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Original poster

Xmas cards - stopping sending them

16 replies

BooCanary · 15/11/2013 07:23

Thinking of not sending Xmas cards this year. Mainly because i can't be arsed of the postage costs (50p!!).

However having an internal battle about the impoliteness of just not sending any. I can wish about half of the people I normally send them to a happy xmas on fb or by email, but the rest are old/distant relatives who probably appreciate the post. Do I carry on sending to some and not others?!

How can you extract yourself from the hell that is writing and paying for postage for Xmas cards, without seeming stingy or rude? ( BTW I already don't send any locally).

OP posts:
Pancakeflipper · 15/11/2013 07:25

Just don't send them. Do an email saying happy Christnas with a jolly picture.

I think I am the only person who loves Christmas cards and hanging them up with my children. Damn you Royal Mail and your stamp costs.

StupidFlanders · 15/11/2013 07:30

I would just stop with your friends (I don't know anyone who still posts cards!) but if it's an old relative who you have previously posted to, keep going and think of it as a very inexpensive gift- they love displaying them (gross generalisation I know!)

hyenafunk · 15/11/2013 08:50

I'd send them to the elderly relatives you send them to. A lot of them wouldn't understand and probably find it rude I would have thought. Depends how 'up to date' they are with the internet and so on as to whether you could get away with the e card or whatever.

I've never sent them to anyone other than the four family members that also buy for us and that we actually see. I get the DC to decorate a card and put a pic of DC on the front which they all love. I think it's a waste sending them to absolutely everyone, waste of paper.

RevengeWiggle · 15/11/2013 08:55

I don't think most people would notice, but if your elderly relatives would be upset to not receive them then I'd send them one at least. An email is fine for everyone else.

DowntonTrout · 15/11/2013 09:02

I hate Christmas cards. I hate any kind of cards, full stop. I think they are a complete waste of money. I get that it's nice to send to and hear from elderly or distant relatives at Christmas though. We have lived in this house for 16 years and still get cards in the post for the previous owner.

After years and years of DCs birthdays, when they can get up to 40 cards, I got to the point of despair thinking about all the money sat there that was just going to be thrown in the recycling. We have lived in this house for 16 years and still get cards in the post for the previous owner.

I have really cut down on the cards I send over the last few years.

bebopanddoowop · 15/11/2013 09:13

Please don't stop sending cards or I'll go out of business Grin

paulapantsdown · 15/11/2013 09:13

I gave up with them about 8 years ago. I post about 10 to elderly aunts and uncles in Ireland with a photo of the kids in and that's it.

It is so ridiculous to be handed a card by someone you see everyday - just say Happy Xmas and your done!

puffinnuffin · 15/11/2013 09:14

I like giving and receiving Christmas cards! I always buy charity ones and they can be recycled (although I keep lots and use them for school displays).

paulapantsdown · 15/11/2013 09:16

Funny you say that bebop, I worked in greetings publishing for years and it made me sick of the sight of the bloody things when your selling them to retailers at trade fairs in February!

CloserLook · 15/11/2013 10:30

I do send cards to any relatives who might not understand but other than that I think they're a complete waste.

I've never done them for close family except if nieces and nephews are getting vouchers in a card. My DP thinks it's odd not to send every single person I've ever met a christmas card so we have this issue every year. Even if I did send lots usually I wouldn't be doing it at 50p a stamp!

Pogosticks · 15/11/2013 10:39

I have a jacquie lawson account and send a lot of virtual cards. Then about a dozen paper ones to people whose email I don't know. 50p is a lot when you think about it. You could send them all Amazon finger lights with a gift message for less ;)

Luggage16 · 15/11/2013 11:30

I send to elderly relatives only. Everyone else I send an email to and explain that instead of cards for everyone we have bought a goat for Oxfam unwrapped. Seems much better value to me than a card that sits of a shelf for a week or so then ends up in the bin.

Crutchlow35 · 15/11/2013 12:20

I now only send them to family abroad and family here. Not like I used to when I sent them to everyone.

Original poster
BooCanary · 15/11/2013 14:24

Thanks everyone. I will just pare back the list I think!

OP posts:
bebopanddoowop · 16/11/2013 10:50

Paula - yes I used to work selling them and it is weird doing it so early - but now I design and print them I love it and I love receiving beautiful ones, not for-the-sake-of-it ones. I often sell single ones rather than packs and find people are more inclined to send just a couple to special people like a gift, rather than churn them out which is nice (and probably cos mine are too expensive to do that)!

Elsiequadrille · 16/11/2013 13:28

We only buy and send a few, and very few, nowadays. The DC like to send some still.

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