Stop Buying Charity Christmas Cards

S_Joynson

Like most people, when buying greetings cards for this time of the years, I have always tried to support various charities.

However, even at the very best rates, the most the charities get from such sales is such a small percentage. How much better it would be if they got the whole lot - and a Gift Aid declaration instead.

An old boy I know is a Freemason. They raise millions each year for charity and one of the ways he does his bit is by NOT sending Christmas Cards. Instead, he declares to all his friends what charities he will support with the money he would have spent on cards. As regard the season's greetings, he does that personally and everyone now knows what he does and accept it.

I like this idea and I am going to adopt it. The money I used to spend on cards from the Dyslexia Society, the Lifeboats and the Motor Neurone Disease Assocation and a couple of other charities will now be given DIRECTLY to them as a donation together with Gift Aid Declaration. This will allow them to claim back my tax, thus considerably increasing my donation.

As regards Cards, well, I can let me friends know I have adopted Old Charlie's idea and I am sure they will agree with it. And anway, there are lots of ways of sending greetings cards without spending a penny.

A search on Google reveals lots of site where one can send e-cards. If you have a Yahoo or a Hotmail account, they have a facility to send e-cards totally of charge. Having said that, use the American Yahoo Pages, because he in Rip Off Britain, Yahoo's greeting card provider makes a charge. You can also make your own cards using programs like PowerPoint and print them out for a fraction of the cost.

I reckon this is the way forward. Sod buying the cards to support the charity - just give them the money directly!

wilf55

great idea saves the environment too

GiveItBack

I LOVE this idea. I try to persuade lots of people to do it, some like ti some hate it, some do it, some don't but for the charity, it's a whole heap better than even buying a charity's own cards.

I think this idea can go further, but we'll see. IN the meantime, WELL DONE, go for it do it, and encourage others to do so too!

PS If you're a higher rate taxpayer - then ask your charity about grossing up your donation - you give more, and claim back the difference.

LizB62

This is such a good idea, as long as it is properly thought out.....

While working at my previous company, one of our suppliers sent out plain white cards to let everyone know that they wouldn't be sending Christmas cards that year......

Maybe they should have just sent emails instead, and donated the postage costs to their nominated charity too

cowbutt

I send charity cards, but I buy them directly from the charity concerned, thereby maximising their cut.

Poppycat

Some charities will sell cards directly rather than go through shops who as you implied pay little back. Then dont forget than many charities also have costs so will pay even less to needy causes because of administration costs some are worse than others