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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

I hate sending and receiving christmas cards

65 replies

tangent · 14/12/2007 16:19

Do I have to join in? Just got one through the door from a neighbour i don't even like. I'm not christian and quite frankly don't have time to write 100 cards. Bah humbug.

OP posts:
motherinferior · 14/12/2007 17:14

Oh, I like those. I send them myself.

lazawreath · 14/12/2007 17:16

what do you put in them motherinferior? 'hello me, how am i?'

I like getting cards, especially the ones with money in, which is rare.

S1ur · 14/12/2007 17:16

email cards annoy me, lazy which is fine, I don't care. But sanctimonious that's annoying.

"here's my e-card I'm hoping to save time, money and the planet"

Yeah, the planet will be grateful.... well done you.

zippitippitoes · 14/12/2007 17:17

no i dont tho exh has given me two this year (none for the last 8 years since we split tho) and one of his had a 250 quid cheque in it for spending on christmas treats so i liked that one

S1ur · 14/12/2007 17:17

eeek
sorry MI, some are, I'm sure lovely, including yours no doubt

zippitippitoes · 14/12/2007 17:18

that was no i dont s3nd any by the way

Original poster
tangent · 14/12/2007 17:23

i once saw a little book in a shop specifically write your christmas card list. it had space for all the addresses and also a sent and received tick box for each year!!!! i was horrified that somebody might keep track of who they got cards from and then strike off those they didn't.....does this actually happen?

OP posts:
zippitippitoes · 14/12/2007 17:24

no

SpottyHamster · 14/12/2007 17:34

I have a list of who has sent us cards and operate a "two strikes and they're out policy" unless they are excused on the grounds of old age/ new baby whatever (no special book, tho'!). I really do this OMG I must be v sad! Since most of the cards are to relatives/ friends I never see, I have finally concluded the whole thing might be pointless. Next year think I will cut it down to the bare minimum of essential Aunts & see what happens.

Original poster
tangent · 14/12/2007 17:37

respect to you for admitting that. i bloody knew people did it, they wouldn't print a book for it if people didn't want one. have you written a list of extenuating circumstances for which people can be excused? would i count as baby is 6 months? where do you draw the line?

OP posts:
lazawreath · 14/12/2007 17:56

sorry motherinferior, thought you said 'i send them TO myself'

SpottyHamster · 14/12/2007 18:10

Good idea tanget, will start to make a new list now 6 mo baby? No problem! BTW DS1 was late Nov baby , my mum wrote all my cards that year (she just did it, didn't ask her to) She has a list as well.

paulaplumpbottom · 14/12/2007 18:11

I keep a list. That way when I make a list for next year I make sure those people are on it

Ubergeekian · 14/12/2007 18:18

I haven't sent Christmas cards for years and years and years. If I know the people well enough I'll be in touch anyway and if I don't it's hypocritical to send them a card. And a waste of money. [bahhumbug]

mm22bys · 14/12/2007 21:38

I've been thinking some more about this (sad I know) but about that list of sending and receiving, maybe if you receive a card from someone you didn't expect, if you do decide you should send one back you can then tick it off, as a reminder that you have done it yourself!

(Trying to think positively and not the other way round that I sent you one first, you didn't send one, so you're off!).

rumba · 15/12/2007 14:49

Christmas cards (and any other kind of cards) have annoyed us for some time. Open the door, and they all fall over with the gust of wind - stand them all back up again, and they just fall over again. The ones that stand like tents gradually flatten out and look ridiculous, they look untidy when there are loads of them - I could go on and on.

BUT, what makes me feel bad about it is the fact that the sender invests their time, effort and hard earned cash to buy and send them.

What if there was an alternative?

pukkapatch · 15/12/2007 14:58

hristmas cards are merely a way of keeping in touch. in todays world, they are increasinly becoming an anachronism.
here's what i think is appropriate.
for all freinds on the net, either email them, or facebook them your christmas wishes.
for dc i always encourage them to write out their cards as is excellent literacy work. and since we always make our own cards, its also creative family time together.
for older people not into the web, send them personalised cards. that is with the dear and from in, as well as a short message. or if you can be organised enough to, send them a roound robin. they will appreciate it.
for neighbours, i think it's a nice way to keep in touch and be neighbourly. i dont socialise with my neighbours, but i'd hate to know that someone was horribly ill and alone whilst i was happily guzzling chocolate a couple of doors down. and ofcourse, bein g on good temrs with your neigbours means they take in deiverise for yo uetc.
tha#ts what i think is appropriate. feel free to disagree.

TinyTimsGangGawdBlessUs1andAll · 15/12/2007 14:59

It does seem like another job (for me, not dh ) to get done.

I love Christmas and hate to think this way because it sounds so grumpy, but I haven't written mine yet and it's hanging over me like homework waiting to be done on a Sunday evening.

Tbh I do wonder if the world would stop turning if I didn't do them. I think this every year and every year always promise myself I'll do them in November but I never never do.

They are a chore but I just cannot go against the grain and not write them. God knows why. I think I am programmed to conform or something It would niggle away at me and then I wouldn't feel liberated just all umpty about it.

Bouncingturtle · 15/12/2007 15:11

This year I've sent out charity e-card using Cancer Research site. Much better for the environment and the charity benefits.

mrsflowerpot · 15/12/2007 15:17

TinyTimsGang - I feel exactly the same about mine being homework. They are sitting looking reproachfully at me, and I have to do them this year as we have moved and I was a bit slack about letting people know (about 50% of our cards are coming via the Royal Mail redirection service, oops).

I am not doing the ones for dh's family this year (apart from MIL and SIL), though, have decided it's up to him.

neighbour · 15/12/2007 15:46

I don't see the point of them, never have.

If you want to keep in touch with someone do it properly, not just by signing your name to a printed greeting.

It's also not a competition, how many xmas cards you get.

I once read that Nigella opens her xmas cards over the bin. That's pretty much what I do.

But I do send cards to elderly aunts and grannies and people who don't get out very much. That seems a kind thing to do--the least one can do, really.

As for everyone else, I just keep hoping they'll strike me off their xmas card list when they realize I never send them cards.

TinyTimsGangGawdBlessUs1andAll · 15/12/2007 15:49

The one year I tried to get dh involved in Christmas cards, I found them kicking about in the footwell of his work van (which I never went in) the following June

bossybaublesinherbritches · 15/12/2007 15:50

I don't see the point in sending carfds to those people I see at Christmas (as a family we aggreed years ago to stop sending them)

This year I have found a lovely website with beautiful interactive cards that the kids will love playing with so I have sent them to a few people & done cards & letters to the oldies who love hearing our news. Otherwise I don't bother!!

YANBU if that's the way you want it but some people love sending them so let 'em!

TinyTimsGangGawdBlessUs1andAll · 15/12/2007 15:53

Oh but I do like getting them...how hypocritical I am I just can't be bothered don't want to write my own!

Ralphiemia · 16/12/2019 20:19

I think you are all:
a. Lazy
b. Christmas Grinches
c. Totally up yourselves

Just my opinion but you so don't get the spirit of Christmas

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