Christmas cards abroad...any cheaper way?

[Courtney555]

My family and I have a load of cards to send out to Europe and the USA.

A "letter under 100g" (ie Christmas card size) stamp for both Europe and America is £1.35 each. And we have about 80 to send.

It costs me an arm and a leg each year...any other much cheaper method I could be utilising?

Why send so many? Are you doing separate ones for individual members in a family? I'd stop sending them. Send a e-card instead

That's how many we have to send.

I don't like to email, there's something lovely about having a handwritten card in the post, and DS opens all the international ones we receive on Christmas Eve as a bit of a tradition.

We communicate with friends and family abroad over the holidays by using emails, facebook messages, instant messages, or facetime. It's less expensive and no paper waste. Everyone seems happy with it. I do send paper cards to a few elderly relatives that do not have an online presence. It does mean sending quite early (which thankfully emails, messages, and facetime do not!).

Are Christmas cards a big thing still? It used to be a huge thing, and now it just doesn't seem like it is. Going to the post office is a nightmare any time after mid-November anyway.

Tbf you dont have to send them, you are choosing to. I dont know what to suggest if you wont make cuts to the amount you post

Email or e-cards are not an option for us.

We'd just like advice if there's any way of sending physical cards cheaper than via royal mail, as we aren't aware of any.

Do you have one close family member that you could send them all to and they could post the rest internally?

There's not the option to bulk post to one person then have them distribute in the respective country. The cards are not going to family (bar about 4 cards).

My question is really quite specific. I can't reduce the number of cards any further, I can't package more together, I don't send more than one card to a household. Correct, I don't have to send them. I don't have to eat anything but bread and cheese either but I do. It's literally: Can you send cards abroad a cheaper way than £1.35 a go using a royal mail stamp?

No advice but I agree it's really lovely to receive a Christmas card in the post, especially from overseas. I keep cards to make into gift cards and recycle the rest.

You could send them international economy rather than airmail? You would need to pick up a leaflet from the post office to check when you would need to send them by depending on what countries they are going to. It doesn’t save an awful lot but the £1.35 option would cost £1.20. I work in a post office and I’m not aware of any cheaper ways.

Not handwritten but I use the TouchNote app to send postcards and cards and you can buy bundles of credits. Cards cost the same wherever you send them in the world.

@howardbear thank you

Hi there Royal Mail have also started a rewards scheme. Picked up leaflet in post office today, 15% off once you are a member. Hope that helps!