To recycle Christmas cards the moment I receive them

[Hellotheresweet]

I open them, read them, Chuck them in recycling.

I just don’t like the clutter and seems odd to set aside space for cards from people I hardly know.

Never binned. Always recycled.

Anyone else so.... brutal!

@Wannabegreenfingers

I don't get the hatred for Christmas cards. I don't send them to people I don't know very well, only close friends and family.

This year has been especially shitty for so many reason's that I wanted to send a card with a little message of thanks for their support and to wish them well into the new year.

Any cards I receive are attached to a bit of ribbon on the door. They don't get in the way and it's nice to read them.

I'm clearly in the minority on MN, but I don't care.

The waste of trees. I find it hilarious how we hear so much on this board about plastic tat but 33 million trees cut down for Christmas Cards is nothing. Its gross

I like having them up, they look nice and Christmas is about a bit of clutter anyway. No one likes a bare house with no character! That said it's your house do what you want!

YANBU, I do the exact same thing and yep I do it with birthday cards too, any cards at all!

I have issues with hoarding so if I don’t do that they may never leave

The exception being something with a very heartfelt message or one from an elderly relative that might not be with us for much longer.

@IMNOTSHOUTING

I like having them up, they look nice and Christmas is about a bit of clutter anyway. No one likes a bare house with no character! That said it's your house do what you want!

My home isn’t “bare” I just choose to decorate and fill with items that really mean something to me.

No a generic mass produced card from someone I hardly know simply saying “happy Christmas from xyzzy

[quote climeybarlie]@TheSockMonster we have metres and metres of bookshelves (in a not very big house!) so it's easy to tuck cards between the spines. They don't take up space and don't fall down.[/quote]
I like that idea, thank you. The only bookshelves we have at the moment are the low ones on the landing, and they’re somewhat overflowing at the moment. However, we’ll (hopefully) have a whole wall of floor-to-ceiling fitted bookshelves in our dining room next Christmas so that’s a great idea for then

I open them, read them, and then put them in a pile in a drawer. Sometime after Xmas I will rediscover them and then recycle. I don't send cards and haven't for at least 20 years. Not everyone has got the message yet.

Why don't you just message the people who send cards saying not to bother because you recycle them on receipt? It would save some cards.

Also, please don't put any cards in recycling that have glitter or shiny bits on. They aren't recyclable.

@VapeVamp12

Why don't you just message the people who send cards saying not to bother because you recycle them on receipt? It would save some cards.

Also, please don't put any cards in recycling that have glitter or shiny bits on. They aren't recyclable.

I’m a committed recycler so know re glitter etc

I got one from a garage neighbour. I haven’t seen him for perhaps 3 years. Really
Not going to bother writing to him. Just pop it in recycling. Job done

Any greetings card is pointless unless it comes by post.
Why hand someone a card when you’re able to say it to them.

Have you considered asking your postman/woman to put all Christmas post straight into the bin @Hellotheresweet

I think it mean. People have gone to effort to choose nice cards that they think people will like and you just chuck them in the bin.

If you hate cards so much why don't you just tell everyone not to get you one?! Save everyone a lot of money and effort

People have gone to effort to choose nice cards that they think people will like

Let's be honest: that's not really always the case.

You think people purposefully choose shit cards?

YANBU. I wish I had the guts to do it. We don't tend to get many cards thankfully. We do get a couple every year for the woman who used to live here. It baffles me that people bother paying postage sending a card to someone they obviously don't know very well if they don't know they moved at least 4 years ago 🤷‍♀️

@Iremembertheelderlykoreanlady

You think people purposefully choose shit cards?

No. But I also don't think the majority of people put a huge amount of thought into the cards they buy.

I feel just the same as op. I love cards the children have made and ones from friends who actually care for me and I them, but that’s about it.

I put them up, they are festive decor in themselves!

Surely most of the cards you are sent come from people you know, not random neighbours, so why not tell them not to bother?

I don’t even open mine except from a few people who tend to write something more than merry Christmas. I never send Christmas cards and haven’t for years. My DH manages to save some cards and puts them up in his study, but if I get to them first it’s straight in the bin. It’s just clutter to me.

I recycle those immediately that have nothing personal in them. you know, shop bought card with just the signature. I don't see the point of those.
the round robin from a dear friend I keep and answer her in the new year.

I don't understand why some people make such a big deal of Christmas cards - but there are several threads about MIL in a massive huff because they got a card from a pack, so it is a thing.

It's lovely to receive a proper card - not a half-arsed "from xxx to xxx", what's the point of that if it's from family or friends, but the need to display it is a bit odd.

I have bought a couple of holders, and they are in the kitchen, so cards don't clutter my house, but the kids can look at them if they want.

I do the same thing. I open it, think fondly of the sender and throw it in the recycling bin.

The only exceptions are if it's really beautiful - I've got one my SIL sent years ago that I keep with the tree decorations and admire every year because it's so lovely, or if it's a design I think I can adapt and rework for my handmade cards.

@birdseedpie

You don't sound like you value other people much at all

I give up one day a week (pre covid) to take my dog into one of the local nursing homes to visit the elderly who in many cases don't receive any other visits......

OK. So it's "joyless" to recycle cards straight away.

But it's OK to put them in a pile on the table, or store them elsewhere and throw them in the recycling after a few days or on Boxing Day? even when the person who sends the card isn't going to know?

People are bonkers.

Someone took the time to remember you and buy and send a card to you. You may not like the card but surely you can honor the sentiment.
Be grateful someone thought about you. Not everyone has that.
You can obviously do what you want, and you've told us you will. But to start a thread like this is mean spirited. Imagine how it will make some people will feel, if you're able........