AIBU to expect a Christmas card that isn't from a 'pack of five' from close family?

[SurferJet]

I know cards can be expensive, but it's only once a year & I'd like to think I'm getting a card that's had a bit more thought behind it.

AIBU?

[Summerisle1]

So yes, I feel really disappointed when I get a card the milkman probably got too.

I can see just how devastating that might be. After all, who wants to share a Christmas card design with tradesmen?

Cut all these people off your Christmas card list, OP. Clearly they do not Know Their Place.

[LaurieFairyCake]

I've never bought individual cards

I always thought they were 'common'

[imwithspud]

I buy 'proper' cards for my mum, nan, dad and pil. Everyone else gets one from a pack of 20, although when choosing said pack I do try to go for nice/not tacky ones.

YABU imo, at least people are thinking of you.

[MrsChrisPratt]

Wow. You need to get a grip...or a hobby...or something to really worry about.

Totally not a big deal. I don't even give people that I see Xmas cards - what's the point, totally waste of money and not environmentally friendly at all? I am hoping now that they don't all hate me, for lack of a £3.49 greeting card that's been mass produced and sent to thousands of other people...

[Pandora97]

Well I'm going to say YANBU. I like individualised cards - why are they a waste of money if you like giving and receiving them? I think I must live in some alternate universe to everyone on MN because they are very much the done thing in my family and with a lot of people I know. If I got some generic card off my sister, I'd be asking where my proper card was. But we have that kind of relationship. I always send a Nana card to my grandmother but I normally get a generic card off her. I don't think it's because she particularly cares about waste of resources, it's because she's renowned for being tight. I'd never say anything to her about it because I accept that's just the way she is. I often get a generic card from her on my birthday as well. It would be nice to get a granddaughter card but hey ho.

[NerrSnerr]

Our 'to our wonderful son and daughter in law' card hasn't arrived yet from the inlaws. It seems insincere to me because of the poem. They send themselves a card from the dog that says 'to mum and dad' so they're probably not a good benchmark for normal card etiquette. Saying that, the dog did get my husband and I a spa day as a wedding present...

[MardyBra]

Do you prefer them with teddies on them?

[SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius]

I think YAB a bit U. I have sent cards from a pack of five or six or whatever, to close family before - because it was a card that was absolutely right for them, and only came in a multipack.

I do then have to make sure I don't bung the rest of the cards in with the left-over cards that year - because I know, sure as eggs is eggs, I would forget, the next year, and send the same card to that person. That would be a tad thoughtless, I think.

[Helenluvsrob]

My close family don't get cards, they get me for Xmas!

Everyone else gets the ones I buy cheap in the previous years sales LOl

YABU

[rubyflipper]

OP - YABU

You sound like my mother.

[Summerisle1]

...for lack of a £3.49 greeting card that's been mass produced and sent to thousands of other people...

This is what's always amused me about these so-called 'personal' cards. The fact that they are about as impersonal as you can get given that they are mass produced in their thousands.

[BarbaraofSeville]

I don't send any Christmas cards at all, except to our old neighbours because they are generally just a waste of money and resources. I am especially astonished as to who pays Clinton's or WH Smiths prices - another example of people with more money than sense.

Anyway OP, if you have any nieces or nephews, you may like it if they sent you this card, rather than one without any thought in it .

But well done for accepting graciously that YABU

[80sWaistcoat]

Yes, YABU.

[PrussianPrue]

Aaaah Surfer come back! You accepted that very graciously!

Don't worry it doesn't mean you aren't loved! I never buy those cards and to be honest I never buy cards for my fave people anyway because I see them to tell them that I want us to have a lovely Christmas all together (or at least not to get too drunk and stroppy and vicious at that bloody "Are you there Moriarty?" game).

As others have said it means something to you but if it doesn't mean something to others that isn't a personal slight.

[TheGreenNinja]

My ILs get these cards too, and post them to us, even though we see them every Christmas Day. I think it's bonkers, I hate the huge 'to our son and daughter-in-law' type cards and we've never given them one back. I buy my cards in the sales every year, does that mean I care less because I spend even less? We have a great time on Christmas Day having fun with family who we love, that's by far more important.

[Notimefortossers]

YABU to expect a card at all. Waste of money, waste of trees

[SockQueen]

I don't send Christmas cards to my parents or sister, as I'll be seeing them around Christmas and they'll get presents. I've never done "named" cards for people, except DH (and I find it weird getting him a card, only started doing it because he gets me one) - doesn't mean I like people any less!

[Alicewasinwonderland]

big YABU

People still spend time to chose cards, money to buy them and effort to send them to you.

I really don't understand the big deal, when most people in England don't even bother to write anything in the card apart from "dear xxx, Merry Christmas, love from xxx".
I also receive cards from abroad, when people have actually spent time writing a long letter. I get the point of those being more special!

This doesn't apply to work colleague, or the card for the milkman obviously.

I do like to receive cards, but I only keep the ones written as letters, if there's nothing in them they end up in the bin.

[WiIdfire]

I dont get why people send cards to close family at Christmas at all? Surely they will see them and wish them Merry Christmas in person? Cards are a written form of the greeting for people you aren't going to see at all.

[Orda1]

I never buy individual cards and don't like reviewing them. Tack central. Unless it's from my grandparents then it's sweet.

[Saukko]

Lately the individual cards have been hideous, and multipacks of 5 have gone very nice indeed. I'd rather choose something really nice to send than be forced into gormless cartoon teddy bears just because it's got 'mum' on it.

[Orda1]

Receiving

[Saukko]

Besides, it's not like one of a pretty set of 5 is the same as being 1 from a bargain bumper pack of 50 from B&M Bargains.

[AntiHop]

OP you would find it very hard to receive a card from my mother. I once received a good luck card for my exams from her. She had crossed out 'happy birthday' and written good luck. But, it's the thought that counts of course!

[Bupcake]

Well done for your gracious IABU acceptance, OP

I'm with most people on the "To my friend's cat's sister" cards. MIL (ever inventive when it comes to finding ways to piss away money at Christmas) sends them; I'd never encountered them before her! She also insists on separate cards for each grandchild, so that's even more to send. From us she gets a genetic charity care, or something the DCs have produced.