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Original poster

Has the cost of Stamps killed off the Xmas Cards?

178 replies

girlfriend44 · 27/09/2024 11:15

I don't send cards anymore anyway, but wondered will they die out with the cost of stamps now?

OP posts:
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the80sweregreat · 02/10/2024 12:44

.. These are for larger letters / cards btw
It's 75p for normal 2nd class stamps ( each)

the80sweregreat · 02/10/2024 12:42

Second class stamps on Amazon, book of eight for sale is 12.99
One reason my list will be three this year!

ScruffGin · 02/10/2024 11:23

My list is getting shorter and shorter due to the cost of stamps, definitely!

Littlemisscapable · 02/10/2024 11:23

AgentJohnson · 01/10/2024 05:35

In Singapore they do a cheap Xmas card stamp (it was about 50p) for December. Royal Mail should do that here.

The Netherlands do that to. The cost of stamps has risen sharply to cover the costs of a service that is being used less and less.

This is a great idea. I love cards of any sort..they are definitely going out of fashion. It's a shame.

Jaybail · 02/10/2024 11:19

Partly, but also the tradition is dying. Even friends who live close enough to pop a card through the letter box don't bother any more, they post greetings o social media.
I love getting cards, and would prefer a nice card to a present, as I keep them for years, and think about times spent with the sender, sometimes after the person has passed away.

Moellen54 · 02/10/2024 06:48

I send them to people I dont see often due to distance. I hand deliver as many as I can though

LBFseBrom · 01/10/2024 17:55

That's a good idea, Agent.Johnson.

AgentJohnson · 01/10/2024 05:35

In Singapore they do a cheap Xmas card stamp (it was about 50p) for December. Royal Mail should do that here.

The Netherlands do that to. The cost of stamps has risen sharply to cover the costs of a service that is being used less and less.

Auburngal · 01/10/2024 05:31

@the80sweregreat Think you can still swap the old style standard stamps on RM website. The special stamps such as the David Bowie albums, Beano are still fine - even though they might paid 30p less for the first class stamp then.

Fintoo · 01/10/2024 05:31

I try to use Royal Mail where I can. I know it’s probably a lost cause at this point, but it’s a service that will be missed when it’s gone. So for now, I don’t resent what it costs.

Auburngal · 01/10/2024 05:27

LBFseBrom · 30/09/2024 15:24

Possibly.

I don't send many cards now but I do like them.

The trend is for eco-friendly cards of which I have some but I have loads of others too and don't want them to go to waste. They can all go in the recycling bin along with the wrapping paper.

Show quote history

You cannot recycle cards and paper which has glitter or foil.

ajandjjmum · 30/09/2024 18:39

the80sweregreat · 30/09/2024 16:59

Aj below
Watch that the stamps are the newer version ones with the bar code. If you use the old style ones , the people won't get the card delivered to the door.
they may ask the recipient to go and collect them from the post office sorting office! ( it happened to me last year with the old style stamps!)

You're right - fortunately I bought loads of the National Trust collection stamps, so they're still valid!

goodluckbinbin · 30/09/2024 18:33

Yup, we write local cards only now pretty much or hand deliver - it's got to the point where the stamps cost more than the cards!

Alltheyearround · 30/09/2024 17:58

Any sort of post is as meaningful as you make it. I love getting letters from a dear friend in Canada (and sending), even though we can Facetime/email etc. It's different, made with love and thought. Cheers up a rainy Wednesday, I come in from work and find a bright envelope full of goodness in the letter box. It's magic.

boulevardofbrokendreamss · 30/09/2024 17:55

No, it hasnt helped but SM did that

Destiny123 · 30/09/2024 17:50

If sending local ish see if your local scout group is doing scout Post. I've been a leader for many years all over the UK and most do it. Think its like 20p a stamp then we divide the cards up and the kids hand deliver them to raise funds for camps

OrdsallChord · 30/09/2024 17:48

There's no inherently meaningful connection in a Christmas card. It's just a form of communication that some people might imbue with such and others don't, that's all. The same as a what's app.

Imperfectionist · 30/09/2024 17:40

Alltheyearround · 30/09/2024 17:36

@Imperfectionist and @Magicpaintbrush I think we should send Christmas ⛄cards to each other : )🌲

Just because we really like sending and writing and all the joy that can be had for the price of a second class stamp.

Yes! Love it!

Also I don’t think recycled paper Christmas cards are actually an environmental concern and especially compared to the amount of plastic Christmas crap that ends up in landfill, or even the amount of Amazon cardboard Christmas generates in this country.

One Amazon package = a pack of lovely cards.

It’s just an excuse from people conditioned by tech companies to stop having meaningful connections with wider networks. Shrinking of social groups, eradication of communities.

Bah humbug. 🌲

Imperfectionist · 30/09/2024 17:37

I don’t want a WhatsApp message for Christmas.

garlictwist · 30/09/2024 17:37

I haven't sent Xmas cards since l left school in 2000. I don't really see the point when there are other ways of keeping in touch.

Alltheyearround · 30/09/2024 17:36

@Imperfectionist and @Magicpaintbrush I think we should send Christmas ⛄cards to each other : )🌲

Just because we really like sending and writing and all the joy that can be had for the price of a second class stamp.

Alltheyearround · 30/09/2024 17:32

Papyrophile · 27/09/2024 20:28

It tends (in international friendships which are most of my Xmas cards) to be reciprocated only when the second wife has met you in person. Men, in my experience, regard the Christmas Card round as women's work. So they lose touch with friends,

No one gave DH this memo, and he sends 10 or more (less than me though).

TheChosenTwo · 30/09/2024 17:29

I’ve never posted a Christmas card in my life!
I don’t write any and I don’t put them up. Dh writes one to his mum every year but she only lives up the road (not sure what the need for a card is that says to mum love x and family but not my business).
I seem to get very few cards these days as enough people know they go straight in the recycling to not bother sending them thank god.
I don’t know how much a stamp is but it’s likely to make people think twice about sending them.

Alltheyearround · 30/09/2024 17:25

Imperfectionist · 29/09/2024 22:09

I kept thinking about this thread.

I think Facebook killed handwriting.

Including Christmas cards.

It wasn't the cost of a stamp. Yes the price went up disproportionately to income over the years, but the amount people spend on Christmas has also. The cost of sending cards is a much smaller percentage of overall Christmas spending than it ever was.

It's sad. Handwriting is one of the oldest forms of human communication, and the most enduring. And social media, tech, digital, AI, is killing it. People don't even seem to value handwritten things.

It feels like it's leading to fewer real connections with people, if people focus on using social media + digital apps for communications, where they sanitizes what they say out of fear of it being broadcast to the whole world, and it's less valued by recipients as it takes zero effort.

Sorry not sorry for the rant, if anyone out there is reading it.

Totally agree. I love getting handwritten cards and letters and I send them too. Usually 4 x a year (by season). I make art/collages and write 8 or 10 post cards worth.

I love choosing and sending Christmas cards and will tour round various charity shops. Local art shop has some lovely ones (££) and local animal sanctuary does some good ones too. I save cards and recycle into tags/bookmarks etc. In fact I ask for people to give me their old ones too as I bloody love Christmas cards so much (obviously some are better than others and I carefully deal with glittery ones).

Stamps are eye watering though. Come on PO. Up your game!