Holiday Stress - Greeting Cards

Tips For Conquering Your Holiday Greeting Card List

Advice Seeker: Dear April,

I am always a mess when it comes to sending out my holiday greeting cards. I'm extremely disorganized and I always end up mailing them at the last minute; sometimes even after the holidays are over (happy New Year, anyone?). Do you have any advice for how I can stay organized when it comes to sending out my holiday greeting cards?

Sincerely,

Stressed Out Greetings

April Masini's advice:

Dear Stressed Out Greetings,

The holidays are either enjoyable or stress-filled, depending on how organized you are.

Here are some tips to conquer that monster -- The holiday greeting card list:

1. Get your cards out early. Thanksgiving is not too early to start your mailing.

2. If you can't get them out early, get them out late. New Year's is a perfectly acceptable time to send and receive cards, greetings, and news of family and friends. Relax. It doesn't all have to be done by December 25.

3. Send a mast blast. Sending the same card to all friends and family is acceptable. If you can hand sign the cards, best. If you can computer or print sign them, fine. Photos are always appreciated in cards or as cards.

4. Use your computer. Keep an address list in your computer so updating is easy each year, and you don't have to get writer's cramp from hand addressing all those envelopes.

5. Consider envelopes with pre-printed or embossed return address labels.

6. Take one of your cards, sealed and addressed, to the post office and weigh it to make sure you have the correct amount of postage on your cards. Nothing is worse than getting the whole batch back because you're missing a few cents postage on the envelopes.

7. Keep it conventional. If you're sending a mass blast to hundreds of friends, family and business colleagues, don't include bikini shots, or anything that may be construed as inappropriate. Better to err on the conservative side.

8. From the kids. Consider having your youngsters design the card this year. Color xeroxing is a great and inexpensive way to get your Christmas and Holiday cards done with a unique and personal flair.