Although the leaves have just begun to fall, now is a great time to start thinking about this year’s Christmas cards. While mailing cards every year is certainly not a necessity, it is a tradition that I love and one that I am willing to pay for.
There is nothing better than a mailbox full of Christmas cards in December! I love to catch up with old friends and display their photo cards all month long.
Save yourself extra time and headaches by preparing for the biggest mailing you probably do all year now. Updating your address book is a great start, but what else?
Here are 6 simple ways you can trim that Christmas card budget:
1. Photo Cards. By far the most popular option these days, there are many ways to reduce the cost of custom photo cards:
- DIY photography– Instead of paying a studio, use your own camera and perhaps a friend or tripod to capture that perfect family photo. Natural light is the most flattering, so get outside and get creative!
- Attire– Dress the family in neutral pieces that you already own, rather than investing in new matching outfits.
- Printing– Be on the lookout for a great deal through Snapfish or other online services. Pick them up in-store rather than pay for shipping if possible.
- Make your own photo postcards with regular 4×6 prints and cardstock.
2. Trim your list. Do not send cards to people out of duty or obligation. Eliminate those that are not necessary.
3. If you prefer store-bought cards, stock up after Christmas for the following year. Most retailers slash prices big time after the holiday rush. The Dollar Store is also a great option for bargain holiday cards.
4. If you already have supplies on hand, hand-made cards are a frugal and meaningful gesture. Get your children involved for an extra special touch.
5. Hand deliver cards to local friends and relatives to save on postage, provided you are not driving out of your way to do so.
6. Print your own address labels at home if possible. Vista Print is also a very frugal option for your printing needs. Right now you can get 140 custom address labels FREE, just pay around $3.00 for shipping!
Now if only that perfect family photo for the Christmas card was that simple.
What tips would you add to the list for saving money on Christmas cards?
For more frugal fun, visit Life as Mom.
I used the Kodak Gallery $15 gift code to get 2 boxes of photo Christmas cards for only $2.89 shipped! The deal is still going on, so go over and get your free $15 gift code before they run out!
http://momforhim.blogspot.com/2009/10/redeem-your-kodak-code.html
Great idea, Jessica, thanks! I still need to use my $15 before it expires. Thanks for the reminder!
There are some great ideas here, thanks! Hand delivering is a really nice thought. You could combine it with admiring Christmas lights if you go in the evening.
I always write addresses by hand on the envelopes, as this is the cheapest 🙂 !
.-= The Wonder of Christmas´s last blog ..Reusing Old Christmas Cards =-.
We take our own photo with the tripod and then manipulate it to 4 wallets that fit on a 4×6 and then print them and cut into 4. It saves a ton and is much cheaper than ordering wallets.
We do a letter and use 1/2 off cards from the previous year.
I totally agree. I love receiving the cards from our friends and family. They always have photos of the kids inside (or the photo is the card itself), and I look forward to them all year. 🙂
Thanks for the great tips!
.-= Tara @ Feels like home´s last blog ..Free Fun With A Cardboard Box =-.
I like to use family shots from vacations, showing the family doing something together, like biking, hiking or at an amusement park or something!
I really want to get a nice shot of me and my children for a nice Christmas card, but with one away at college time is running out. I’m going to have to take advantage of that deal – hopefully I haven’t missed it.
.-= Petula´s last blog ..Large warehouse purchases =-.
Does anyone have suggestions for free software to create photo collages, that I could then use to print my own photos with several images? I like to include several shots of my husband and I, the kids, etc.
Melissa, it is not quite free, but have you tried http://www.Picnik.com? The regular membership is free, but the premium (about $2.00 per month) include a super cool collage feature. I highly recommend it!
We used the free Picasa software (picasa.google.com) last year to make a fun 4×6″ collage print. I think we ended up having them printed at Costco since their prices are reasonable and there’s no shipping.
Since the photo was already digital, we cut back on costs by sending out an e-version of our letter & photo to those friends and family that we see on a regular basis. We have lots of family and friends overseas, and at $0.98/stamp we have to make sure we’re sending paper only to the ones who will truly appreciate it 🙂
These are all great ideas. Here’s one additional idea, recycle old greeting cards. Yes, it helps the environment, but it can also save you money! One way is to cut off the colorful front of an old card, and use it as a postcard.
Not only do you not have to buy a card, but also postcards are cheaper to mail!
Thanks for the post.
.-= Boardwalk @ Recycle Christmas Cards´s last blog ..Recycle Greeting Cards for Arts and Crafts =-.
That is a brilliant idea, thanks for sharing!