Social Rules Regarding Greeting Cards

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The rules regarding greeting cards have always confused me, and there's one in particular I've never been able to figure out: when someone gives you a card of some sort for a birthday or Christmas or something, how long do you have to hang onto it for, and when, if ever, is it okay to get rid of it? I'm not sure of the social value they hold, so I'm always torn between hanging onto them for a long time because someone was thoughtful and did something nice for me, and throwing them out after about a week because I have no space and they create clutter. So, anyone have any insight as to this social dilemma?

I throw mine out as soon as the person has left. Holding onto it for a week I think is probably about standard, but I really don't know why. I think they are a sort of sentimental decoration, there to remind you of how much these people in your life care about you, because they were thoughtful enough to conform to the social norm of giving you a folded piece of cardboard with a cute picture on the front and well wishes written inside.

Not everyone sends out greeting cards or else I would be getting a bunch of them every year. I don't send any and never will. I didn't even know they even existed until I was an adult and thought it was something some people chose to do, not because you have to. I only sent one once and it was to my aunt and uncle in Wisconsin, the ones I called cheap. I hear you throw them out after the holiday ends.

i save most of mine.

I don't send any out, nor do I receive many. The ones I do get, I usually put them away in a box in my cupboard.
People crave attention from others, we're naturally very social beings and greeting cards are a result of that.
People have found ways to show others in a subtle way, that they are thinking of them. To me that seems logical.

I would prefer a card, or even an email, over a phone call or physical interaction with someone. Though I'm happily content with neither of these things, since I rarely consider other people during holiday seasons, to me it is illogical; celebrating folklore as if they are part of our legitimate history.

I do like to reserve a little thought and consideration for someone who spends enough time to give me something thoughtful, I don't want to forget that I am part of a much bigger world than the one I've created in my room.

I give my own handmade greeting cards... ones that are nice enough to keep and even frame. I hate the thought of giving a commercial card that is going to be thrown out. Such a waste of time and money! I'd rather just send an eCard that can easily be deleted.

I don't get many cards, but the ones I do get are often handmade or arty and nice enough to keep. People know I don't like boring old commercial cards from the shop

My family knows better than to give me cards. I read then toss them. Apparently that is not what you are supposed to do. My wife keeps most of the ones that are for both of us.

Most people who I know have all their birthday cards up for a whole week (7 days) then take all their cards down on the 7th day after their birthday. I don't know what people do with them after that; some keep them, others throw them, it's up to you.

With Christmas cards, we usually keeps ours up until the day we take the all the Christmas tree and the decorations and everything down.

There is no ''rule'' with what you do with your cards once you receive them. But I don't know if rules with this sort of thing is different in the USA or Australia or wherever you're from.

I usually keep cards up, forget to take them down for two weeks, then put them on top of the bunch of cards I have stored. It sort of feels like I have to keep them, but I don't mind since they don't take up too much space, and it's funny to see some silly card I received some years ago again.

I end up storing mine in a drawer, then never look at them again until it's time to empty that drawer...

The card already has a nice message, why do people insist that I need to write another? Can't I sign my name and be done with it? >_>