Adulting Series: Writing a Thank-You Note

This article is part of my Adulting Series. In my experience as a teacher of high school and community college young adults, I've been asked many questions about general life stuff we all need to know about. I decided to write a series of articles to address these questions, as well as other information that is worth sharing, even if no one specifically asked.

This seems like a good time of year to talk about thank-you notes. They used to be much more common, especially in the South. In fact, in the old(er) days, it was not uncommon for people (even family members) to stop sending gifts if they never received a written note of acknowledgement. Still, the tradition of thank-you notes has lost popularity over the past couple of decades.

But saying thank you is never out of style, especially when someone takes the time to pick out and purchase a gift for you, or spends their time helping you do something, such as a project or a difficult task. (Remember, giving you their time is also a gift.) And since porch pirates are so common, the least we can do is let the sender know their gift was received. If you'd like to send someone a thank-you note, keep reading for practical advice on the best way to do it.

The Traditional Way

Traditionally, thank-you notes are written on a small card that say "thank you" on the front and are blank inside for your personal message. You can buy thank-you cards in Target, Wal-Mart, and many dollar stores. You can buy them individually in the greeting cards section, or buy a package of them if you want to send them to multiple people. Once you've written your message, you can either mail them or hand-deliver them to your recipients.

If you don't want to do it the traditional way (pen and paper), you could also choose to send a short email or text message to show your appreciation. But no matter how you send it, you'll still want to follow my guidelines for writing the message.

Keep it Short and Sweet

It's a note, not a letter. Usually, 2-3 sentences is all that's needed, so don't stress yourself over the task. If the thank-you note is for someone you haven't seen or talked to in a while (i.e., far-away family/friends), you could always add a little more information, but that's not required.

Personalize it: Mention the Gift Specifically

When you write a thank-you note, it should be specific to the person and the gift they sent. You should never send a generic message such as "Thank you for my gift. I really like it." I know this is tempting, especially when you have more than one note to write, but it comes off as very impersonal. They were probably thoughtful about picking out your gift (such as making the effort to find out what you wanted), so you should also put some thought into the note you write.

Putting it all Together: Basic Format for a Thank-You Note

Here is a basic format you can follow when you need or want to write a thank-you note:

Dear -----,

Thank you so much for the XXXXXXXX you sent for my birthday. I will really enjoy using it when I (GIVE A SPECIFIC EXAMPLE). It was very nice of you to think of me.

Sincerely (or Love),

YOUR NAME

Here is another example:

Dear Grandma and Grandpa,

Thank you for the (NAME OF SPECIFIC VIDEO GAME) you gave me for Christmas. I was really hoping to get it! I've been playing it every day since Christmas.

Love,

YOUR NAME

As you can see, writing a thank-you note doesn't have to be a big ordeal. It's just a simple message to let someone know you appreciate them and their gift. It's a small gesture, but it really means a lot to the person who receives it.