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Original poster

To think sending postcards is a massive chore?

141 replies

WhatsMyDream · 04/07/2025 15:34

Whenever we go on holiday, family member says to my DC (in my hearing) "make sure to send me a postcard"
I have come to find that sending a postcard generally involves 4 steps, all of which are a chore

  1. find the postcard
  2. write it
  3. find a stamp - usually never sold by the postcard shop
  4. find the postbox

All of these tasks to be achieved whilst wrangling DC abroad in unfamiliar areas while they all want to do something different to each other and me. Family member is a single traveller for whom postcard sourcing is probably a nice way to spend an afternoon pottering. For me holidays are a combination of DC : complaining about the weather, wanting an ice cream, needing the toilet, wanting to buy X random cheap toy, being hungry, being thirsty, not wanting to visit whatever thing the country is famous for, wanting to go back to the pool etc

Throwing a postcard obstacle course into the mix is just a step too far

OP posts:
Original poster
WhatsMyDream · 04/07/2025 16:41

wizzywig · 04/07/2025 16:40

Say it must have gotten lost in the post

🤣

OP posts:
wizzywig · 04/07/2025 16:40

Say it must have gotten lost in the post

BusWankers · 04/07/2025 16:39

WhatsMyDream · 04/07/2025 16:24

Do you have small DC on holidays with you?

Show quote history

Yes.
It really isn't the PITA you're making it out to be.

You don't want to do it, and that's fine.

zingally · 04/07/2025 16:39

There are apps you can use these days for sending postcards. Take a nice snapshot, upload it, enter the addresses of the people you want to send to, and BOOM. The company does all the rest.
You can even do the bulk of it ahead of time. Uploading the addresses and "buying" however many postcards you want to send. Then once you're away, it's "take a photo, write a message" and done.
I've been away with my mum a couple of times, and she likes to use it to send postcards to older relatives. I think it's a bit of a generational thing, and is rather dying a death.

BusWankers · 04/07/2025 16:38

It's not a waste of time to write to someone!

Justchillinhere · 04/07/2025 16:38

I think postcards are a waste of time and effort. If the children are old enough they can send a holiday photo to whoever, also using free app Vont write 2025 Skegness or wherever

DiscoBob · 04/07/2025 16:37

It's increasingly rare to get one and I love it. I also remember really loving buying lots of postcards from each place I visited when travelling. Not necessarily to send but just to keep. And help the locals who were selling it. But I love sending them when I can.

If there was no shops or postboxes or anything near where I was then I wouldn't do it. But it's a cute quite old school tradition that I'm fairly fond of.

Everyone posting millions of pictures on SM. It's not the same as an actual physical thing that came from the local area.

AuntieDolly · 04/07/2025 16:33

I can’t even remember seeing postcards on sale when I’ve been holidaying in Crete. Just don’t mention it again.

Mokel · 04/07/2025 16:28

I find people aren’t sending postcards anymore.

The worst thing is sometimes had postcards delivered to me 4 months later!

Also if you have ever handed over postcards at hotel receptions and recipients never receive them. I tell you why. The staff steam off the stamps and keep them

Allseeingallknowing · 04/07/2025 16:26

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It’s never just one- the whole family expect them.

Original poster
WhatsMyDream · 04/07/2025 16:24

BusWankers · 04/07/2025 16:08

Oh I love writing and receiving a postcard!

Such miserable gits in this thread.

Do you have small DC on holidays with you?

OP posts:
OchonAgusOchonOh · 04/07/2025 16:23

BusWankers · 04/07/2025 16:08

Oh I love writing and receiving a postcard!

Such miserable gits in this thread.

People not liking the same things you like doesn't make them miserable gits.

Back in the days when postcards were a thing, I hated the effort of buying, writing and posting them. It was a chore that was hanging around at the back of your mind until you sent them. I wanted to relax and just forget about home and responsibilities.

I think people who like sending postcards are the same type of people who like to inflict their holiday photos on other people. At least in my experience they are anyway.

Cattery · 04/07/2025 16:23

Last time i sent a postcard was 1976

Original poster
WhatsMyDream · 04/07/2025 16:23

Indianajet · 04/07/2025 16:20

I love getting postcards - I don't mind if they are posted or brought back to me. I keep an album of all my postcards from my grandchildren.

That's really sweet 💖

OP posts:
DownsideUpside · 04/07/2025 16:23

Not unreasonable at all, can’t stand the idea of buying and writing postcards on holiday, I’m not on holiday to do homework!! They’re totally unnecessary admin and you’re usually home from the holiday before it arrives at their house anyway. Electronic postcards only ie. WhatsApp.

youreactinglikeafunmum · 04/07/2025 16:23

Yanbu

I'd be Offering key rings or fridge magnets instead

FrenchandSaunders · 04/07/2025 16:22

Older relatives tend to love this. We recently had to clear out my in laws house and we found a little pile of postcards in a drawer that my MIL had kept. There were loads from my DD when she spent the summer inter railing years ago.

Original poster
WhatsMyDream · 04/07/2025 16:22

One postcard = 4 jobs for me
I genuinely didn't sit down at all to have a drink in a cafe

Where do you buy stamps????!!!!

OP posts:
Purplebunnie · 04/07/2025 16:22

Since my DM and DMIL died I haven't sent one. I have an elderly cousin I write to, I could send her one. I think she'd really appreciate that. Food for thought

Today I've taken quite a few ideas from MN for the future

Sugardown · 04/07/2025 16:20

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Indianajet · 04/07/2025 16:20

I love getting postcards - I don't mind if they are posted or brought back to me. I keep an album of all my postcards from my grandchildren.

Howyoualldoworkme · 04/07/2025 16:18

We love writing and sending postcards. Just come back from Italy, sent about 20 postcards and received lots of messages saying how much they were appreciated.
We receive quite a few too. They brighten up the humdrum post.
We just buy the cards and stamps, sit and have a drink and just write a short message on each. It's nice to let people know you're thinking of them.

I suppose it helps that we don't have to wrangle children anymore but my now adult children send them as well.

Thedoorisalwaysopen · 04/07/2025 16:15

My kids send them to their grandmothers - it's a way to get them practising their writing when away from school and they enjoy picking them out. The Grannies enjoy reading them too.

Sugardown · 04/07/2025 16:14

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Sugardown · 04/07/2025 16:13

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