How To: Write a Thank You Note

Even though most of us have been doing this since we were old enough to write, oftentimes people feel stumped when it comes to writing meaningful and heartfelt Thank You notes. Don’t let the card itself do all the work! Below you will find some of my own tips and recommendations for writing Thank You notes that are sure to leave a lasting impression!

First and foremost, ask yourself why you are thankful for the gift? 

If it’s money, why is this beneficial to you? Will it help you buy something you’ve been wanting? Will it help with rent? Boost your savings? Even if it’s only five dollars— will it buy your favorite drugstore Chapstick? A new pack of gum? A couple of candy bars from the vending machine at work? Cover the delivery cost of your Postmates order? No matter what it is, you should always be grateful for a gift!

Writing a successful thank you note is as easy as that, thinking of why the gift will add benefit to your life, and telling the gift giver why! People want their gift to be put to good use and to know they have given you something you believe is worthwhile. The more detail and information you can give them the better! It doesn’t have to stop at “Thank expanding on that and say something like, “winter is coming soon, and my lips get so dry. This is the only Chapstick that works for me! It will seriously come in handy!” (I purposely picked the dumbest example to show you how easy it can be…)

Let’s try another one. Say it was a larger sum of money than five dollars lol, and you are able to afford a pair of boots with it— “Thank you so much for (the money), now I can afford (a new pair of winter boots!).” Continue with, “winters in New York are pretty rough, and my old boots just don’t handle the rain and snow like they used to! I’ve had my eye on this pair for a while, but never could quite pull the trigger. Thank you for making it a possibility for me, I’m so grateful and excited!” If it’s a relative or close friend, maybe offer to send them a picture later!

Maybe instead of money, you got a new jewelry box, “Thank you for (the jewelry box)! The gold accents on it make it perfect for the top of my dresser! My necklaces have been a mess lately and this will be so helpful in keeping them organized, de-tangled, and in great condition. This was such a thoughtful gift…” etc.

Maybe you were gifted a pair of earrings for your birthday—“Thank you for the earrings, they are absolutely stunning! They will look absolutely perfect with the dress I am wearing for my party on Saturday” Lol…

Do you remember a time when you felt insecure about a gift you were giving someone because you weren’t sure if they would like it? This is your opportunity as the receiver to alleviate that insecurity and anxiety of the gift giver!

You can make it as cheesy as you want, generally people love that! In a society where we put so much thought into whether we are “coming off too strong” or trying to “play it cool,”  it is very rare to find people that put in moreeffort, than not. You’d be surprised at how well received that “cheesy” note/letter you wrote was. No matter how over the top it feels, you’re probably helping to make that person’s day and feel really good about themselves! Which who wouldn’t want to help someone feel good about themselves?! Kindness and real effort go such a long way.

Now all of the above also applies to people you don’t know, or don’t know as well. For example, maybe it’s a friend of your parent’s who sent you a grad gift, or an aunt/uncle you’ve never met that always sends a birthday card. These people maybe even more so want to hear how you like the gift, as the two of you don’t know each other.

Grad gifts sometimes can feel like a routine thing. These people may not have ever met you, nor you them. Yet, they send you this generous gift, money or present, despite not knowing you. They spent time thinking about you and a gift they want to give you because they’re friends of your parents, or family, or for whatever reason. They probably aren’t expecting much in return. Probably a “Thanks for the gift, I really appreciate it” and that’s about it. But you can still say so much to people you know nothing about, because you aren’t writing about them. You’re writing about you.

Again, tell them why their gift to you is so great! You’ve just graduated college— where are you moving? What career do you have in mind? Are you nervous? Excited? Will this help with moving costs? Buying furniture? 

If it’s not money, go into why you appreciate that gift. Is it socks? “Thanks, these will be great for those New York winters!” (I don’t know why my mind is stuck on NY winters???).

            Maybe you just got married! Did this gift help pay for your honeymoon? Did it pay for date night when you got back? Did it help cover moving costs? Down payments? Contribute to a joint savings account? Whatever the contribution did/is going to do, tell them!

            Maybe someone just bought the bowls from your registry. “Thank you for the bowls! Steve and I saw them in Pottery Barn and fell in love! We knew they would look excellent as a centerpiece for out table!” (I don’t know what you and Steve had in mind, but you get the picture.)

These are all just a few examples, but the overall piece of advice here is— just be yourself, be honest, and be genuine. Even if you hate the gift (hopefully you don’t), or are in a bad mood (sorry to hear that), just try stepping away for a moment until you are in a good place to find a silver lining. Remember, someone took time and energy out of their day to think of you. Reciprocate that and try to dedicate that same energy for them.