To wonder how many people not sending Christmas Cards actually donate?

[PrettySophisticated]

I've seen loads of messages already, in the vein of "I'm not sending Christmas Cards and will donate to charity instead."

If you want to donate to Charity, that's lovely. If you don't want to send me a card, that's fine. But, I'm not sure yo need to tell me you're giving "my" card money to charity and I'm not entirely sure I believe that you will.

To be honest, I think people should be less anonymous about donating to charity. Maybe the fact that you do regularly and it's the norm for you might encourage others to think about doing the same?

When I worked in an office I bought a 'goat' and the acknowledgement Christmas card that came was addressed to the whole office so they got a Christmas card and I got to donate to charity.

And anonymously shelagh

Meh. You still get to check in on this thread and puff your feathers at how good your are for doing it your way and how bad those terrible other folk are...

It is possible you're just looking for that same feel good kick from charity giving we all like, but because you judge people who 'broadcast' it, you do it a different way - this way.

I donate, up till this year to either Cancer Research or Lupus UK.

But after my DDad died this year, I have sent a cheque to the dementia ward he had been on before he died.

Lots of people on that ward have no families, and things like toothpaste and such are paid from the Nurses own pockets, or what they can raise by sponsored events.

We asked for donations to the ward at Dads Funeral.

So £50.00 went to the ward instead of Christmas Cards

I don't send them and have just posted a 'Merry Christmas but I'm donating to charity instead of sending cards' status on FB. I have done this because there are older relatives on there who would get offended if they didn't receive a card. At least they can't say they haven't been warned!

Yes, we donated £50 last year instead of doing cards and we told people as didn't want to offend those who would normally receive one from us. I think we're retlatively good at donating to causes that matter to us throughout the year too. Last year via monthly direct debits and one off donations we probably donated £700-800 to charity which we obviously wouldn't tell anyone about. If we wanted to virtue signal we'd harp on about our regular donations and not our small one off Christmas one in lieu of cards.

Carlinamoon1 the million dollar question is have you donated to charity...?

OP isn't entirely sure you're not bluffing...

Subsequent posters think you are lazy and/or virtue signalling.

Where did it all go wrong, eh?

Yes I have donated £20 that's definitely more than I would spend on cards. I have to confess that I hate writing cards so laziness did influence my decision slightly too!

Oh my goodness! how DARE you compensate for your laziness by giving to charity

You disgust me! [flounce]

Not a few bottles of wine, or cut back on a night out or go without new clothes or anything that impacts them in any way other than giving themselves more free time.

Agree

I don't send cards and I do donate a fair bit to charity.

The 2 things are not remotely linked in any way though.

I think they just donate an amount of their choice.

I dont donate and i dont send cards, except to my gran and my dad who lives overseas.
I think cards are for people you dont see daily/regularly. My friends and neighbours dont need me to send them a card when I can say merry Christmas to them in person.
I may donate to charity throughout the year but I dont donate in lieu of sending Christmas cards.

When you share your charitable donations on Facebook / social media, it often prompts others to donate. There's a pop up on the just giving website (I think), that says each 'share' is worth on average of £10 in additional donations to the organisation.

So you could argue that by not broadcasting your charitable giving on social media, you are depriving organisations of more money.

So that's mainly why I tell people I'm not doing cards and am giving to charity instead. That, and to stop people getting arsey when they don't get a card.

Plus, my mum died in April and all just feels a bit much thinking about celebrating Christmas without her.

I have a limited budget ( as for many)

I resent the amount charged for stamps, when, with the joy of Facebook, I am in contact with distant friends and family far more than ever before in my life. I send a message via Facebook which gets delivered quickly and cheaply. This means I can ( and do ) donate to a charity funding research into my daughter's life limiting condition. I woul much rather fund this than the Royal Mail shareholders. I also let people know I have done this to promote awareness of the charity.

I did- I usually buy £40 worth of cards and forget to send half of them EVERY SINGLE YEAR.

I didn't announce it- I told my close friends I was doing a donation to a food bank so not to expect a card and then went out and bought the equivalent amount of food.