To expect Christmas cards?

[mintich]

For the last couple of years, I have received around half the cards I send out to friends. I normally get a text saying "thanks for the card but we aren't sending cards this year" I think it's sad that they aren't sending cards anymore. I get if people can't afford it but I'm pretty sure they can. It seems petty to only send a card if I'll get one back but that's how I feel!

Inspired by this thread, I've just written my Christmas card list. Only 25 cards to send and all to people I see and speak to on a fairly regular basis.

My particular Christmas bug bear is the generic "Merry Christmas - hope you're having a lovely day" text. Christmas cards are personal and show thought and effort unlike a quick text, sent to your entire address book.

New baby due a month before Christmas so may combine thank you and Christmas cards for anyone not on the original Christmas card list (if we're lucky enough to receive presents from anyone else...). That's a bit lazy, I acknowledge that.

We haven't sent cards for years here. I am time poor and have mobility issues that make physically writing cards painful. I send one card to my nan if I am not able to make it to visit her around xmas. We do put the money (and more) towards oxfam gifts instead though

Op, I mean this gently, but if you are giving in the expectation of receiving, that's not really giving.
Generosity is an open handed thing, not full of expectation.
If you want to do it in a tit for tat way, then cross people off your list if they don't reciprocate. But you may feel a bit of a scrooge.

I never send cards, seems like a complete waste of time to me, especially as I also hate receiving them and them cluttering up the house.

Simple rule here - you get a card if you are over (approximately) 65. So only people in the next generation up. I gave up sending to others a few years ago, partly prompted by the fact that stamps went up so much in price. Also delighted that current colleagues don't send cards - nothing so ridiculous as sending cards to people you see every day.

Oh no, sorry OP I’d be one of the ones that txt in reply. I’ve just never got in the habit of doing Xmas cards and now I’m glad I never did because it seems impossible to keep up. I bought them one year but never got round to sending them. It’s such a busy time of year and I often work more around Xmas.
Would you rather receive a card your friend resents sending because of the hassle and expectation on your end or to receive a genuine text?

I take the money I would've spent on cards and postage and donate a place at a Christmas homeless shelter.

I'm lazy and feel continually guilty over the Christmas period for not getting round to sending cards and this is a way to accept my laziness whilst actually doing some good.

I don't give a fig about receiving them - it's just more clutter I have to deal with.

Another one here who don't even open the cards unless Its from one the few people I know who actually write something more than happy christmas and sign the cards. Straight in the bin here.

Such lies... and for what purpose? To make strangers on the internet think you're some kind of Christmas badass? 😂😂😂

You calling me a liar MaryPoppins?

Cards go into my work bag, taken home and binned. Anything through the door is dealt with by dh.

You’re so narrow minded that you can’t understand that not everyone shares your values?

It's not about values. And yes I'm calling you a liar.

How do you know what's in there? As if anyone would throw it away without opening it. You're so busy and important you can't open an envelope?

If you aren’t going to open the cards, have you thought of letting the senders know you won’t be opening them? I would rather know.

To those people who don't even open the cards before binning them, are you sure beforehand that family or relatives have not put money or a cheque in there for you? You could miss stuff and not thank someone for something.

I do open the cards we get sent. They are an ever decreasing number though, and people such as my parents who send us money do get one from us anyway (and I arrange for their gifts to be delivered when I do my online orders). That is still only a handful of cards that I do have to send, and I send no more.

Yes, I ensure it’s included in the January newsletter ‘Incitatus wants you all to know that she recycled all the xmas cards she was given and didn’t bother opening them prior to doing this as she finds them annoying and irrelevant.’

Sounds good 👍🏼

Sounds really nasty.

Don't feed it

Suppose someone was writing news in a card such as about a bereavement or serious illness and you didn’t know because you threw it out unopened?

These are usually cards from work, so contain nothing of any relevance whatsoever. They’re written and sent out of habit and obligation.

Or just send a text, no need for the “January newsletter” 🤔

suppose someone was writing news in a card such as about a bereavement or serious illness

Seriously people send news of a death in Christmas cards? The mind boggles.

We found about the death of someone this way.

I've decided to only send cards to the few who send to us. There's a couple of family friends and aged aunties who've had cards from me for the last 10 years and I haven't had one back. I'm sick of it, it'll drastically cut how much I spend on cards and stamps as well which is a bonus!

I was quite irritated earlier as a friend visited recently and we went shopping, she spotted a pack of xmas cards she liked as we left but as the store was so busy I shooed her out of the store and told her I'd buy them and post them on.

I got them tonight, £3.49!!! Then I phoned her and said I'd got them and she said she'd forgotten and had bought other cards. Then I looked at the packet and it's only 6.

They are pretty and some goes to charity, but 6 for £3.49....

She's getting one for xmas.

I only send cards as a little mark of affection.

Bullet yes and often it's only a tiny fraction of the money that goes to charity! V annoying.

Private it's only 30p, a bit irritating.