To think Christmas cards, especially personal ones are a waste of money?

[Coffeerun]

Christmas cards are lovely, and I can understand why it's nice to send people ones out of a pack. But I feel that relation Christmas cards are going too far.

There's four people in my household. Husband, wife, son, mum and dad, brother. That's 5 cards just for our little family. Then two sets of grandparents, who would also receive mum and dad and grandparent cards, and vice verse, numerous aunts and uncles, brothers and sisters, nieces and nephews, even great grandparents. Could spend an absolute fortune.

They only go in the recycling bin after Christmas.

Do you buy personal cards? This year dh and I are sending everyone a card out of a pack and I just know certain family members will be offended.

[Katinkka]

I only give one card, to my dad. He appreciates it, so not a waste of money. Nobody else gets one. Not even out of a box. I can't be bothered.

[cardibach]

I don't like cards at all. I particularly don't like ones which have my relationship to the sender emblazoned on the front. I accept both these positions are probably illogical, but in my opinion YANBU. Except in sending cards at all.

[2rebecca]

I just buy a pack of charity cards and post them to people who don't live with me adding a hand written message inside if I've not seen them from a while.
I do birthday cards to family members I live with but not Christmas cards, that just seems a waste of resources and a bit silly.

[JenniferYellowHat1980]

Totally. That said, I started a new workplace in summer and I've only received two cards to my colleagues' dozen. In that situation I'd rather no one bothered or they all extended the same courtesy.

I don't display cards as they're a PITA.

[AliceInUnderpants]

I have bought special cards for my nieces, nephew and God-daughter. I've also got one for my parents from the children, and they've got ones to give to their dad and to his girlfriend.

Only other cards I've done this year are out of a packet, one to my Secret Santa recipient, and one to pop to the neighbour over the road as they popped one through my door earlier, and despite claiming I'm not doing cards this year, I just can't not return one

[wannabestressfree]

My partner loves them and if it makes him happy I will get them. We have six children between us and he gets the son and daughter cards. I think for him it's because a. His parents died young and he still has their 'son' cards and it's a tradition and b. He is a lover of all things naff. :)

[AliceInHinterland]

I don't like them personally. I will occasionally stretch to a 'dad' one for birthdays (for DP), but at Christmas you get one from us as a family, out of a box (a nice box if we really like you).

[Mummamayhem]

I always think it should be law that any Christmas cards sold should give some profit to charity. It's a painful waste.

[cardibach]

Aice if you're not going to do cards you need to be much tougher than that :) You have to be more stubborn than all the card givers for years and years. I still get cards and haven't done them for about 10 years. I tell people they needn't send them too!

[ijustwannadance]

Only one I buy is for DD.
Was in card shop to get birthday cards and some of the xmas cards were ridiculous. Happy christmas neighbour, aunt who is like a mother, pet cat etc.

[Wishforsnow]

Cards can mean so much to people though. I don't think they are a waste at all. Maybe if you have a large family then it may seem so. People alone often really appreciate a card to know they are thought of.

[AnnieAnoniMouse]

This thread divides MN 😂

I'm out about it 😊 I like them. I like getting them & I like sending them. I think it shows you've taken the time to choose a card for that person and it's nice.

I don't put all my cards in the recycling bin after Christmas, I keep them. I'm glad I keep them and always have. I have the last one my Dad ever sent me, as well as Grandparents etc that way.

I don't care if other people don't like them or think they're naff. 🙃

[AnnieAnoniMouse]

It does hurt a bit when people say it's ridiculous though. I got one for my lovely neighbours that said 'to my lovely neighbours'. So bloody what? Why is it 'ridiculous'?

[AliceInUnderpants]

cardi It's an old couple, they won't be around forever

It's the first time I've lived somewhere where the majority of my neighbours are not absolute cock-wombles, so I don't mind signing a wee card in return for someone who's done one for us.

[JosephineMaynard]

We don't buy the Christmas cards that say "to Grandma / Grandad / Auntie / etc".

But the DCs school did those Christmas cards which feature the child's Christmassy art effort on the front of the card. So we're sending those to family.

[cardibach]

Fair enough Alice :)

[Vinorosso74]

It's not obligatory to get them. Some people appreciate the sentiment, others less so. We get ones for the grandparents from DD. However, ones to the cat etc are a bit pointless. I love our cat but she wouldn't know what the thing was nor can she read. In fact even the colours would be lost on her....

[edwinbear]

I don't buy personal ones and don't exchange with DH/DC, but I do send them to friends and family I don't see as often as I'd like. I also like to receive them, I'm touched someone has gone to the bother of buying cards, writing them, digging out my address, walking to the post box etc and I hope the people I send to feel the same. I'm quite old fashioned in my views of sending hand written thank you notes after we've stayed with friends, or been for dinner etc and will always post 'get well soon' cards and the like. I'm a bit sad it seems to have died out this year.

[bibbitybobbityyhat]

Everything except that which keeps you alive is a waste of money though isn't it, you could say.

We send Christmas cards (dh and I send about 40 between us, fewer than even 10 years ago) and love receiving them but I am 100% certain that my carbon footprint is lower than that of the average first world citizen. So I don't worry about it too much.

[ijustwannadance]

The ridiculous part is the amount of very specific cousin/step uncle on mother's side/teaching assistant/landlord/gynecologist/cat's brother's second child cards that are now available.

[ViewBasket]

I really like sending and receiving cards. It means a lot to know someone has thought to send one

They can be recycled and I don't see it as "wasteful". There's consumerism and waste all year round, so I don't know why so many people suddenly become Ebenezer Scrooge over Christmas cards, but spend the year buying takeaway coffee, magazines, anything made of paper/card or with packaging etc, taking unnecessary journeys by car/plane, wearing anything which isn't made of hessian etc.

[edwinbear]

View that's a great way of putting it. A card to a dear friend should be last to go after my take away coffee, you are absolutely right and I will be using the analogy if you don't object.

[DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen]

Yes I do - mother in law,mum and dad, sister,ds's godmother, sister in law, best friend and 5 'special friends' ones.

I really like choosing them

[DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen]

Oh and husband!

[dementedpixie]

I don't buy individual Christmas cards either and any I send are out of a packet. We also don't do cards to husband, wife, children, etc. Haven't sent many this year at all tbh