To ask if you send Christmas cards?

[Happyhappyveggie]

Sorry if this has been done already on here. I normally send cards but no-one I know is this year and wondering if it’s just becoming less popular as to be fair, I am in touch with a lot of people regularly via WhatsApp groups etc so can just directly message them (but it’s a bit soul- less too)
I like sending them but am thinking maybe my money would be better served going to charity instead?
Aibu to not send any? Who still sends them here?

[Mcakes]

Yep, mainly to friends and family I feel close to but don't see all the time (don't send to people I see regularly)
I send holiday postcards to close family too, which is definitely getting rare!
I'm not old and I do use online comms too but for me a quick card is a more direct human connection, a way of keeping a bond going and saying 'you mean something to me' in a low key but personal way. You don't get the same feeling from a test or general message on FB or whatever.
It's not a big deal though. I don't keep a tally of who has sent cards and I don't expect people to be extraordinarily excited to receive a postcard from me. It's just a way of saying hi.

[paganmolloy]

I actually used to enjoy writing the cards, always got charity ones but to be honest, that was the least of the cost. It was the postage that cost the most and that is now a private enterprise. So no, I will not be paying exorbitant amounts of money to send a card to people I'm in touch with regularly via other means. The only reason I plaster it on FB is because some folk will still wonder why I've not sent a card. I don't receive as many cards now and it doesn't bother me. I still like to send birthday cards though but that is more personal to the recipient.

[milliemolliemou]

Lots of Christmas cards here. I wish I'd thought of it before, but I could have said to 90pc of them "this is the last - will be donating a goat next year" (or whatever). Had planned to cut down at least on people I don't see/have no interest in any longer, but they've sent ahead. Perhaps I'll be out of the cycle (except for those not on FB/email) by 2019.

[stargirl1701]

@VeryFoolishFay

It's not the cost of cards, surely. The last time I did cards (5 years ago, I think) it was £58 for second class postage stamps...

[VeryFoolishFay]

Yes, postage definitely is a big factor for senders.

What I meant was, the charities benefit in more ways than just the income raised for them by the sale of the cards. It can be a very effective way of recruiting volunteers and generally raising interest in their work.

[Downtheroadfirstonleft]

I haven't done cards this year and have received few. Last year was v different on both counts. I think a lot of people in my (middle aged) circle don't really see the point now as we're so connected on social media.

I would send cards if I had older relatives who would appreciate them, but I don't think my particular friends want extra clutter/ things to recycle anymore than I do.

It's not an ethical decision or even laziness, cards just seem to have run their course amongst the people I know.

I have one elderly friend who would miss receiving one, so I sent her flowers, which I hope she will like as much.

I did make a charity donation as it felt the right thing to do, but I didn't particularly analyse why.

[Andrewofgg]

I stopped a few years ago when Royal Mail and the UCW were in dispute and it seemed that they would take it out on the stamp-buying public by holding ou cards to ransom. I decided that I did not care who was right or wrong, this wasn't my quarrel, and that was the end of cards for me. I give a donation to the charity I used to buy them from.

In fact DW and I send and get about a tenth of the post we got twenty years ago. Why write when you can email?

[friendlycat]

Yes I send them and string the ones I get on gold organza and they make a pretty decoration. I like both the sending of Cancer Research Xmas Cards and the receiving of cards to me. Text and email adds another layer but couldn't replace cards for me. But different strokes for different folks.

[bertsdinner]

I give one to people who give me one, eg next door put one through the letterbox so I'll reciprocate. I usually buy one for close family too. I buy charity cards, partly because they are pretty cheap (£1.00 upwards). I dont send email/texts, except to my brother in Germany, and that's usually because I'm lazy and miss the last posting day.
Most people I know dont bother.

[Eolian]

We send about 20 and receive a similar number. I like them. I suspect many people only pick on (recyclable) Christmas cards as being particularly wasteful because it gives them an excuse not to be arsed to write them (while happily continuing to create tons of waste with wrapping paper and plastic tat).
A quick 'Merry Christmas' on social media is not the same. People are on FB every day, babbling away. A hand-written card shows a bit more thought and effort. Sending Christmas cards doesn't stop you donating to charity or giving your time to help others.

[thelastredwinegum]

Send quite a few - buy them in January when they're reduced and buy cheap stamps.
Donate old received ones to a local place that use them for children's craft sessions.
I just think there's something nice about getting something tangible through the post.

[paganmolloy]

I agree it's nice to get something tangible through the post but I think that is lost on me when it's a card with a robin on it along with dozens of others. It doesn't make it more special for me personally. My birthday is at a crap time of year (right at the beginning of January), I'd much prefer to get a birthday card than a Xmas one because it's personal and not just because Xmas is being shoved down our throats from November. I have on occasion received an actual hand written letter and it was a joy. I sometimes send them too. But these are very individual things which is what makes them special. A whole pile of cards lumped together doesn't excite me. I do recycle the ones I get by making Xmas tags. Best part of the job

[lasttimeround]

I seem to be quite different. I do cards sometimes a small present to anyone whose done important stuff for us in the year. Therapist, social worker, carers. I write in something quite detailed thanking them. A few very cards for local close friends.

[stargirl1701]

@Eolian

Nope. No wrapping paper here and no plastic either.

#zerowaste

Recycling is better than landfill but it is not good. It uses energy too.

Refuse, reuse, reduce, recycle, rot. Refuse the cards which either come in a landfill plastic sleeve or a recyclable cardboard box. The glitter on cards can end up as microplastic ocean contaminant.

[stargirl1701]

@thelastredwinegum

Cheap stamps? I'm intrigued. How? Where? Please share.

[Capelin]

I send around 40-50.

[FullOfXmasCheerOfCourse]

No. I haven't sent an Xmas card in years because I was annoyed at sending them and not getting any back.

[Annabelle4]

This is the first year I haven't posted any cards. I've given some in person.

Feeling a little guilty about older relatives who sent us some and who I'm sure appreciate the tradition, but not enough to send any.

[Eolian]

@Eolian Nope. No wrapping paper here and no plastic either.

I applaud your environmental friendliness, stargirl, but I was referring to the other 99.9999999999%of people who give Christmas presents and do have packaging and wrapping paper.

[stargirl1701]

It might start with cards and move to wrapping paper...

[thelastredwinegum]

@stargirl1701 I get them from a website called philatelink but you can get them from ebay too.

[MadMags]

but I was referring to the other 99.9999999999%of people who give Christmas presents and do have packaging and wrapping paper.

That’s a bit silly. So, unless you’re 100% environmentally friendly is all things always, you shouldn’t bother at all??

[Camomila]

Usually only to relatives abroad but we're seeing them IRL this year.

I've sent one this year to a friends dad (along with a panettone because he really likes the panettone I usually buy my friend and I'm not seeing her over Christmas)

[juliesaway]

I sent a handful to family this year. I planned to send a few more but unfortunately I had an accident a couple of weeks ago which prevented me from getting around and to the shops to get more cards and have been in hospital too. However I am rather sad that on my return I've not received any Christmas cards at all this year yet and don't suppose I will now . Far cry from yesteryear.

[Only1scoop]

Always