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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

AIBU to ask if giving Christmas cards is becoming a thing of the past?

60 replies

LarrytheCucumber · 17/12/2015 15:41

My DM (89) buys about 50 cards and sends them to all sorts of friends from the past to 'keep in touch'.
I buy about 30 cards to send to people who will be upset not to receive one (DM, D Aunt etc) and a few friends from the past. I am in my 60s.
DD (39) doesn't buy any cards except for my DM.
If we are typical, then giving Christmas cards will die out before long.
Do you buy lots of cards, and how old are you?

OP posts:

ElsaAintAsColdAsMe · 17/12/2015 15:43

I buy a few cheap ones for my dc to take to school, but I send none at all. I'm 36 and haven't sent any since I was 17/18.

RiverTam · 17/12/2015 15:44

It is according to MN but most people I know still send them. I love them!

RiverTam · 17/12/2015 15:45

I'm 44.

CremeEggThief · 17/12/2015 15:45

YANBU. I only sent 30 this year and that's because they were left over from 2013, as I didn't send any lat year. So far, only received 7. I think this will be my last year sending any.

maz210 · 17/12/2015 15:49

I hate Christmas cards so much that this year I've paid my daughter to write out the ones where I know the recipient would be offended if we didn't bother.

I personally feel like it's a waste of time, if people really wanted to use them to stay in touch then they wouldn't just have "To x, Merry Christmas, From x" written in them.

For me they are just another job/expense in the run up to Christmas, the sooner everyone else stops bothering the better for me! I think the price of postage and the usage of facebook has also helped the decline.

By the way, I'm not a complete humbug at Christmas, I love everything festive apart from writing out cards.

maz210 · 17/12/2015 15:50

Sorry, I'm 35. Not counting the 30 my daughter took into school for her class we probably sent a maximum of 20 cards this year.

TheJiminyConjecture · 17/12/2015 15:53

We only buy cards for DD to give to her school friends.

We give cards to each other though and buy from the kids to my dps and brothers.

So far we've received one card from friends. Might get one or two more but that's it.

We're 30/31.

Topseyt · 17/12/2015 15:54

I think they are dying out. I only send 4 or 5 now, to very close family who we shan't see.

I hate the chore of actually writing them and find the cost of posting them even more ridiculous. Funnily enough, it was only ever me who wrote them anyway. DH has a much larger extended family than I do, yet never got round to writing any over the years. It was always me, so now I just don't do it anymore. So it doesn't get done.

KanyeWesticle · 17/12/2015 15:56

I sent 6 this year (to those who sent to me, plus my elderly grandmother). It's getting less and less each year (I'm still using last years multipack)

Topseyt · 17/12/2015 15:56

I am 49, by the way. This is my second year of sending barely any.

poocatcherchampion · 17/12/2015 15:57

I sent 2.
I wrote 4 but dh spilled beer on the remaining 2.
We've received 3 so far.

Dd1 age 3 has tonnes.

I'm happy to ditch that tradition.

If you are wondering I guessed correctly who to send to. :)

GummyBunting · 17/12/2015 16:00

I think you're right.
You said your gran does it to 'stay in touch'. This generation don't need cards to stay in touch, so what is the purpose now? Sentiment only I think.

I'm late 20s and this is the first year I've sent cards. I've sent 5 to my new neighbours because then they have our names written down and won't have awkward name learning mishaps.

Other than that no I don't send cars at all.

We3KingyOfOblomovAre · 17/12/2015 16:03

I hate writing Christmas cards. Loathe it with a passion. Like wrapping presents and all other Christmassy bits.

NorksAreMessy · 17/12/2015 16:06

I used to make and send LOADS of cards, but mainly because I enjoyed making them
Facebook does all the 'keeping in touch' part of sending a card, and I make presents instead.
All the spare money (!) goes to WaterAid

I think life is generally better all round

Krampus · 17/12/2015 16:18

45 and I send 3. Parents, PILs and my Grandma.

5Hearts · 17/12/2015 16:48

I'm 42 and send about ten (the majority to those age 60+). I wish that would stop but I know they would continue sending cards if I did and the guilt wouldn't be worth it. My heart always sinks slightly when I see one of the porch mat now - really wish it would all stop. Hate that I have to display PIL's 'special' (with a few others to keep it company) one in a prominent place to avoid any gnashing of teeth (rest go straight in the bin).

Maddaddam · 17/12/2015 17:06

I liked the person on mumsnet last week who suggested that having all your Christmas cards up is like Facebook likes for old people.

I prefer Facebook and similar, you can post photos and info, friends and family can look, or not,as they feel inclined. There is so much less point in paper post these days.

WhoKn0wsWhereTheMistletoes · 17/12/2015 17:10

Still going strong here, I do about 60 (about half posted and half local) and get the same back, I enjoy both writing and receiving them.

glamourousgranny42 · 17/12/2015 17:16

I buy cards for close family, parents, partner, kids. I have sent 12 this year. I used to send loads but stopped sending to people where that was the only communication we had through the year.

DrivingMissLazy1 · 17/12/2015 17:16

I've wrote about 15 or so. The majority havery gone to elderly relatives and a few to our neighbours. It's definitely a dying tradition. I'm 47.
Dd's don't send any.

Fluffyears · 17/12/2015 17:46

I only do ones for the older generation. I give money to charity instead.

MatildaTheCat · 17/12/2015 17:51

I send about 50 but we receive fewer each year gradually. I hate writing them but love opening them.

My sons don't send any afaik and I think that within another ten years there will be far fewer sent. It's a shame in some ways as its a nice way to stay in touch.

timelytess · 17/12/2015 17:55

When I was working, so up to early 2014, I thought it sad that people no longer seem to send cards. But, this year, I've made my own, amateurish, cards. Everyone seems to want one.

So make some, see what happens.

Hygellig · 17/12/2015 17:58

I've sent about 11 this year plus two to the neighbors. I'm 37. On the whole I find it a pain and a waste of money and trees. I don't really see the point of a card if I'm seeing the person at or just after Christmas anyway. It's quite nice for old friends who I hardly see these days, but on the other hand email and Facebook serve just as well. It would be nice to get a line or two in cards rather than just To So and So, from So and So.

I have a few people I always send cards to, although they could also be reluctant card-writers as well.

DS is in Reception and has had quite a few cards, though was very reluctant to write any himself, so I ended up doing it.

Rivercam · 17/12/2015 17:58

I've definitely received less this year biputmlove sending and receiving them. I probably sent about 40.

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