to send this years xmas greeting by text instead of cards...

[Notbig]

Thought about doing it last year. Would rather give £20-£30 to local charity and save time, energy and trees. I was thinking perhaps I could just send cards to grandparents who wouldn't understand concept and greeting everyone else by text advising my theory. Do you think anyone would be offended?...

[Triathlete]

Flippin hell.

How many texts do you receive in a week?

And how often does Christmas come around?

Don't be so lazy/tight.

[Anglepoise]

Wouldn't do it by text but for the past two years I've emailed Christmas greetings to my work colleagues and given the money to Oxfam instead.

I've never managed to get off my arse and send Christmas cards to friends and family since I was out of primary school, so that's not an issue

[AbbeyA]

I love Christmas cards and keeping up with old friends. I don't send them to people I see every day-I just wish them a happy Christmas.

[chequersandchess]

What Abbey said.

I've always found it weird getting one off the person who sits opposite you at work, but it's lovely to get them in the post.

[Lindax]

I love sending and receiving Xmas cards and imo think its sad that people are now using the "giving money to charity instead" excuse to save them the effort of sending them. (bet charities dont see all these donations!)

It wouldn't be Xmas without lots of cards from loved ones around the house.

If you genuinely dont want to send someone a card dont, I wouldnt want a begrudged one.

[AbbeyA]

I certainly don't want a text!

[LadyOfRoffle]

Get charity cards...

[islandofsodor]

By text YABU. IMagine if it caught on, everyones inbox would be cluttered with texts, phones going off all the times. Text is so impersonal.

Email would be better. A nice note with perhaps one of those attached Christmas picture message links explaining which charity you are supporting.

[UnfortunatelyMurderedMe]

Sounds like a fab idea, save landfill and donate to charity. GREAT idea

[MsHighwater]

2 years ago, I sent an email round colleagues to explain that I wouldn't be giving cards and would instead make a donation to a local charity. Last year, a significant number did the same thing.

I will not give up sending cards to those people with whom it is my/our sole point of contact but I think it becomes a little bizarre when you think about all the cards we exchange with people whom we see day and daily.

[combustiblelemon]

I agree that it would be better environmentally to give a donation and text/e-mail, but as you can see, lots of other people would be annoyed/offended.

Charity cards are probably the way to go, but buy them directly from the charities. All those packs of 'charity' cards in the supermarkets and high street shops are a complete rip off. If you look at the back of the packet you'll see that as little as 10% of the retail price actually goes to the charity. If you buy direct it's 100%

[Notbig]

With 2 kids 2 and under I barely get a minute to spare and just think that its a waste of time and money. The percentage that actually goes to charity is minimal from charity cards.

Don't grudge sending anyone a card however if it wasn't going cause offence I think its much more worthwhile doing it by text and giving money direct to charity.

For what its worth I'm far from tight, I WOULD give money to charity but very pushed for time and energy these days.

Thanks for responses. I will start writing my cards out now to get it all done in time as I truely don't want to offend anyone which it looks like I'm guaranteed to do by otherwise greeting by text!

[UnfortunatelyMurderedMe]

I dont send cards BTW it hasnt lost me any friends. And I dont donate to charity. Though I may this year as thats a good idea

[Notbig]

Whahoo getting a few more positive responses thank goodness.

Thinking now I might print off a christmasy photos of kids with standard printed message to save time effort and money.

Is this ok??

[soultaken]

LOL if you don't want to send cards I think it's perfectly acceptable not too - I know I could care less whether or not someone I sent a card too sends one back.

Don't bother with texts though

[EightiesChick]

Personally I love sending cards, even to people I sit across the way from, and justify it by buying the proper charity ones. However, I can see how it's time consuming - but I would definitely email rather than text if you want to find an alternative way. Texting is really pretty casual, and it's harder to make Christmassy. Whereas you can spend a little bit of time finding a nice seasonal picture, or one of your family, put that in and you're away. Plus an email can be sent en masse and completely free - texting can still cost you money if you go over your limit and have a lot of people to send to.

I would also see a nice photo with a standard message printed off as fine. Someone I know sent an emailed of their new(ish) baby wearing reindeer antlers and that looked pretty cute.

[pingping]

Don't have that problem I work for a card based business by the time it comes to Christmas we all are sick of the site of Christmas cards

[PuppyMonkey]

I haven't sent Xmas cards for two years now. Most liberating.

No-one has noticed either. Well if they have - i don't really care actually!

Save the rainforest...

[Miffyinsurrey]

How would you feel if you received a load of texts and no cards to open, read or decorate your living room with?

At Christmas I go to the trouble of selecting nice tasteful (charity if poss) cards and I try to write something in each one. It would be good if more people did the same..I would agree that there is not much point sending cards if you only write your names in and don't take the time to write a personal message, and mention some news or something.

If cards are recycled surely it isn't that bad for the environment. I expect those people who don't send cards for environmental reasons continue to use their cars and travel by plane etc which would harm the environment more.

You can always give money to charity too, or make your own cards to keep the cost down.

Also it doesn't take that much time to write cards, and it is nice to make an effort sometimes isn't it. I really enjoy writing to all my friends at Christmas and receiving their cards, pictures of children etc. I never send round robin letters but enjoy reading other peoples.

If anyone texted me a Christmas message I think I might cut them off my Christmas card list for next year...but I'm old fashioned I know!

[PuppyMonkey]

I'd be blardy delighted Miffy.

[nooOOOoonki]

Miffy _ I would be pleased to recieve no cards. I hate them total waste of paper/money/postage

I would muc prefer someone gave £30 to charity rather than waste money on sending me something that I find a waste of space.

I make a few with the kids to give to people that I don't see a lot of other than that I tell people I dont do cards, and dont expect to recieve any.

[nooOOOoonki]

oh and I HATE getting them from people in my office - when I worked full time it was ridiculous everyone would dole out 20 cards to the office what a waste of paper grrrrrrrrrrrrrr