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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Why would someone keep an empty envelope?

214 replies

Anothernamebite · 18/09/2024 15:59

To ask why a person would keep an open but empty envelope with their name on the front. They haven't mistakenly kept it. I know this because it has been deliberately moved from its original place and hidden in a new place while they were tidying up.

OP posts:
betterangels · 18/09/2024 17:53

There must be such a huge back story about your marriage being shit for this to even register. Otherwise, just ask him. Strangers aren't going to know.

Ponderingwindow · 18/09/2024 17:48

Scrap paper

save the return address

interesting stamp

forgot to throw it away

tolerable · 18/09/2024 17:47

do you know the nameee?ask them?

Demonhunter · 18/09/2024 17:47

Inside the envelope is the invisible ability to not be dramatic. He's hiding it to give you for your birthday.

Spidey66 · 18/09/2024 17:44

What a stupid thing to worry about!

TillyKister · 18/09/2024 17:44

It all sounds very cloak and daggerly mysterious.
Can you elaborate a little more OP? Do you recognise the handwriting? Do you suspect the envelope contained something you need to worry about?

With a little more information, we could probably shine some light on it a little more for you.

Hope you'll update us.

Witchbitch20 · 18/09/2024 17:42

To make an origami frog out of it.

Allywill · 18/09/2024 17:33

my husband kept an envelope that was franked “on her majesty’s service” think it made him feel like James Bond!

ChardonnaysBeastlyCat · 18/09/2024 17:33

I keep an old envelope my child sent me from a summer camp.

It has my name on and a drawing of a dinosaur next to it.

there was nothing in it, I suppose the message was the drawing. Grin

Choochoo21 · 18/09/2024 17:33

I don’t understand why you would question this.

Surely there could be a million reasons.

I assume you think a woman gave it to him and he’s having an affair.

Its an envelope.
Its not worth getting worried over.

MasterBeth · 18/09/2024 17:33

TwigletsAndRadishes · 18/09/2024 17:00

Folded it up and put it inside a pack of photos. That's sounds like a conscious, deliberate act for something that on the face of it has no reason to be kept.

Or a random, forgetful act (I scooped up the folded envelope with the photos). Or a mistake (I threw the important piece of paper away and put the unimportant one with the photos). Or, as someone said above, for another purpose (I used the folded envelope to separate photos). Or something else entirely.

In any case, even if deliberate, it's not...

Meticulous : "showing great attention to detail; very careful and precise."

MonsteraMama · 18/09/2024 17:32

What's wrong with your marriage that this is something that you're giving headspace to? If I found this while snooping tidying I'd just think my husband had absent mindedly folded up an envelope and shoved it somewhere. I wouldn't be playing Miss Marple on Mumsnet where of course people are going to put it in your head that he's shagging the envelope writer.

gardenisblooming · 18/09/2024 17:31

I sometimes leave myself a bit of money. I put £50-£100 in an envelope, with my name on, so that I don't forget, and hide it somewhere for my future self to find!

Sometimes the envelope remains empty. Maybe he is using it for something like that?

SummerFeverVenice · 18/09/2024 17:28

I have kept envelopes like that written by my now dead Nan, GAuntie, mum and dad. It’s a link to them to see my name in their handwriting.

Apollo365 · 18/09/2024 17:28

GoodnightJude1 · 18/09/2024 17:26

Perhaps the envelope is being used as a kind of marker….to separate the photos? Maybe he was planning on giving certain photos to someone else?

Ohhh yes, to stop then sticking together or separating events?

Apollo365 · 18/09/2024 17:28

Niche, but if the person who wrote my name had passed away. I’d keep it to have their handwriting. Otherwise just forgot about it and it got gathered up with my stuff

Sheepchops · 18/09/2024 17:27

Because it has huge sentimental value. A precious memento from a lover, a relative or a deceased friend.

GoodnightJude1 · 18/09/2024 17:26

Perhaps the envelope is being used as a kind of marker….to separate the photos? Maybe he was planning on giving certain photos to someone else?

MumonabikeE5 · 18/09/2024 17:24

I think if you are finding stuff that is hidden and/or can’t ask the person themselves you have more to worry about than envelopes.

ClareBlue · 18/09/2024 17:20

dontcallmelen · 18/09/2024 16:20

Probably best if you ask him OP, my Dh has an old envelope which I had had written my name & telephone number on the night me met, we’ve been married 45years so could be all manner of reasons possibly sentimental or not hope the explanation doesn’t upset you.

That's a nice reason though. We are suspecting that this might not be so good. But only one person really knows and he's not posting her (or is he)

viques · 18/09/2024 17:16

Seas164 · 18/09/2024 16:14

It's clearly imbued with magical properties, be careful you don't open the envelope under a full moon OP, it could be a portal to another dimension.

There has been a hunters moon for the last few nights, do you feel drawn to throw off your inhibitions and dance naked in your back garden OP………

ClareBlue · 18/09/2024 17:14

LadyMacbethssweetArabianhand · 18/09/2024 16:00

Because it means something to them? Just ask

This.
There is no way of knowing without asking. Be prepared to be told to mind your own business.

SoNiceToComeHomeTo · 18/09/2024 17:10

Do you suspect him of something? If not, unless he is incredibly tidy as a rule, it is strange that you even noticed it. There are lots of used envelopes around my house, either saved for another use or just forgotten about and picked up with piles of post and so on.

Notimeforaname · 18/09/2024 17:09

Just ask him!!!

itsmylife7 · 18/09/2024 17:06

Anothernamebite · 18/09/2024 16:07

It has been hidden inside a packet of printed photos.

Drugs.

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