Is it just me who would be happy never to receive another greetings card?

[clary]

Random thread slightly inspired by another – am I the only person who really would be fine, totally fine, never to receive another card – Christmas, birthday, Mother’s Day, Valentine’s Day...?

All I do with them is recycle them and it seems such a waste. Ones from the office with 20 pp writing Happy bday Clary – even ones from my DC? In fact those are worse bc I feel I should keep them and treasure them.

Honestly in this electronic age, just send me a text or message me on socials. Much greener and doesn't involve recycling. Reduce is much better. Or in the case of DC, wish me actual happy birthday. Make me dinner. Hoover up. Give me a hug.

I would really rather have the money, I can’t lie. Instead of writing “love Dave and Sue” on a piece of folded card with a pic of Santa on, and posting it to me, just PayPal me the £1 you spent (with the postage it would be that much even second class!). If everyone did that and then just messaged me I’d be well away haha.

This is slightly lighthearted and I am sure there will be a flock of ppl telling me how horribly miserable I am. Really tho? I am glad to speak to and get messages from friends. That brightens my day. But in 2025 there is zero need to write the message in a card, surely.

Can’t stand them or see the point of them. On the whole neither give nor receive many though there is a performative ritual to a few to people I know care.

Me too! I actively stopped giving cards out in the hopes of not receiving any, but no one seems to have gotten the memo.

Oh my gosh no, I adore sending and receiving cards. I often send just because cards to my friends when I haven’t seen in a while as I know such a small act brings joy.

I hate it. Giving or receiving! I'm a real minimalist so don't even like displaying cards so they go straight in the recycling.

Most of them just say "To X, [add occasion] from Y" anyway so not exactly heartfelt.

I wouldn't want messages instead, I hate messages, I only get 3 cards anyway at the most

No, I hate it! I hate remembering and organising sending them (I have ADHD), and don't see the point when you just have them up for a week and bin them. I'd be very happy with a phone call or text.

The only cards I'll one day truly treasure are handmade ones from my little girl when she's old enough.

I hate sending them and would rather just donate the money you'd spend on Christmas cards to charity. I don't mind sending them to people I know really value recieving them e.g. my mum.

I don't like presents either, they are a total waste of space

I love a really nice card - a good bit of artwork, or something personal to me. But I also love a beautifully wrapped present.

DH doesn’t care if it comes in a bin bag are doesn’t bother much with cards. Maybe the two attitudes are linked

I wouldn't care if I never got another card. Some are ridiculous prices, such a waste, they only end up in the bin....would rather have the cash instead 😄

Presents are definitely worse than cards though and much more of a waste of money but people still give them

Only send a card for significant milestone birthdays. Haven't sent any other form of card in many years. Ecards are a different story. Loved Bluemountain in my teens.

Mother's Day coming up soon, another waste of money. Who is bothering to get a card if they still have their mother.

The only cards I’m interested in are the handmade ones from when my kids were little. Beyond that I don’t care. Words of affirmation and gifts are not my love languages and it just seems like a waste of paper, especially from people I live with.

Wish me a happy birthday by making dinner or texting me or bringing me cake. Preferably cake.

What about sympathy cards when you’ve lost a loved one? Or are you only thinking about cards for happy occasions?

My DM died last year and I didn’t receive even one sympathy card. It has made me feel quite sad that no one gives a shit about my loss (no further texts/contact either beyond ‘sorry to hear your news’). I’ve always sent cards to friends and family when they’ve lost a loved one and written a message - maybe I’m a weirdo for thinking these might give a tiny bit of comfort to let someone know you are thinking of them.

Equally no to sympathy cards. Tho I guess in the case of loved ones it is probably trickier to message in some cases. When my mum died a lot of her friends wouldn't know my details to text or message me so they sent cards. But then what do you do with them? Seems odd to display them. Just donate an extra £2 to the cause we nominate.

Presents tho – I like them as long as they are things I actually want. I supply a list each Christmas to my family. DH got me some really lovely huggie earrings lat year.

@AperolWhore (great drink! I got a bottle of that too) you wouldn’t bring joy to me you see. Text me that you are thinking of me or whatever you want to say.

I totally disagree. I love getting in sending cards.

I have cards from family that are long gone, those cards with messages from my grandparents my dad a various of the family members and friends mean a lot to me. They don't treasure them. I had my birthday just recently and received some very lovely cards from my mum and my close friends. All thoughtfully chosen by them meaningfully not just random birthday cards and one of my cousins actually sent me quite a random birthday card but it was from the heart.

I have, at last, persuaded friends to not by presents but I haven't succeeded as yet with cards. I will put them up on my birthday and then bin them the next. Christmas cards open and then bin. A ridiculous waste of time and money.

I would be happy to never receive another card from an adult again, I do love letters though and would be more inclined to reply to a letter than a text- I’m almost never accessible by phone 😂

Never liked cards of any sort if i get one it gets in the bin.
I was the same as a child cards from school went in the bin before i left the school gate.

Do children still have to make Mother's Day cards nowadays in nursery, DS used to have to make one years ago.

Greetings cards are designed by cynics who want your money.
No more no less

Equally no to sympathy cards. Tho I guess in the case of loved ones it is probably trickier to message in some cases. When my mum died a lot of her friends wouldn't know my details to text or message me so they sent cards. But then what do you do with them? Seems odd to display them. Just donate an extra £2 to the cause we nominate.

Jesus, it's not always about money. It's a way of expressing literal sympathy, concern and possibly sharing memories of someone who has gone forever. It's a moment of connection that would be cheapened by arriving in a bloody text. Keep them or bin them, your choice.

Been married 35 years. Never given my husband Christmas or birthday cards with other people’s words in them.
give him random blank cards sometimes, when I see a particularly pertinent picture with no words.

Why would it be cheapened though? Honestly – if someone wants to say to me "I will really miss your mum, she was always so thoughtful and I loved our trips to the cinema together” then that is no less thoughtful, heartfelt or shared if they text me the message. I can keep it if I want – I could for example copy all the texts and other messages onto a doc that I save. Easier to save and look at than a box of cards. I don‘t have a problem with messages of love or concern or memories or thanks. That's fine, as I made clear, surely.

Why is a text or a Messenger message cheapened? Just as much thought goes into it. A friend whom I no longer see lost a loved one recently – I messaged them on Messenger as I don’t know their address to send a card. Much quicker as well. Just as heartfelt I promise.

Messages are much worse than cards, I hate getting messages and wouldn't see it as heartfelt, just wasting my time of reading it