To really dislike Xmas cards (well any cards)

[Blendiful]

People keep sending us Christmas cards. We don’t do Christmas cards, or any cards. And most of the people sending them know this, as they don’t get any from us!

Sometimes do a hand made card from the kids if someone particularly wants one. But generally no. I find them a huge waste of money, example a birthday 15 cards averaging £2 each, £30, in the bin the following day. I would rather have the £30 to put to better use, or people keep their £30 Thankyou very much.

I know some people love them, but it’s almost like people think I might be offended if I don’t get one. But genuinely it would be absolutely fine.

Is it just me?

*don’t

@speakout

Waste of paper and money.

You could say the same for the whole of christmas.

Why bother at all? Waste of money.

This!

Well you could say the same about many many many 'frivoulous' things that keep people in work, so I think you are being unreasonable

I like cards.
I don't really see why people have massive lights on the outside of their house. You cant see them? It's so American and show off.
But people spend money on them though and I wouldn't comment it, I just wouldn't do it myself.
Each to their own.

I don’t like or care about cards.
I certainly don’t understand people who stress about if they’ve missed sending one person an Xmas card or send out huge swathes of cards.

Each other their own though.

The only type of card I find meaningful is sympathy card. Usually because I take time to write something meaningful.

Not just you, OP. Total waste of time money and natural resources for the most part. (Exceptions are to be made for the ones with cheques and folding money tucked inside.) Particularly irritating and pointless are those ones that people send to new parents telling them what sex their own baby is in case they've forgotten. "We know it's a fecking boy! - we told YOU!"

I haven't sent any Christmas cards for years. Nor Birthday cards. As a consequence we've stopped getting cards from people we barely knew and only existed in our thoughts once a year - once we had finally deciphered the scrawl on the bottom of an ugly piece of cardboard.

I've better things to do with my time than be mildly surprised once a year that some near strangers are still alive.

I love receiving Christmas cards especially from people I rarely see. They are part of the decorations and yes I second you are a miserable sod.

Plus it's a lovely way of keeping in touch from people who live miles away. Old friends etc from years ago you have memories with, instead of social media all the time. That friend has taken the time to write and post you the card.

I'm with you OP.

I find Christmas presents the same.

Apparently christmas card sales have rocketed this year, many people looking for other ways to communicate because of Covid.
Charities make a great deal from christmas cards too, Save the Children reporting an increase of 1000% of xmas cards compared to 2019. Millions of pounds are raised for charity through cards.

inews.co.uk/inews-lifestyle/christmas-card-sales-2020-booming-lockdown-792185

I don't really see why people have massive lights on the outside of their house. You cant see them? It's so American and show off.

We have always put lights that hang down from the house and also have some on our driveway so they can definitely be seen from the house, when our kids were younger they used to like looking out the window at them. They also used to love coming home to them after school and trips out. I also like seeing other children getting so excited and stopping to look at the lights, nothing to do with showing off. Much better than cards in my opinion but each to their own.

Exactly, each to their own.
I still dont see the point but then I like cards.
I wouldn't start a thread about how silly lights on houses are.
Why cant people enjoy Christmas how they want to?

Might as well not bother with Christmas at all, wrapping paper is a waste too.

Good idea and yes it is. Which is why we give presents in wrapping cloths - like Furoshiki but not as posh or cleverly tied.

I love cards and have a massive collection of lovely ones that I enjoy writing in and sending to people I care about. I also love receiving a card with a message in it.
Can’t you at least turn old Xmas cards into gift labels?

I do not like Xmas cards and they feel like pressure to me. All they mean to me is fuck, I have to do one now, or I have to feel shite like I’ve let someone down (when I really don’t think I have). Some people seem to care so much about them it’s seen as a big fuck you if you don’t send. I’ve just moved into a new street and they’ve all given the fucking things! I appreciate their kindness but wish they could just say hi. It’s only recently that I’ve learned from MN that some people see a multipack card as a fuck you. I hope the tradition will die out soon...

I like sending them and receiving them. It cheers me up to do both, I put them up around the house and it’s a great way to keep in touch with people we haven’t seen in the year- especially this year of all years!

I’ve kept cards down the years on occasion- and I’m glad I have. I found two cards with lovely notes in from my dear late Granny recently, and re-reading them was so special. You never know when you might receive a last written message from someone: maybe hang on to a few now and then.

I found two cards with lovely notes in from my dear late Granny recently, and re-reading them was so special. You never know when you might receive a last written message from someone: maybe hang on to a few now and then.

That’s lovely. 😊

@VestaTilley

I like sending them and receiving them. It cheers me up to do both, I put them up around the house and it’s a great way to keep in touch with people we haven’t seen in the year- especially this year of all years!

I’ve kept cards down the years on occasion- and I’m glad I have. I found two cards with lovely notes in from my dear late Granny recently, and re-reading them was so special. You never know when you might receive a last written message from someone: maybe hang on to a few now and then.

And this is why I send Christmas cards. Our friends and family are scattered, and a lot of them aren't on social media.

Nice to see a range of responses and made me laugh, many calling me a miserable sod. It’s possible and tbh I stopped caring long ago what others thought and just wanted a general consensus if it’s just me!

Definitely haven’t done mass Xmas cards to work colleagues or the kids to school friends so am quite glad it’s all not allowed this year! Haha!

We do receive them and I don’t say to anyone I don’t know anything like ‘f your card’ or such things. I just find it a bit waste to then have the money go in the bin. In referring to the £2 a card I meant more birthday cards probably and ‘specific’ cards such as those entitled ‘merry Christmas grandchild’ etc. Even the family we have that know we don’t do cards still insist on sending them, we will put them up, but I’d just rather they said merry Xmas/happy birthday and left it at that.

We aren’t big ‘holiday’ people to be honest. We do what’s needed for the kids and create some traditions of certain things we do together and presents etc but just don’t like the commercialised nature of it all. Kids are happy, so we can’t be too grinchy!!

I get that some of the older generation like it because they are from more of a letter writing era, and that’s fair enough, if it makes them happy.

Have done plenty of things over the years to help people at Xmas, delivered dinners, worked Xmas day to help charities and delivered presents to children who wouldn’t otherwise have any, so the spirit isn’t completely gone in my anti-card world, just prefer other ways of spreading that Christmas cheer and eliminating stresses that aren’t needed.

I don't like Christmas cards, they just clutter the house up. A couple of years ago I was shocked how much postage had increased.
So last year I stopped, used what I would have spent to buy a basket full of shopping for the local food bank. Just done the same today.

I like sending cards and I don't worry about getting them back from people, I do it because I like it. I also do it to support charities which isn't the same as just making a donation. Sending cards from charities also spreads the message about the charity and, for some smaller charities, they are designed/made by the people using the charity, e.g. DS's residential autism placement. They often get everyone to make one and then choose two or three to print formally, everyone can join in.

Hate cards of any sort.
When I hear of the people I work with heading off to Clinton’s on their lunch breaks for their special cards for relatives at Christmas I just think why why why!

I'm indifferent to receiving cards and hate the obligation of sending them. Have family members who kick off if ever their card arrives late.

I could put loads of effort into the perfect gift but unless I've also thoughtlessly grabbed the first passable card I've seen, and written 'To X, from Y' its passive aggression time...

The sooner the tradition dies out the better.

Then you tell the people that
Or you put then straight in the recycling

Just because you dont send any doesn't mean they wouldnt btw... they do it because they like it. And dont expect a card back

@BackforGood

Seems a bit invested to "really dislike Christmas cards". I mean, if you can't be bothered to send them yourself, that's one thing, but try and be gracious enough to appreciate receiving them.

My MiL sends cards for all sorts of occasions I don't / wouldn't send cards, but I can't work up a "dislike" of them - it's just her 'thing'. It is quite nice tht she has taken the trouble in one way.

I rather like both sending and receiving cards from people I don't see regularly, and catching up with news / keeping in touch with people who, for whatever reason I'm not able to see in person very often. Totally respect that you don't, but 'really disliking' seems a tad strong.

Yes, @BackforGood, but you forget that this is the parallel universe of Mumsnet where some posters even find receiving a bunch of flowers a bother.