No, a Post-It will not do.If someone gives you a holiday gift, they don't necessarily require a card. For example, if you and a friend exchange gifts in person, you're cool. If you spend twenty minutes on the phone with whomever got you the gift, you're off the hook. Or, on the hook, rather. But you don't have to send a card.
Otherwise, you may have to send a thank you card. This goes especially for bosses and coworkers, anyone who threw a party, and anyone who sent you a gift by mail (with whom you don't want to talk on the phone).
Here are the rules for getting your holiday thank you cards done quickly, easily, and classily:
Start by getting a pack of thank you cards. There are reasonable ones at Target and probably your local drugstore. Don't get square ones, the post office is totally facistastic about square envelopes and may try to charge you more to send them (meaning they'll come right back to you, envelopes ruined).
Make them short. Let's be honest: unless you've got exciting news, these are boring to write and boring to read. As long as they're nice, it's okay to be terse! Use this template:
Dear _________,
Thank you so much for the __________. I especially like it because _________. You rock / are amazing / always know what to get me / always give such thoughtful gifts. Happy 2009!
Sincerely,
_________
That includes a formal address, a compliment about the item, a compliment to the giver, and well-wishing. Even if you hate both the coworker and the gift, you can write them something this simple. And you should.
