Christmas cards...the lack thereof

REJP

I have informed people I usually send cards to that this year I am donating to Alzheimers UK in memory of my sister who died aged 65 as a result of Early Alzheimers.
Also asked that they do not spend on cards for me.
Without exception everyone replied that they fully appreciate my feelings, and several have also decided to donate to a charity of their own choice.
In my local Parish Church, the Vicar has put large sheets of paper in the porch with a message that he cannot afford to send up to 200 cards this year, but he will donate to charity.
He has asked that if we want to pass Christmas messages to friends, we can write them on the paper. He has had to put up extra pages already.
Most people quote cost of postage as a hindrance to sending cards.
Fortunately I have been able to contact most recipients by email, those not on email I have put a note through the letter box or phoned.

Katiehound

When I asked folk a few years ago to stop sending me cards (I am away anyway) I said that the postage was just silly and I would rather that they donate the cost to a charity of their choice- better that someone actually benefits.
Most were happy to oblige but I still get a few who insist........

Teacher2

I love sending and getting cards and we have a ritual for doing this.

I only buy classical Renaissance prints of something to do with the nativity so the pictures are beautiful. I like thickish card and crisp envelopes. The DH and I sit down on an early December Sunday and go through the recipient list using decent fountain pens and our nicest handwriting. I enclose a two page newsletter to those on the list who might be interested. We use second class Christmas stamps and post them on the nearest Sunday to the 12th December.

I am also thrilled when the cards start coming in thick and fast in the run up to Christmas. What more lovely than four or five envelopes on the mat instead of bills and advertising? We don’t see much of all our friends throughout the year so it is nice to have some contact through the cards.

LKAY

I haven't sent a single Christmas card in close to 10 years (this includes family, parents, sibling etc). Instead I give the money I would've spent on cards and postage (where applicable) to charity, either direct donation or buy food for food banks.
Some may say "it's a shame for the card giving tradition to die out" but I don't agree. It is not environmentally friendly and money can be put to much better use (ie charity).

I'm glad that email e-cards seem to be increasing in popularity.

Fitzmichael

JackieO,
I love your motto. At age 78, it makes me look at the as yet unread books on my shelf which give me an additional reason for staying alive.
Did you make it up? Quam peritus!

LameWolf

If it were up to me,I wouldn't bother sending cards at all. However, my husband likes to do it, so we continue; however over the years our list has diminished from almost 40 to just over 20, as people, I'm sad to say, die off.

couriervanman

firebubble wrote: »

Every year, when I take my cards down after Christmas, I take out my recipient list, and tick off who sent me a card. If I notice I haven't received a card for two years in a row, I take them off my list - they can always go back on it if they start sending cards again, but I find this means that I'm not sending loads of cards to people who don't bother for whatever reason. I've done this for years, as cards and stamps aren't cheap!

Looking at last year's list though, the numbers seem to have collapsed, and only around half of the people on my list sent me a card.

I wondered if anyone has noticed a big drop from last year as well? Is the expense, and environmental concerns making increasing numbers of people stop entirely?

[purplesignup][/purplesignup]

If you haven’t already, join the forum to reply.

I've tried telling my wife to do the same with presents.......nothing for 2 years and they are off the list......she is starting to get the message:j

Primrose

The cards I never see the point of, especially if they're from people you never see from one year's end to the next and those which are just signed from "John & Mary".

All it does is convey "We're still alive." People complain about some "round robin" letters going overboard about marvellous experiences or wonderful children (and I agree some of these can be over-egged) but at least people have taken the trouble to let you know what's happening in their lives.

I always smile at a card from an elderly contact who every year jokingly writes "still not dead yet !"

Mr_Singleton

LKAY wrote: »

Some may say "it's a shame for the card giving tradition to die out" but I don't agree. It is not environmentally friendly and money can be put to much better use (ie charity)

I note that one of the charities mentioned in this thread spends 50% of all donations received on staff wages the CEO is I suspect is on £100k plus.

Is it really too much for people to spend a couple of quid on a few meaningful people in there lives to genuinely wish them a merry Christmas. Have people really become that mean?

Sorry granny but obviously your not worth a 1st class stamp and as the 2nd class ones are now 58p well I’m definitely not spending that so no Christmas card.

Seriously people???

Slinky

Hate to be the bearer of bad news but 2nd class are 61p.