Christmas Cards for Neighbors (Friendly, Simple and Easy to Print)

A card for the neighbors is one of the nicest small traditions of the season. It costs almost nothing, takes two minutes to write, and it is often the thing that turns "the people in the blue house" into people you actually wave to. The trick is to keep it warm and light: you are saying thanks for being good neighbors, not writing a family newsletter.

Who to give a neighbor card to

• The people on either side and across the street. If you only do a few, start there.
• Anyone who helped this year. The neighbor who took in a package, shoveled your walk or watched the cat deserves a specific thank-you.
• New neighbors. A card is a low-pressure way to introduce yourself. Add your first names and house number so they can put names to faces.
• Older neighbors who live alone. A card can matter more than you'd think. Offer something concrete, like "knock any time you need a hand with the bins."

What to write in a neighbor card

• "Merry Christmas from your neighbors at No. 14! Thanks for making this such a friendly street."
• "Thank you for keeping an eye on the house while we were away. Wishing you a cozy holiday!"
• "We just moved in at No. 22 and wanted to say hello. Happy holidays from Sam, Jo and Biscuit the dog."
• "Wishing you a peaceful holiday season and a happy new year, neighbor."

Not sure if they celebrate Christmas? "Happy Holidays" or "Season's Greetings" is always safe. For more ready-made lines, try our Christmas card message generator.

Printable cards for neighbors

Doing the whole street

Printable cards make neighbor cards cheap: print a design two to a page on cardstock, trim, and you have a stack for the price of the paper. Hand-deliver them by tucking them in the door or mailbox slot. In the US, only the post office may put things inside a mailbox, so don't leave cards there without a stamp. Our printing guide covers paper and printer settings.

Also see last-minute Christmas cards and cards for family.

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