Where To Get Cheap Greeting Cards (Hint: They're Free!)
I am not affiliated with any of the products, companies, or brands mentioned in this article.
Greeting cards don't have to cost an arm and a leg. On the contrary, there are many great ways to get cheap greeting cards: making them yourself, thrifting, or buying new affordable cards.
But where to buy cheap greeting cards?
I know what you’re thinking. There is an obvious winner here for the cheapest cards: Dollar Tree. Dollar Tree sells Hallmark branded cards for as cheap as 2 for $1. That's a great deal- but you can do better by shopping directly from Hallmark. Shocking- I know, but stick with me, and I'll show you how.
You can get a better deal and value at Hallmark stores than Dollar Tree for greeting cards by:
Utilizing the Hallmark rewards system
Shopping at the right time
Choosing the right places in-store to shop
By following these simple tips you can get free greeting cards from Hallmark!
Sounds too good to be true? I’ll walk you through how to get three cards from Hallmark completely free. Free birthday cards. Free sympathy cards. Free wedding cards. Whatever you're looking for! That’s way better than Dollar Tree’s 2-for-1 deal.
Greeting Cards at Dollar Tree
Dollar Tree sells Hallmark cards. The Dollar Tree Hallmark cards are usually made with thinner materials but still get the job done. The sayings range from cute, funny, and heartfelt, aligning with the Hallmark content quality.
You can purchase two cards for $1, or a single card for $1 at Dollar Tree (That's true for now at least. Who is to say when those cards will rise to the rest of Dollar Tree’s $1.25 prices?).
Greeting Card Prices at Hallmark
Individual cards in Hallmark stores range anywhere from $0.99 to around $14.99. That’s a wide variety in price! Their standard price for a card is about $2.99.
The cards at Hallmark, aside from the ones in their value section, are made with higher quality materials than the ones at Dollar Tree. While the sentiments are similar, the product is a bit different.
Also, you get the fancy Gold Crown envelope seal when you buy any card in a Hallmark store- not that it matters, but some people enjoy those extra touches when sending out a card. You cannot get those seals from other retailers. You can, however, purchase cute stickers elsewhere to use as seals.
How to Save More Money at Hallmark
So, if the majority of greeting card prices at Hallmark are more than $1, how is it a better deal than Dollar Tree? I promise I’m not crazy. You just have to make the right savvy shopping choices.
Here are a few tips for how to save more money at Hallmark, making their cards cheaper than Dollar Tree:
Join the loyalty program
Get your monthly free card
Shop the value section
Buy in bulk using rewards
Join Crown Rewards
Free rewards programs are your friend. I understand people who don’t want the hassle of all the emails junking up their inboxes, but that’s why I set up a separate email address just for shopping and rewards.
Hallmark’s customer loyalty program is Crown Rewards, and you can sign up for free!
Dollar Tree does not have a customer loyalty program. The company does not need to create much customer loyalty because The main draw is the already super-low prices. Usually, you can’t get a better deal than Dollar Tree.
But no loyalty program means no coupons for freebies. Freebie coupons win every time.
Free Monthly Just Because Card
Speaking of freebie coupons, as a member of the Crown Rewards program, you’ll get a free monthly card! These cards are made with excellent materials and are just super cute. If you want to know more about these free monthly cards, I wrote another article on that topic!
Look for the Value Cards Section
Hallmark cards are organized in various sections and branded card lines. It’s easy to get distracted and think that if you're looking for a wedding card, your only options are in the “Wedding” section. Not true.
I will admit, that not all Hallmark stores have this section- but most will. The Value section has signs with a dull lime green color. In the Hallmark Value cards section, you’ll find cards such as:
His Birthday
Her Birthday
Kids Birthdays
Various relative's birthdays (Aunt, Uncle, Sister, Brother, Dad, Mom- it changes and there’s no guarantee what they might have)
Wedding
Sympathy
Thank you
Get Well
Thinking of You
Blank
Packs of cards
The price of Hallmark’s value cards ranges from $0.99 to $2.50.
Buy Boxed Cards with Rewards
If you need cards in bulk, boxed cards are the way to go. I have watched people buy hundreds of dollars worth of cards without realizing how much each card added up in the store. If you need lots of cards, it’s quicker and more cost-efficient for you to purchase one of the many boxes of greeting cards.
There are value “boxed” cards in the Hallmark value section. These packs are in cellophane bags and have around 6 to 10 cards inside for a reasonable cost.
Their other boxed cards are not ridiculously priced either (unless you’re looking at boxed Christmas cards. Those will set you back and are best bought after season).
For reference, here are some examples of Hallmark’s boxed cards and the prices you will encounter:
A pack of 12 for $5.99 makes each card cost $0.49. The price per card for the pack of 36 listed is $0.47!
You’ll find all types of cards in various styles and prices in the boxed cards sections of the store. You will have to dig through to find the better-priced ones sometimes, but it is worth it.
Shopping for Hallmark Cards at the Right Time
Hallmark sends bonus coupons (usually around a $2 value for their non-platinum tier loyalty customers) to reward members around popular greeting card holidays or store events (such as their Christmas ornament releases). These are the times you should shop at Hallmark.
You can utilize your $2 reward to purchase anything in the store, including value cards.
Sometimes around these holidays and events, Hallmark sends a BOGO or Buy-2-get-1 coupon out for their cards as well. You can use your reward dollars with this coupon! So, to break it down- you could get two $0.99 cards with your $2 reward, and another $0.99 card for free with the buy-2-get-1 coupon!
Just a note: the free card with a BOGO or buy-2-get-1 deal will always be of equal or lesser value than the other cards you purchase. It's best to stick to the $0.99 ones to get the most bang for your buck!
Final Thoughts
At Dollar Tree, the cheapest greeting cards are 2 for $1. At Hallmark, you can get three cards for free in a single transaction by redeeming your free card of the month coupon and picking up two value cards with a bonus $2 reward around various holidays or shopping events.
Free beats spending every time.
You can also opt to get cheap greeting cards from thrift stores, but often the cards are not as good, dated, or stained/discolored (and sometimes stink- like literally).
If you’re in the market for some greeting cards, the best bang for your buck is at Hallmark stores.
