Christmas cards

SwiftFox

Do you post or give out Christmas cards?. We seem to get people saying "we donate to charity now instead of sending or giving cards". But there are some nice charity cards out there, and you never really know if they give to charity or not or is it another way of saying, we'd rather not have contact with you?.

onmylonesome

Never give or sent one, total waste of money and the paper they are printed on!

Trevor_PIP

@SwiftFox I buy the charity Christmas cards.

Kimi87

I give out & send because I enjoy doing so.

I buy them directly from the charity shop I support so I know they won't get something ridiculous like 25p per pack.

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Rosie_Scope

I send a handmade card to my grandma and if the neighbours pop a card through the door we'll send one back, but that's about it nowadays!

MW123

I know some people see cards as a waste, and we all hold different views, but I actually really like them.  They feel so much nicer than all these impersonal e‑cards flying around.

And in a way, I think sending them helps keep the postman and the card production people in work too. Everything else is being swallowed up by screens, so I’m glad cards still carry a bit of human effort.

I’ve had a few cards through the post already and I really enjoy opening them, wondering which friend they’re from.  To me, it feels thoughtful that someone has sat down, written a personal message, bought a stamp and posted it.  A lot of effort and thought goes into it.

To me, writing and posting my Christmas cards are a big part of the festive season.  I always recycle all my Christmas cards afterwards, so they get a second life.

yves

I haven't sent cards for years and I also ask my friends, family and neighbours not to send me any.

I give a donation to a local charity instead if buying cards and wrapping paper. I wrap my presents in brown paper, tie a fancy bow with string and decorate with holly and dried wheat stems.

OverlyAnxious

I don't like Christmas cards. Sending or receiving.

I am obligated to send 3 a year though. After being chastised by an older relative for not sending them one after I moved away from home and my name was removed from the 'home' card. Ironically, I haven't received a card from that relative for the last few years, yet I still feel obligated into sending one. I no longer have any contact with them as we both have considerable health issues so don't know whether they still expect to receive cards or not.

They're also surprisingly difficult to get when housebound. Have to pay a lot for postage on a small pack, and I always have to buy more than I need so end up with leftovers. I do buy charity cards online, but suspect very little of the payment actually reaches the charity, as has been mentioned already.

Motzart

I used to send them every year until 3 years ago then I decided to send a donation, food and gifts to our local animal charity instead which they really appreciate. I did find writing them etc a bit of a chore.

Chris75_

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1090166#Comment_1090166

Presents, are we supposed to buy presents too? 😁🙈

birdwatcher

We've got family in various parts of the country but I don't send any of them cards now. Apart from my brother . 200 miles South east from us. My son's 200 miles South West from us but he'll be up before Christmas so I'm not posting his. The cost of postage is ridiculous and the service not particularly good. And I hand out less cards nowadays. I'm friendly with the neighbour one side and his the other side. 're one adjoining my house I wouldn't give the time of day to . So they've got no chance!I used to send about 40 or 50 , since I became housebound and this invisible it's closer to 8 if that

Chris75_

The sad fact is, many of us have nobody to send cards and presents to.

I have only my parents nearby, and i haven't seen them in months. I can't access their house, and they are scared of my dog. We text several times a week is all.

My sibling is a conspiracy nut, so i don't bother with them, and my adult children are only barely in my life.

There will be millions on their own this Christmas, and i also am thinking of those who were bereaved at or around the Christmas period. Even if in company, they will perhaps be alone.

Littlefatfriend

The "no cards, donate to charidee" thing seemed to develop in the 90s and with some people it's only intensified. I vaguely remember it being advertised by some particular charidee around then.

The production and logistics of cards are an easy target for CO2 reduction campaigners. I very much doubt people are hinting anything else. In my experience if people don't want contact it's very easy for them/us to stop making it.

I'll give cards to the (4) members of my family I hope to have here for lunch. I usually make or print my own, my family are used to my sense of humour.

I'll also give them gifts, but after a certain age (often @20) that gets awfully complicated. If there are things we want, we'll just get them or already have them. What on earth to buy people in that situation as gifts? Few of us want to fill our houses with trinkets and baubles, and if we do we'll probably have a very personal taste in them!

Most of my extended family and lots of former colleagues/friends now live abroad or down south. I can WhatsApp them. We just tend to write a letter in the New year describing a catch-up of what's been going on and how the year's been. With a computer it's then easy to tailor them for individuals. It keeps us in touch, as it were.

Have fun (or whatever else you prefer)!

😺

Chris75_

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1090200#Comment_1090200

Have fun (or whatever else you prefer)!

😺

As long as everyone knows the safe word!

Mary_Scope

I very rarely give/recieve Christmas cards anymore as an adult but I remember as a child, our living room used to be full of them as me and my brothers all used to receive cards from classmates so we must've had like 50-60 cards each year between us all!!

Nightcity

When my grandparents were alive I brought them a card, and I get my mum one.

I never have given cards to anyone else, I also seldom received them from anyone else, I never had a large family or many friends.

Because my mum is a kind and social person she gets a few cards, even ones from people we both know don't add my name, I think because of my autism and how I am (non verbal to 99.99%) of people they just think I'm a miserable, ignorant and rude person and she's the bubbly "normal" one thankfully and luckily I genuinely don't care 😁

JennieWren

I post and deliver cards. However I’ve cut back this year. I’m only sending cards to those who keep in touch. I hate to be tit for tat but with stamps being so expensive I’ve cut back. I’ve still posted about 20 and done for the 20 houses in our road - the ones we talk to (fortunately it’s a friendly street). My husbands a pastor, but we’re on stress leave at the moment so I’m not doing the 100 personalised cards that I normally do. I’m also cutting back on presents, giving most kids money and alcohol/food/known useables to adults as I can’t bear the waste and consumerism. Fortunately my general friends and extended family generally have a no presents once you’re working full time policy. Obviously still buy for close friends and family (including adults), but when your dads one of 9 and your mums one of five it all gets a bit much.

GalDriver

I send online cards to everyone online (Jacquie Lawson cards) and recyclable charity cards to the few who aren't.

JessieJ

I like receiving cards & also sending them. You may not have regular contact with the family/friends, but at least you have given them a thought when writing out the cards. I actually wrote my sends today, only 12 & half of them are to friends overseas, the rest to rellies. We have a large family Xmas do for the other side of the family & that saves on postage as we all exchange cards then. Must admit, postage is eyewatering now.