Christmas cards...the lack thereof

IrishRose12

Well i still send cards, and always will. I'm only in my 30s but I believe in traditions and hate laziness.

I refuse to post as much as a Happy Christmas on Facebook, and I refuse to send it in a text. I dont have nor ever ask for email addresses as I prefer to speak on the telephone or face to face.

Every year as a family we make a point of sitting down and writing Christmas cards for people in our local care home and hand deliver them. The residents and workers love seeing all the children in our family and always say it brightens up the evening, the workers say how the residents live showing off their Christmas cards and display them in their rooms. Some of these residents dont have family, or don't see them often. We also give them all some biscuits, tea/coffee, sweets etc.
We also wrote cards for our local priests and nuns, along with a few gifts fo them.

The way we look at it, if we can spend hundreds of pounds on ourselves and waste money on eating out/buying sandwiches/coffees etc, cigarettes etc on ourselves everyday, the we can surely afford to spend that 60p on a stamp to let someone know we are thinking of them.

I dont believe in donating to charities at Christmas etc. And I hate that pathetic excuse of I'm not sending cards this year, I'm donating to charity instead. That to me is laziness and cheap. How do I know for sure you've donated to charity?

Charity begins at home, and if sending a Christmas card to someone who is feeling low, lonely, worried, scared etc is too much for people to do then IMO they need to have a word with themselves.

For all we know one of those Christmas cards could help save someone's life. They could be really depressed that day, really upset over something and thinking why should they be here anymore?
Maybe all they get is bills or hospital appointments through their letterbox, so a Christmas card could cheer them up and take their mind of things for a minute or 2. Seeing the card on their mantelpiece may bring a smile to their face when they're feeling down.
The thought that you have taken the time to sit down and write them a card, write their address on that envelope and spend 60p on a stamp means a hell of a lot more to someone than an generic email, a silly text or words that most times mean nothing.

custardy

IrishRose12 wrote: »

Well i still send cards, and always will. I'm only in my 30s but I believe in traditions and hate laziness.

I refuse to post as much as a Happy Christmas on Facebook, and I refuse to send it in a text. I dont have nor ever ask for email addresses as I prefer to speak on the telephone or face to face.

Every year as a family we make a point of sitting down and writing Christmas cards for people in our local care home and hand deliver them. The residents and workers love seeing all the children in our family and always say it brightens up the evening, the workers say how the residents live showing off their Christmas cards and display them in their rooms. Some of these residents dont have family, or don't see them often. We also give them all some biscuits, tea/coffee, sweets etc.
We also wrote cards for our local priests and nuns, along with a few gifts fo them.

The way we look at it, if we can spend hundreds of pounds on ourselves and waste money on eating out/buying sandwiches/coffees etc, cigarettes etc on ourselves everyday, the we can surely afford to spend that 60p on a stamp to let someone know we are thinking of them.

I dont believe in donating to charities at Christmas etc. And I hate that pathetic excuse of I'm not sending cards this year, I'm donating to charity instead. That to me is laziness and cheap. How do I know for sure you've donated to charity?

Charity begins at home, and if sending a Christmas card to someone who is feeling low, lonely, worried, scared etc is too much for people to do then IMO they need to have a word with themselves.

For all we know one of those Christmas cards could help save someone's life. They could be really depressed that day, really upset over something and thinking why should they be here anymore?
Maybe all they get is bills or hospital appointments through their letterbox, so a Christmas card could cheer them up and take their mind of things for a minute or 2. Seeing the card on their mantelpiece may bring a smile to their face when they're feeling down.
The thought that you have taken the time to sit down and write them a card, write their address on that envelope and spend 60p on a stamp means a hell of a lot more to someone than an generic email, a silly text or words that most times mean nothing.

You are the Christmas elf to my Grinch :rotfl:

dreaming

IrishRose12 wrote: »

Well i still send cards, and always will. I'm only in my 30s but I believe in traditions and hate laziness.

I refuse to post as much as a Happy Christmas on Facebook, and I refuse to send it in a text. I dont have nor ever ask for email addresses as I prefer to speak on the telephone or face to face.

Every year as a family we make a point of sitting down and writing Christmas cards for people in our local care home and hand deliver them. The residents and workers love seeing all the children in our family and always say it brightens up the evening, the workers say how the residents live showing off their Christmas cards and display them in their rooms. Some of these residents dont have family, or don't see them often. We also give them all some biscuits, tea/coffee, sweets etc.
We also wrote cards for our local priests and nuns, along with a few gifts fo them.

The way we look at it, if we can spend hundreds of pounds on ourselves and waste money on eating out/buying sandwiches/coffees etc, cigarettes etc on ourselves everyday, the we can surely afford to spend that 60p on a stamp to let someone know we are thinking of them.

I dont believe in donating to charities at Christmas etc. And I hate that pathetic excuse of I'm not sending cards this year, I'm donating to charity instead. That to me is laziness and cheap. How do I know for sure you've donated to charity?

Charity begins at home, and if sending a Christmas card to someone who is feeling low, lonely, worried, scared etc is too much for people to do then IMO they need to have a word with themselves.

For all we know one of those Christmas cards could help save someone's life. They could be really depressed that day, really upset over something and thinking why should they be here anymore?
Maybe all they get is bills or hospital appointments through their letterbox, so a Christmas card could cheer them up and take their mind of things for a minute or 2. Seeing the card on their mantelpiece may bring a smile to their face when they're feeling down.
The thought that you have taken the time to sit down and write them a card, write their address on that envelope and spend 60p on a stamp means a hell of a lot more to someone than an generic email, a silly text or words that most times mean nothing.

IrishRose12 - I think it is great that you and your family have such charitable traditions that you all enjoy. However, as I was trying to point out before - not all of those traditions are that long-standing, and not every family shares the same traditions. I guess that by your reference to priests and nuns that you are also a religious family so can understand that Christmas is a big part of that as well. I am an atheist and personally would not bother with Christmas at all other than the fact that it is important to some family members and friends, so I do make an effort for them. I also have a variety of friends of different faiths and try to remember their important festivals and wish them well, but I must admit I don't send many cards other than to those I don't see very often. I'm not really bothered about receiving cards either - I would much prefer them to donate the cash to charity. As for whether to believe those who say they are donating the cash - well you could be charitable enough to believe them.
I also think it is laudable that you remember those less fortunate than yourselves in your community, and take your point that there are people who spend an awful lot of money on material possessions and lifestyle, although possibly not so many of those on this site. There are also a lot of people though who don't spend "hundreds of pounds on ourselves and waste money" but go though life as best they can with what they have, not to mention those that are facing real struggles with money/survival. Whether that is through mental/physical illness, life events, or sheer recklessness is largely irrelevant to me as I try to treat people with respect and kindness at all times of the year, but would rather offer a listening ear or practical help rather than sending cards. As for those with depression etc. the "festive season" can have different effects on them. I am sure that for some a cheery card and message could well lift their spirits but a close family member who suffered badly for several years has told me that they hated receiving cards as it made them feel they were letting people down as they couldn't feel the enjoyment the senders wished them. They just wanted to ignore the whole thing - and pretty much still do even though they are much better now.

So IrishRose12 - I truly hope you and your family enjoy your way of celebrating your Christmas as I can see it means a lot to you. However I hope you can think kindly about those who don't (or can't) act in those sort of ways for whatever their reasons (not necessarily though laziness or being "cheap"). We are all different and that, in my opinion, is what is to be celebrated.

purplepen

We used to live in Hong Kong and sent loads of cards all over the world without too much thought. Once I sent my cards surface mail in mid November - always a money saver! They arrived in the UK 3 days later.

Having returned to the UK I am appalled at how much even a second class stamp costs and don't get me started on overseas rates. I always know when ex HK friends who now live in the UK have gone back for a visit in November (good weather) as their cards arrive air mail from Hong Kong. This year a stamp is $3.70 = 36p and cards will arrive 2 to 3 days later. It would cost me £1.35 to send one back!!!!

Have I cut down on the number of cards I send? Yes massively, Email, WhatsApp and facebook are free and no waste. It's a no brainer and I'm in touch with more people throughout the year, not just at Christmas.

Katiehound

purplepen wrote: »

I'm in touch with more people throughout the year, not just at Christmas.

and that is an important point.
Christmas , most certainly, is not for everyone- for some it's a really bad time of year and no amount of cards will change that.

custardy

Katiehound wrote: »

and that is an important point.
Christmas , most certainly, is not for everyone- for some it's a really bad time of year and no amount of cards will change that.

Im one. Got kids so got to get involved and do all the Christmas garbage.
Though I would happily stay in an empty house out of it all if I could.
I generally go for a 'walk' on Christmas day to get a break from it all

fannyadams

Best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low stress, non-addictive, gender neutral, winter solstice holiday, practiced within the most joyous traditions of the religious persuasion of your choice, but with respect for the religious persuasion of others who choose to practice their own religion as well as those who choose not to practice a religion at all;

Additionally,

a fiscally successful, personally fulfilling, and medically uncomplicated recognition of the generally accepted calendar year 2015, but not without due respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures whose contributions have helped make our society great, without regard to the race, creed, color, religious, or sexual preferences of the wishes.

(Disclaimer: This greeting is subject to clarification or withdrawal. It implies no promise by the wisher to actually implement any of the wishes for her/himself or others and no responsibility for any unintended emotional stress these greetings may bring to those not caught up in the holiday spirit.)

Abbafan1972

I stopped sending cards a couple of years ago now - I only send one to my Hubby, parents and 2 daughters, that's it.

I have been aware of Jacquie Lawson cards for a number of years, but I don't have email addresses for most of my relatives and even then they probably wouldn't even open them, or could think they are viruses. I know my Mom probably opens her email about every 6 months. So wouldn't be worth paying the subscription for it.

Don't want the expense of posting out cards now. It's now the 8th and I have only had 2 cards from my parents and they were hand delivered. Only bother putting my family cards up now.

Mr_Singleton

purplepen wrote: »

This year a stamp is $3.70 = 36p and cards will arrive 2 to 3 days later. It would cost me £1.35 to send one back!!!!

Just goes to show how totally the Chinese abuse the postal system.

JIL

IrishRose12 wrote: »

Well i still send cards, and always will. I'm only in my 30s but I believe in traditions and hate laziness.

I refuse to post as much as a Happy Christmas on Facebook, and I refuse to send it in a text. I dont have nor ever ask for email addresses as I prefer to speak on the telephone or face to face.

Every year as a family we make a point of sitting down and writing Christmas cards for people in our local care home and hand deliver them. The residents and workers love seeing all the children in our family and always say it brightens up the evening, the workers say how the residents live showing off their Christmas cards and display them in their rooms. Some of these residents dont have family, or don't see them often. We also give them all some biscuits, tea/coffee, sweets etc.
We also wrote cards for our local priests and nuns, along with a few gifts fo them.

The way we look at it, if we can spend hundreds of pounds on ourselves and waste money on eating out/buying sandwiches/coffees etc, cigarettes etc on ourselves everyday, the we can surely afford to spend that 60p on a stamp to let someone know we are thinking of them.

I dont believe in donating to charities at Christmas etc. And I hate that pathetic excuse of I'm not sending cards this year, I'm donating to charity instead. That to me is laziness and cheap. How do I know for sure you've donated to charity?

Charity begins at home, and if sending a Christmas card to someone who is feeling low, lonely, worried, scared etc is too much for people to do then IMO they need to have a word with themselves.

For all we know one of those Christmas cards could help save someone's life. They could be really depressed that day, really upset over something and thinking why should they be here anymore?
Maybe all they get is bills or hospital appointments through their letterbox, so a Christmas card could cheer them up and take their mind of things for a minute or 2. Seeing the card on their mantelpiece may bring a smile to their face when they're feeling down.
The thought that you have taken the time to sit down and write them a card, write their address on that envelope and spend 60p on a stamp means a hell of a lot more to someone than an generic email, a silly text or words that most times mean nothing.

Well I'm lazy. I have put £20 into an office collection and wont be sending cards. I will buy my aunties a box of nice biscuits and hand deliver them.
I will have both sets of parents in their 80s to Christmas dinner.

I also doubt very much if someone is depressed a Christmas card will help. I get a card from the neighbours it's got a number on the front, nothing else. Just our house number. Inside the card it says best wishes numer 122. Not sure theres much thought gone into that.

I also feel emails and text can be very personal. Its immediate as well. You can write as much or as little and as often as you wish.

I dont think theres a right way or a wrong way, we do what works for us.