Cost of sending Christmas cards becoming prohibitive?

[bakedpotatoforlunch]

We've always sent Christmas cards to family and friends and appreciated receiving them in return including updates of their news etc. We've always thought it's a great way to stay in touch with old friends we'd otherwise probably lose contact with. I know e-Christmas cards have been around for years now but we've still stuck with actual cards partly to support various charities that produce them and partly because it just feels a bit more personal actually to write something with an actual pen (something I don't do very often these days apart from the shopping list!).

For the first time we are thinking, because of the cost of stamps, alongside everything else at Christmas, heating bills, food etc. we really maybe can't afford it. Not sending cards is not something we'd ever considered before. Anyone else in the same boat?

Just a quick follow-up. I've only just now come across in AIBU a thread on Christmas cards, actually asking a slightly different question to mine (which is specifically about cost).

I was interested to read that in a number of posts sending Christmas cards at all is regarded as quite old fashioned now and beginning to die out a bit. I hadn't realised that in the dotage of my mid-50s! 🤣

If you can't afford it or would prefer to spend the money on other things then that's absolutely your decision to make. I have commented on the other thread and genuinely enjoy sending and receiving cards ... but I can afford it, I don't really have many 'additional' expenses at Christmas...no presents, no new outfits, no theatre/Pantomime etc ... we eat and drink well all year round so don't really notice any extra food costs. But that is me and I appreciate others will have different experiences.

Not the cards themselves so much. But the stamps. Especially if you send a fair few.
It's why I've only bought cards that I can hand deliver, for the last couple of years.
Although this doesn't work so well for you as you have mentioned it's a great way to stay in contact with old friends etc. which is totally true x

I’m in my sixties and hate the whole card sending palaver. I can afford it, I would just rather not do it 😅

I like sending and receiving cards.
We can afford it, but even I blinked at the cost of stamps this year.

However I do feel that some people use the cost as an excuse not to do cards when in reality it is more that they can't be bothered and would rather not do the chore that gives others joy, rather than e.g. having slightly less alcohol over the Christmas period or some other similar cutback.

I suspect that when the 50+ generation dies out, so will card sending.

I noticed last year we received a lot less cards than usual, so I am being bah humbug and only sending to people that sent to us this year! 😂

I agree. I made the mistake of buying nice cards which were slightly thicker than normal. Cost per card up 50%. And that's on top of at least 15% additional cost compared with last year. I think the Post Office are trying to stop us sending cards.

I normally post 30-40 cards but not now with the cost of stamps so exorbitant. Stamps are ridiculously expensive. I'm 52 still love sending and receiving cards but I think I'm in the minority x

I never did cards, waste of money and paper imo. In this day and age you just call people for a chat or send them a message surely…and I’m in my late 30’s!!

Having spent over £18 on 2nd class Christmas stamps yesterday and £2.25 today to post a card to Europe I'd say the tradition is definitely going to be on a downward spiral. My adult DS doesn't bother sending cards and I suspect that's pretty standard for his age group.
My 95 year old MIL , however, was saying yesterday that she writes 60 cards - which as she is severely visually impaired is no mean feat. Poor SIL is in charge of writing the addresses though!

Yes it is the cost of sending mainly even with second class stamps at 75p. We usually go with budget (but nice) packs of charity cards but even so it will be over 100 with both sides of the family and friends of many years and some new ones. We hand-deliver locally. The alternative is just to cull the numbers but where to draw the line?

We've got four adult children who are always with us for Christmas and for the first time we are feeling something has just got to give somewhere which is why we are thinking about cutting the cards.

@Roselilly36 we noticed that last year too. Missing even were cards from some of our oldest (at school with) friends. Which was a bit sad really but maybe they'd come to the same conclusion as us?

I only send to my parents, an aunt and a very old family friend.

I send e cards to everyone else. Time as well as cost though tbh.

Cards would cost me £100 plus for the number I send which is ridiculous.

My heating bill has been £225 a month for the last two months which is also ridiculous but at least it’s beneficial. Apart from the three cards I send I don’t think anyone else I send to cares one bit.

I think Xmas cards have gone out of fashion, probably linked to the huge cost of stamps. I used to send a lot, but it became stupid. I hardly send any now, I hand deliver to my friends, along with their presents

I'm early 50s and send mostly e-cards. I still send some actual paper cards, mainly to older family members and the like. I put in some photos of us and the kids and write a short note in the card about what we've been up to, ask after their health, etc. So it's more of a meaningful way of keeping in touch.

The older family members get fewer and fewer in the course of time, and I can see that eventually I'll just be sending e-cards.

Stamps are ludicrously expensive now, especially when the postal service is beyond crap. It's a lot of money to spend for a delivery that takes over a week in my experience (if the card arrives at all).

I'm sending one to my mum and one to my DD this year, because they love getting. I have bought a packet of ten and will hand out a few to people I think will like them. It used to be so cheap and easy didn't it? Not any more!

I've definitely cut down the number of cards I send. The cards themselves are fine but 75p for a second class stamp! £4.50 I spent earlier to send 6 cards. Its a shame as its lovely to send and receive proper hand written cards

Haven’t sent a Christmas card for 15 years. I get hardly any now as a consequence but open them over the bin, look at them and chuck them in. What a waste of trees, effort and money. So pointless given the free and easy ways to communicate - send an ecard if you must.

I only give cards to people I give Christmas money to - bin men, gardener, cleaner etc. one box picked up in Jan lasts me several years!

I haven't posted any Christmas cards to anyone in about 4-5 years . It got tedious posting to people I have fuck-all to do with the rest of the year, and reading their boring round robin letters. 🙄 The stamps started to get a bit costly a few years ago. I tend to give to work colleagues, neighbours, close family, extended family, and friends. I always send first - around 1-5 December.

For the last 3 years or so, about 6 people haven't sent one back. Incl several work colleagues and several neighbours ... So this year, for the first time ever, I am waiting to see who sends them, and then only sending them if someone sends one first.

We do send cards but stamps are crazily expensive now. I think we'll probably send some this year but tbh I’m going to do e-cards for a lot of people. I’ve got some nice seasonal photos (that I took myself) and I’ll use those.

I send cards to those I know enjoy receiving them - mostly older relatives who aren't technologically savvy enough to keep updated with pictures via email.

The cost of stamps is extortionate now though. I wouldn't mind so much, but they seem to be taking longer than ever to arrive as well.

E cards and phone calls to friends that live far away.Great way to catch up with all the news.Donation to food bank from the money saved on stamps.

I like cards. I send about 50, but most are given to people when I see them so we only post about 5. I worked out last year that it cost about £8.50 last year which we can afford again this year. I do Moonpig for relatives abroad.

The thing that made it for me was a message from one of my friends who said that my card was the only card she received last year and it made her feel "that little bit less lonely" 😢 She lives a long way away so I don't see her much but it made me realise it's worth sending them to those who appreciate it ❤️

I only send to elderly relatives and friends who don't use the internet so therefore I can't send them a Jacqui Lawson e card which I do for everyone else.

Sadly with each passing year that list dwindles as they pass away.

I always see everyone I love and care about at least once, if not more, during the year. On that basis, I stopped sending cards years ago. Don’t miss it at all.

I know I'm in the minority but I like Christmas cards, I'm only 40(ish) and hardly any of my far-flung friends bother these days, mainly only older family and they're dying off

I also think e-cards are very 90s! Can't imagine getting one! Silly gif on WhatsApp maybe but not an actual email!