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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To hate bloody Christmas cards?

214 replies

HandbagsnGladrags · 04/12/2022 13:41

I'm not a Christmas Grinch - I like Christmas. But AIBU to think that Christmas cards are a total waste of time and money? I fucking hate them. I wish no one would send them to me. They end up cluttering up the windowsills and making the house look untidy. I don't send any except to my bloody mother who makes a right fuss if I don't send her one. She also comments on my lack of card sending to others. Fuck off.

Is anyone with me?

OP posts:
NoNamesLeft234678 · 04/12/2022 16:36

BigglyBee · 04/12/2022 16:31

I think most people are too polite/kind to tell a mother (I'm guessing with a PFB?) that they binned the card with the picture of her Precious on it.

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I've seen last years cards at some of their houses but okay

somanybooks · 04/12/2022 16:42

Some bizarre whataboutery logic going on in some posts here. I'm expecting someone to announce a triumphant gotcha (to their mind at least) that noone is allowed to be against Christmas cards if we've ever used toilet paper 😂

Many of us try to minimise waste in many areas of our lives where we can. Christmas cards is one that is easily done. Every little helps, and it's not an all or nothing scenario.

(I also have a shattaf bidet shower spray thing installed)

Wrinklydinkly · 04/12/2022 16:43

I hate them too, imagine how many trees get chopped for this bullshit. They're just making money for card companies. I never send them. Any I receive go straight to recycling. I also don't do secret Santa, I buy only minimal gifts for my adult children. None of us send birthday cards either, expensive waste of money.I just tell people I love them, and they believe me, because I mean it. My husband gives his parents a card,because mil gets emotional otherwise.

somanybooks · 04/12/2022 16:43

Laiste · 04/12/2022 16:34

No, i tear them into tiny pieces and burn them and then stamp on the bits - while shouting at the kids never to make nice things.

That's what the kind of person who doesn't send xmas cards does.

😂

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😂😂😂

Kazziek · 04/12/2022 16:44

I'm in the middle of writing my cards. I have whittled it down to the older people I know will appreciate it. Writing them with a special pen, with a glass of wine to hand, helps the process!

I still like getting them, although I can't stand pictures of people's children. Those are not Christmas cards so much as boasting about how beautiful they think their kids are.

Suedomin · 04/12/2022 16:47

I love them. They decorate the house during Christmas. And some of them are beautiful. It's not Christmas without cards. I think they are as important as a tree

CuriousMama · 04/12/2022 16:47

toomuchlaundry · 04/12/2022 16:29

Some people are really sad if they can’t cope with a few cards decorating their home, and to be so anal about what decorations they have up. Bet you are the people who rearrange the Christmas tree once your DC are in bed after they have decorated the tree.

Do you throw the cards that your DC make at nursery/school straight into the recycling bin?

Yes I used to do it in front of them. No of course not what a ridiculous comparison!

BigglyBee · 04/12/2022 16:51

Suedomin · 04/12/2022 16:47

I love them. They decorate the house during Christmas. And some of them are beautiful. It's not Christmas without cards. I think they are as important as a tree

I don't have a tree either. Or stockings. Or Advent calendars. I always fancied a Blue Peter style Advent crown thingy though, with candles. Trouble is, I'm fairly sure my kids would set fire to the house if I got one.

somanybooks · 04/12/2022 16:51

ratmatazz · 04/12/2022 16:31

I haven't sent them for 15 years. I think they're only useful for elderly relatives or neighbours, and teachers

One of my parents was a teacher. Hundreds of cards every year, strung up (and repeatedly falling down). The added workload to them of hanging cards, writing cards, disposing of cards etc etc far outweighed any pleasure gained. Same with feeling compelled to write thank you cards for gifts they didn't really want or need, and the ensuing guilt of throwing away weird personalised gubbins with little Johnny's face on. Each Christmas involved an epic present opening session taking note of who got them what that took them away from spending time with family. Each gift well meant, but still, it's not without consequence.

5foot5 · 04/12/2022 17:02

Well I like sending and receiving cards.

DH and I send about 50. It used to be more but some of the older relatives have died off now. We buy charity cards so at least that is contributing a smal small l amount to something worth while. One good session and we can get the whole lot written and ready to go.

I have a good way of displaying cards we receive that doesn't clutter things up. I have some lengths of narrow ribbon which I pin to the top of the floor with drawing pins. Then I attach the cards to the ribbons with little pegs.

After Christmas they go in the recycling.

When I was a kid my Mum used to save them so that the following year we could cut them up to make gift tags.

toomuchlaundry · 04/12/2022 17:06

@BigglyBee do you celebrate Christmas? Do your DC not mind not having a Christmas tree?

5foot5 · 04/12/2022 17:08

*Top of the door FFS

SkylightSkylight · 04/12/2022 17:10

BecauseICan22 · 04/12/2022 14:23

These kind are the worse! Other than immediate family, and even that's debatable, no one keeps them.

No one.

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@BecauseICan22

don't speak for anyone else!

I keep them. I love them, so do many I know.

@NoNamesLeft234678 I would love it & keep it!! Don't let a few posters put you off!

One of my god daughters has had a card done of her DD every year since she was born (when visiting a grotto). I bought some Christmas frames and they all come out every year. I love seeing her at the same point each year. She has had a baby sister this year, so I can't wait for it to arrive, first one of them together
I have kept photo calendars the boys parents have had done .why wouldn't you, they're lovely photos of the kids 😍

KrystynaZ · 04/12/2022 17:13

You are free to like or dislike them as you please. If you don't like them why not put them straight into the recycling bin?
Personally I like them and like hanging them on a string on the wall.

CulturePigeon · 04/12/2022 17:16

Can't help adding that the fiery venom OP feels for Christmas cards - I feel for texts.

I ...... hate them. I would boil with resentment at anyone who interrupted my Christmas Day with a stupid text. Now that is something I will just never get!

ArtichokeAardvark · 04/12/2022 17:18

My family were in the military. My parents send nearly 150 cards every year to friends from previous postings that they haven't seen in 10 or 20 years, and receive just as many back. In most cases, everyone makes the effort to add a couple of personal sentences, usually a little update on what the family are up to now. It's a lovely way of staying in touch with people who would otherwise drop out of their lives.

I send cards every Christmas and it makes me quite sad how few I receive in return. It's also a big fund raiser for charities (I hate the supermarket multipack cards you can get, 40 for a couple of quid type ones).

macklin123 · 04/12/2022 17:20

@Laiste I like your style!

Whilst we're here, can we also have a grumble about sending "keepsake" cards for every single event these days. Weddings, birthdays, christenings, etc. A text would suffice but always get a thank you card with a picture of the event. All of that money going straight into the recycling...

BesidetheseasideXxx · 04/12/2022 17:20

I only send them to elderly family members who I know expect a card from me, and write one out for my sons Teacher and TA. Friends my own age don't expect cards and don't send them (I'm 30)

KrystynaZ · 04/12/2022 17:21

@Laiste If it has your name and address on it, the postman has to deliver it. Whether you want it or not.
I'm off to ebay now for some vintage padded cards. thank you for the link!

Lindy2 · 04/12/2022 17:23

I don't intend to do any cards this year. Some people still send them to us. I tend to just pile them up on the windowsill because they just constantly fall down if I put them up.

My rather crazy MIL is apparently posting over 100 cards this week. It must be costing a fortune. Absolutely her choice, but considering she constantly asks DH to pay her mobile phone bill for her, I really rather think she should be using the postage money to pay her own phone costs and ditch the unnecessary cards instead.

rainbowandglitter · 04/12/2022 17:27

Oh I totally agree op. Really hate cards, glad it's not just me.

Daisybuttercup12345 · 04/12/2022 17:30

phoenixrosehere · 04/12/2022 14:24

YANBU

DH family does them which I think is a bit silly since it’s a generic card saying the usual generic Christmas tike stuff when we usually see or talk to them over the Christmas season anyway. Why do we need a card as well? Why the waste of paper?

I purchase them from the school, DH does the writing and sealing and I post them and that is the extent of what I do.

They’re in the shredder after New Years Day.

Why do you bother to shred them?

Ladysodor · 04/12/2022 17:32

I stopped sending cards years ago, hate the things. Fully in favour of a postal strike!

AntsGoMarchingOneByOne · 04/12/2022 17:35

Gosh, you are one miserable woman.😲
Of all the things in the world you direct so much hate towards Christmas cards.🙄

DillDanding · 04/12/2022 17:40

Some people are really sad if they can’t cope with a few cards decorating their home, and to be so anal about what decorations they have up. Bet you are the people who rearrange the Christmas tree once your DC are in bed after they have decorated the tree.

I came up with the perfect solution for this. The kids had their own trees in their rooms so all the school made tat could be proudly and chaotically displayed there. 😂 My downstairs trees could remain anally perfect.