Thank-you notes are still expected for gifts or kind gestures. They should be sent immediately and express gratitude. It’s not necessary to be elaborate, but handmade gifts should be appreciated. Gratitude is important and perpetuating this rule of etiquette is necessary.
While many etiquette rules have been dropped in recent years, one convention still holds true for polite people: the thank-you note. A card or note is still expected when a person receives a gift or other consideration that might be out of the ordinary in some way.
The note or thank you note is considered mandatory for couples who acknowledge wedding gifts and for graduates who need to thank for all the money they receive after graduation. It lets the giver know that the gift has been received and appreciated. Ideally, it should be written for birthday and Christmas gifts from relatives other than parents. Whether it’s a material item or money, a card should be sent immediately upon receiving the gift.
It’s also appropriate to send one when someone has done a kindness that may be out of the ordinary, such as when a relative offers their home for an overnight stay. Applicants must also send a thank-you note after being interviewed by a prospective employer.
A thank-you card or note doesn’t need to be elaborate. A person can send one purchased as a greeting card at the supermarket, on stationery, or on a blank card. Expressed gratitude is what is important.
Some people hesitate to write a thank-you note because they “don’t know what to say.” This is easily overcome: you simply thank the giver for the gift and express appreciation for it.
An appropriate message might go along these lines: “Dear Grandma. Thank you so much for getting me the scarf and hat for Christmas. They will help keep me warm this winter. I appreciate your thoughtfulness. Love, Johnny.”
For a check, the recipient might write something like “Dear Aunt Tillie. Thank you so much for the $20 check on my graduation. It will help me towards my down payment on my car in college. I appreciate your thoughtfulness. Thanks again. Love, John.”
The writer should always give thanks, tell the giver how the gift will be used and how much it is appreciated. A handmade gift should always be particularly appreciated in the thank you card. “Knowing that you made my scarf and hat makes them very special,” is just one example.
Gratitude is perhaps not as commonly expressed as it once was, so a sincere thank you, even a short one, will be appreciated. It’s a rule of etiquette that deserves to be perpetuated.
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