Let’s face it: writing a birthday card message can turn into a tricky business very quickly. Having to be witty, charming and affectionate all at the same time and in just a handful of words is hard. And in most cases, it ends up being the kind of thing you procrastinate for days until you write whatever pops into your mind at the very last minute, smudging your message with the sweat dripping off your hand as you go.
So if you’re wondering what to write in a birthday card for someone turning 30, 50 or 70+, you’re not alone. To help you avoid the last-minute rush (and save you the embarrassment of being *unjustly* accused of using ChatGPT), in this guide we outline how to craft the perfect birthday message, decade by decade – because we know that turning 20 hits different than turning 60.
20s: The ‘it’s complicated’ era
Being in your 20s is a ‘work hard play hard’ kind of time. Yes, there’s loads of partying (and plenty of hangovers), fun night outs and impromptu trips with friends or significant others, but there’s also the first big choices: where to take your career, who you want to be with and, most importantly, who you are and who you want to be.
You’re still figuring out stuff – whether it be what colour to paint the walls in your first solo rental or where you’ll go to brunch next weekend, it’s a time filled with fun and change. And your birthday message should reflect that.
Birthday card messages for twenty-somethings:
Happy 24th! Here’s to more Fridays like last one! 🥂
Quarter-life crisis who? Happy 25th! 🎂
Older but (none the) wiser. Have an amazing birthday!
You're 23 and still figuring it out. Same 🙃. Happy birthday!
Cheers to another year of questionable decisions and great stories!
Our card pick:
30s: The ‘I’m too tired for this’ decade
Ah, your thirties. The busiest, most hectic, I-need-a-nap kind of time. These are the years you’re growing in every sense: climbing the career ladder, having kids, adopting pets, buying a (bigger) house… and genuinely excited to be in bed by 9 pm on most days.
Birthdays in this decade are a calendar-invite sort of affair. The WhatsApp exchanges to plan a single party or get together take 5 to 10 working days minimum and there’s always someone who can’t make it. But when you do make it, it’s like the old times – except for the nappy bags, 5 pm dinner reservations and the conversation moving to topics such as mortgages, eye creams and schools.
Birthday card messages for thirty-somethings:
Happy 35th! Let’s celebrate when we both get some decent sleep.
You’re not old – just exhausted. Happy 38th birthday!
Don’t forget your water and paracetamol tomorrow morning – happy 30th!
Welcome to your 30s, where 'a wild night' means staying up past 10 pm.
Cheers to another year of pretending to have it all together. Happy birthday!
Our card pick:
40s: When your favourite bangers are on the oldies radio
Your forties are a funny period. You’re too young to be considered old-old BUT you’re way too old to get away with the things you did not too long ago. This is also the time when you’re more comfortable with who you are – at least metaphorically speaking, as every single joint in your body cracks and pops when you rise from bed.
This is also the decade of self-discovery (crisis? Never heard of it). Whether you're contemplating a nose ring or eyeing up a red sports car, your 40s give you permission to shake things up without apologising for it.
Birthday card messages for forty-somethings:
Happy 40th! You're not over the hill, you're just enjoying the view.
Happy 40th! You’re now officially on your way to legend status.
Welcome to your forties, when you officially don’t give a f*ck about what people think. Grab those sweatpants and enjoy!
Happy 40th! No more FOMO – just glorious JOMO (joy of missing out).
Happy birthday! You've reached the age where "I need to lie down" is a valid response to everything. Enjoy!
Our card pick:
50s: When ‘aging like fine wine’ becomes your motto
If in your forties you started to not care about what people thought, your fifties is the time where you unapologetically turn down plans – with zero guilt. How freeing is that?
For those with kids, this era is often all about big transitions. Empty nest syndrome is very much a reality. You might find yourself getting teary-eyed over a dirty sock your youngest accidentally left behind before moving out – or changing your first nappy in decades as a first-time grandparent!
Birthday card messages for fifty-somethings:
Welcome to the vintage years! Happy 50th!
50 years of being absolutely legendary. Here's to the next chapter!
50 and fabulous (even if your knees disagree). Happy birthday!
Welcome to the “back in my day’ era. Happy 50th!
Happy 50th! You're not getting older, you're just getting more expensive.
Our card pick:
60s: The golden years start here
After years of working hard and raising kids (human or furry), this is – finally – the time for you. With retirement comes a freedom you have not experienced in (quite literally) ages. You can take that cruise to the sunny Caribbean in the middle of January! Go golfing on a Tuesday afternoon! Play Lego with your grandchildren for hours on end! You get to call the shots.
Unexpectedly, this may also be a time to start or try new things: maybe you open the flower shop you’ve always dreamed about or take that medieval literature course you’ve wanted since leaving uni. The world is your oyster, 60s.
Birthday card messages for sixty-somethings:
Happy 60th! Time to do all the things you told your kids not to.
You don’t look a day over 59. Happy 60th!
Senior discounts, here we come! Here’s to cheaper outings and great moments – happy 60th!
Here’s to adventures and nodding off in front of the TV! Have a great birthday!
Cheers to your third 20s. Happy 60th!
Our card pick:
70s and beyond: The national treasure era
To put it succinctly, your 70s is the time where you genuinely run out of f*cks to give. More often than not, you can get away with saying the things you wouldn’t have dared to even hint at a few years ago. Use this power with great care (especially at family gatherings!).
This is the time when you enter your national treasure era – and as such you need to be celebrated!
Birthday card messages for 70-somethings:
You’re not old – just a classic. Happy birthday!
Happy birthday to someone who's seen it all and lived to tell the tale!
25,550 days of awesome – happy 70th!
Happy birthday! You've officially reached icon status – act accordingly!
70 years of wisdom, wit, and wonderful stories. Here's to many more!
Our card pick:
What to write in a birthday card – the bottom line
You don’t need to be this century’s William Shakespeare to write a good happy birthday message. You just need to think about what makes the recipient and their birthday unique and voilà – you’ve got the perfect starting point.
Now that you have your message sorted, make sure you pair it with the perfect card. Browse our birthday collection today and find remarkable cards for every age, milestone and personality. (Psst – we’ve got next-day delivery available!)