Declarations about not giving cards out

[Charideenocardz]

Prepared to be told I'm BU but am I?

Why do people feel the need to announce they're donating to charity instead of giving cards?

I'm not talking about people who will be saving a fortune on postage, this includes neighbours. Is it to explain why you won't receive a card from them? AIBU to find it annoying?

Why do people feel the need to announce they're donating to charity instead of giving cards?

And how many of them will actually do this? I would prefer if they just said that they are not doing cards (if they have to say anything at all).

Good point, I wonder if they'll declare their donation as loudly?!

Im torn on this one.

I am not giving out cards. I do an annual charity donation anyway and have given an extra amount this year which counteracts the buying anf posting of cards (cards that would go world and uk wide) but not made any declaration regarding it.

I have seen it on facebook from others including family

Maybe its an insescurity thing? They are worried people will judge them for not delivering a card and want to counteract this?

They announce it so that people who would normally receive cards don't feel hard done by or like they've been forgotten or deliberately left out.

I expect there are people they know that will be offended by not getting a card so want to avoid that. Then rather than appear stingy say they are donating (and many will actually donate). I prefer that than getting some of the charity cards from stores where only a small percentage actually goes to the charity. (Just been on WHSmith website and there are some that give 10%

I also think.that it's so that no one says 'they didn't even bother getting me a card!' but at the same time... they didn't even bother getting them a card! I never really understand why it's seen as virtuous to give to charity money that you would otherwise have spent on other people (see also, those Oxfam goats) - surely if you cared so much you'd forgo something you wanted?!

The declarations are ridiculous. Sending cards is optional. If a person doesn’t want to send them, then just skip it.

I send out an email to announce I'm not doing cards.

For me it has 2 purposes:

1. To wish the recipients a happy Christmas and New Year etc

1. To make sure they know they don't need to send us a card, either. (For this reason, I send it fairly early.)

I don't mention charity donations. None of my charity donations are particularly related to Christmas cards anyway.

I would challange these to donate their own present later to the local charity shop or foodbank😁
I don't think there would be so much charitableness then

Yeah, no need, at all, for an announcement.

Someone I know has just announced on FB that they will be donating food, gifts and their whole month's pension to charity this year, instead of sending cards. As far as I know, they are not wealthy. I find myself being just a little sceptical of this.

It's a massive pet peeve of mine. I don't understand why a donation is linked to cards. Why not make a donation anyway seperate to cards. Or do an online card for people you would normally post but still do close friends and family, you can get a pack for £1-£2

I did it this year, for the first time ever. We've tried to do more this year with regards to being green etc, and Christmas cards seem such a waste. They're only up for a short time then getting thrown out. I know you can recycle, but surely better to just not use them in the first place.

I also don't want to offend anyone by not giving them a card, and there's always someone we end up forgetting.

So I put a post on saying I'd be making a donation, and I also posted a screenshot to show I'd done it, as obviously I think many people say they will and then don't bother. I didn't want people saying I hadn't made the donation.

I'm not sure why people get so worked up about other people doing that, to be honest.

It's not like I'm putting it online to say 'look at me, I'm so good'. I just see it as a good alternative, with pretty much no cons. It is the season of giving after all, and by donating to charity someone will gain much more than many people getting a piece of cardboard from us. I don't pretend to be perfect or even particularly good, I'm not looking for positive attention, just think it's a good way to let everyone know what you're doing and why!

I think it’s virtue signalling. I’d be interested to know the rise in donations from the charities people say they are going to support. I’ve sent cards and I bought them direct from a charity.

@Vivarium does that mean if they announce no cards that they also don't want them? They put it on Facebook about donating & now several others have said they're doing the same!

I live 300 miles away from family and friends and when I have sent Christmas cards in the past it cost around £30 in stamps. I decided that I would rather donate this money to a deserving charity than Royal Mail and it's more eco friendly not to send cards so a win win. I don't want people who have sent cards to me to feel that I have not thought about them so I try and send a quick text message. If I am short on time, I have on occasion stated on Social media that I'm not sending cards that year and would be donating to charity instead. I would never say that I am donating and then not do it.

I do it just do people know why I’m not sending a card. This year instead of cards I gave £20 to social bite to provide meals on Christmas Day for homeless people.

I don't want people who have sent cards to me to feel that I have not thought about them so I try and send a quick text message. If I am short on time, I have on occasion stated on Social media that I'm not sending cards that year and would be donating to charity instead.

But if you just do a generic post on social media then you didn't think of them, did you? Which I think is fine - sending cards is very much optional - but I think it's odd to want the credit for thinking of them without doing so!

And why was the £30 you spent on letting others know you were thinking of them the £30 you decided was a waste? Do you really never spend money on yourself that you could give to charity instead?

2nd thread about this already?

If they are your friends on SM and you are seeing it on fb or whatever are you aware that the "i bet they don't even contribute" kind of comments amount to calling your friends liars?

Just unfriend and move on. People can do what they like.

Virtue signalling.

Someone on mine posted that there’s no cards being sent this year but here’s a lovely carol (he played himself ) instead

Some people really appreciate a card and not sending one to Gt Aunt Hilda and instead posting on social media that you are not doing cards but donating to charity... cheesy, lazy and unkind.

You can buy a multi-pack of cards for £2.99 and delivering to neighbours is free. Do people really make a payment of £2.99 to a charity? Like hell they do.

I also wonder why people do these declarations. I’m not sure people really mind whether they get cards or not- why not just give the donation privately and send a few messages or texts? The ‘Happy Christmas’ status on FB takes so little effort I think it maybe defeats the object.

Reminds me of when mil said she donated to charity every week. I was a bit as mil was notoriously mean. She then went on to say she put a green token in the Waitrose slots .

If it's an older person, who does not live locally and only contacts you perhaps at Christmas, you would then know they had not died during the year, say of Covid 19.