandar is still on October!!!

There are places on the internet where you can print off a calendar. Just type "printable calendar" for your search. That's what I've used for the last couple of years. Some even have where you can put pictures on the pages.