Stop Sending Christmas Cards - what do you think?

kethry

how about something like..

"Dear X,

As part of anticipating my new year's resolution for next year to be greener in my life, i want to let you know that this is the last year i'll be sending out christmas cards. Instead, for christmas 2008 onwards, i plan to make a donation to XYZ charity, who as i'm sure you know, do a lot of sterling work for a cause that is very close to my heart. I hope you won't be offended by not receiving a card from me next year, but please know that i wish you - as i do this year - many many happy christmas greetings.

Can i also ask you to consider recycling your christmas cards - if you take your christmas cards to WHSmith, TKMaxx, Marks and Spencer, or Tesco store (excluding the Express stores) between 2nd and 31st Jan 2008 they will be collected and recycled by The Woodland Trust.

Merry christmas!"

If you photocopy that (along with a link to the woodland trust, see above) several times onto an A4 sheet - either to make it A5 or A6 and you can cut it up to put inside each card.

(for other ideas for a sustainable christmas.. see here.)

If you're not doing the whole new year's resolution then you may want to reword it if you don't feel comfortable with the little white lie.. up to you.

HTH

keth
xx

minot

How about sending e-cards through the Friends of the Earth website foe.co.uk?

I started sending them this year for birthdays and they're great!

supersavershal

I dont agree with this.If you wish to donate to charity you can buy charity cards.Christmas is about having fun and giving.When Iv saved money all year I like a bit of cheerfullness in my life.I love receiving cards and putting them up.YOU might not like christmas but it isnt you your buying the cards for its for your loved ones.I send cards to all my workmates, family and neighbours to let everyone know we hope they have a good christmas.My son also sends them to everyone in his class (school sends a list).Sometimes you have to enjoy life and get into the spirit.I also receive cards from family and friends I havnt seen for years and consider them very important as it shows those people still think of me.I love christmas and all the cards the more the merrier.You can always buy charity cards and recycle them, people who dont buy them are pennypinching humbugs, you get them for others if they dont wish to receive a card they can tell you.Its like saying I wont send you a birthday card because I dont believe in it.Dont hide behind charity and being green just admit you are mean.

babelfish

Hi, Supersavershal. I think you are getting me wrong on this. I absolutely love and adore Christmas! I love seeing kids faces as they unwrap their presents, I love trees, decorations, lights. I love seeing all the beautifully decorated Christmas cakes and swapping gifts. I love Christmas programmes on tv and Christmas adverts and I play Christmas songs in my car from about October onwards!

The ONLY thing I really don't like is writing a mountain of cards and then receiving the same back and not knowing what to do with them. We've put card trees and string up and the cards always end up falling down everywhere. Plus the amount of people I hear moaning about writing the cards is unbelievable and I just think "Why! Why do we all do it when so many of us detest doing it? Why can't we all get together and agree not to write the pesky things any more" I must admit that you are the first person who Ive met who has said they love writing and receiving cards!

Of course, if you love the tradition then carry on! I just think there are more important things to be doing with your time if its something you dislike doing. I just want to get together with all my likeminded friends/relatives so that we can stop having to do it!

supersavershal

I take your point babelfish but I still think its a shame people dont want to send cards because they cant be bothered to write them.If everybody did this just think of what christmas would be like in 20yrs time.It is commercial I agree and everyone is out for profit but I think we should maintain some of our christmas traditions or christmas will become a case of just buying presents.Cards are quite cheap but to take the time to write them to the people who are special to you means more than buying a present it is your thought and time.As I said you can always buy them from charities, you can recycle them and as another poster said you can make your own.I work every christmas and love to see all the traditions kept, cards are part of christmas, lets keep the traditions.Im sorry for implying you were trying to save money no offence meant its just I see that as the underlying current on all threads as this is a money saving forum.Please reconsider we are losing so many christmas traditions, children cant even sit on santas knee these days, the shops stay open, the pubs are open, children e-mail their christmas lists and some people dont have a turkey.

babelfish

No offence taken! I do love Christmas traditions - its just this particular one that I don't! I think its a shame that children can't sit on Santa's knee any more too. I think Christmas turkey dinner with all the trimmings is the best meal of the year and would feel as though Id missed out if I didn't have it. I remember going to a relatives for Christmas dinner one year and she didn't like turkey and so had cooked pork and beef. I didn't say anything because she had gone to a lot of trouble and the meal was delicious, but I really missed my turkey that year! It doesn't feel like a proper Christmas dinner without the turkey (my hubby cooks a lovely, melt-in-the-mouth turkey that isn't at all dry too!) - Im getting hungry now!

plumduff55

Thanks Babelfish and Kethry, I will use some of your ideas and post my message here when I get round to writing my cards.

I love all the Xmas traditions as well but am also very mindful of the need to conserve the worlds resources. If I can half the amount of cards I send that will be my xmas present to our planet.

Thanks again,

PS Kethry , the downsizer site is great

celyn90

I make cards for close family, but at work, I just make a donation to charity instead of sending cards. Works okay and peopel don't seem to mind. cel x

PasturesNew

I am not a card sender. Not of any cards. I hate doing it.
For Xmas cards, what I used to do was: keep a box of cards in the car, with a pen. If anybody gave me a card I'd say "Oh ... I've got yours in the car in case I bumped into you... hang on I'll go get it". Then rush out to the car, write one out and hand it over.

Worked a treat.

Now I don't bother with that even though

welshdeedee

Giving Christmas cards to people in work who you see almost everyday is CRAZY to me. I decided to stop this a few years ago and now give the cost of the cards to a Charity.