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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To think it's sad that so many of us don't find the time to send Christmas Cards?

47 replies

belgo · 11/12/2009 11:55

I love receiving cards, I love putting them up on string as decoration, and I send out about 30 each year in an effort to keep in touch with friends from other countries who I barely get a chance to see from one year to the next. It takes me about two hours to write the cards, and I don't consider it a sacrifice, to show good friends I am thinking of them.

Every year over the past 8 years I have received fewer and fewer cards; and it makes me little sad. Emails, although welcome, are just not the same.

AIBU to think it sad that so many people don't bother with cards any more, citing lack of time and money as the reason?

OP posts:

Diselfchanted3 · 11/12/2009 11:57

YABU, they go in the bin,

They are a waste of time, money and effort.

'Why would 'To Marge

from Sarah.'

Make your christmas any better?

redskyatnight · 11/12/2009 11:58

Cards are not environmentally friendly don't you know?

I don't send cards to

people I see on a regular basis so can pass greetings to in person
people I have had no contact with for over a year unless there is a particular reason for this and I am likely to contact them in the future

Which leaves me with a few distant friends and some elderly relatives who may get offended.

Original poster

belgo · 11/12/2009 11:58

Is Marge what you imagine my name to be

But yes, cards from friends do make me feel better.

OP posts:

Diselfchanted3 · 11/12/2009 12:00

Yes, Marge Smith, From Littlebottom.

LastOfTheMulledWine · 11/12/2009 12:02

I send very few cards. I help dd (2) make a couple for elderly relatives but otherwise I email/phone and explain that to save resources I make a donation to charity instead and wish everybody a lovely, environmentally friendly Christmas. Which perhaps makes me sound a poncy twit but I can't see the point of wasting paper.

Original poster

belgo · 11/12/2009 12:03

Why can't cards be environmentally friendly?

You can buy cards made from recycled paper; you can use them as decorations - I'm sure they are far more environmentally friendly them tinsel etc - , you can use them as crafts, and if you do chuck them, then they can go in the recycling bin. It's a very small amount of paper especially compared to Christmas wrapping paper; cardboard and plastic that is used for packaging for over priced toys and gifts.

OP posts:

Bonsoir · 11/12/2009 12:03

I hate Christmas cards with a vengeance and don't send them and definitely don't want to receive them. Personal preference, I realise.

Morloth · 11/12/2009 12:07

Straight in the bin here. So glad people have stopped doing it, so not sad at all.

senua · 11/12/2009 12:08

Did I miss out on the announcement that MN is on a sponsored Scroogeathon? There are some real bah-humbugs on here ATM (not just on this thread).

GetOrfMoiLand · 11/12/2009 12:09

I hate christmas cards as I see them as a complete waste of time, effort, money, trees, everything.

I used to have to write my gran's Christmas cards. She sent 150 or so every year. Each and every one of them had to have a individual message (say if I wrote Best Wishes on Aunty Nancy's card I could emphatically, on pain of death not write Best Wishes on Aunty Norah's as well as they may talk over the festive period and think that my gran's cards were impersonal).

And I had to address them all. And post of hand deliver them. She sent them to every bloody neighbour as well, even if she did not know them, so there would be the farce of sending a card to No. 7, Season's Greetings, from No. 2.

Then I had to help string the cards up she got in return in a nice display. She got loads in return as well because people perpetuated the madness and sent cards in return.

Bloody cards.

wearthefoxhat · 11/12/2009 12:11

I love Christmas cards, but never get round to sending many - I don't think it's a time thing, more of a "I'll get round to it, then never do" sort of thing. [lazy arse emoticon]

Original poster

belgo · 11/12/2009 12:11

Quite senua!

OP posts:

Original poster

belgo · 11/12/2009 12:12

well at least that's honest wearthefoxhat, you don't see much of that on MN either.

OP posts:

Tortington · 11/12/2009 12:12

i love recieving cards.

LastOfTheMulledWine · 11/12/2009 12:13

I'm sure they can be environmentally friendly. I was explaining why I don't send them. Nothing to do with not finding time but an acknowledgment of my personal opinion of them. And I do make cards for those people who really like receiving them.

FWIW, I don't have tinsel, I wrap presents in lining paper that dd helps me to paint and we don't buy presents for each other, just stocking fillers for dd. This year I am building her a toy shop out of cardboard boxes and paint.

I don't use the environment card as an excuse. I make a lot of effort to see/speak to/write to people around Christmas and to let them know how much I care about them and wish them a lovely time. I just have other ways of doing it.

upahill · 11/12/2009 12:19

Well I like Christmas Cards. I love the boys coming home from school and opening the envelopes and putting the cards up. They make the room look nice when all the decorations are up and yes some are from people you don't see for a while so it's nice to be remembered.

You can re-cycle the cards. And I bet there's plenty of MN who say they haven't got time but will sit and watch Eastenders, Corrie and the like. There's time there to do cards. They don't have to be done in one evening.

I know I am going to sound like a cheap arse here but I get a load of really nice cards in the January sales and put them in the cupboard ready for Christmas. Then I can 'upgrade' the type of card for a fraction of the cost.

So no Belgo You ANBU.

Original poster

belgo · 11/12/2009 12:22

thanks upahill
[adds upahill to Christmas card list].

You can even write the cards whilst mumsnetting!

OP posts:

Original poster

belgo · 11/12/2009 12:24

I even like recieving rounds robin letters, I've had two so far this year, but I can't quite bring myself to write one.

OP posts:

bellissima · 11/12/2009 12:24

Now I hate round robins (see other thread) but rather like chrimbo cards. Maybe not that environmentally friendly but hardly think they are awful in the scheme of things. And without them we are going to have even fewer Post offices and post men (persons!).

GetOrfMoiLand · 11/12/2009 12:26

It may sound like scrooge has invaded, however even though I don;t like cards, round robin letters, tinsel etc I absolutely love Chritsmas in all its naffness (have 3 tree in the house, 2 of which are covbered in the most kitsch decorations I could find), the Christmas hits CD is played at full blast all the time, love going to church singing carols and well up at the sight of little ones getting excited about father Christmas. So am not a miserable old cow (ahem), just someone who really doesn;t think that the spirit of the season is bound up in cards.

nannynobnobs · 11/12/2009 12:30

I don't send many, but the ones I do send, I write something personal in. I make them for close family and friends who will appreciate them- if they wouldn't I don't give them one. (My dad would open, smile, then forget!)
Apart from homemade ones I'll send about eight or ten bought ones to friends and neighbours. I like to do it because there's precious little community spirit round here as it is!

Original poster

belgo · 11/12/2009 12:31