Christmas Cards

How can soft wood trees absorb any CO2 if they are continually cut down to make paper!!!!!!!

One year, instead of buying cards I bought a goat from Oxfam for people in Africa. It is a gift that keeps on giving, as it provides an income.

I tell everyone in donating the cost of cards to charity, then either text or email.

For me Christmas cards are an essential way of keeping in touch with old friends. I love to receive cards and read the little notes, or long tomes, that are included. It's often the only contact I have with people I haven't seen for years but have been important in my life in the past. It will be a long time before i give up sending them.

I send quite a few by email from the Jackie Lawson site. You have to pay for a year but you can send some lovely cards and add your own message . I have several friends abroad and the postage was getting very expensive

My sister in law has been doing the donation route for several years - she puts a notice on Facebook and requests that people do not send her cards but donate to a local animal rescue place instead.
However, there are many types of cards that not only are made from recycled paper that can be recycled again, but as others have said, that support charities of your choice and heaven knows, just about every charity is short of funds this year!
Personally I would put off the no cards rule for this year, buy some charity cards and pop a note in with the ones that you send out that this will be the last year that you will be doing it.

DH designs the card and I then send it out via email with all our news. Many of our friends do the same. Recipients get much more news than if it was a handwritten card and we also get lots of responses which never happened with actual cards. Works for us.

Always buy charity cards, I'm always surprised that people don't, we get quite a lot of cards and like to reciprocate.

I cut down a few years ago giving only to family and some close friends for the same reason.. This year I might just give to adult sons and their children. I don’t think people mind at all and younger people don’t seem to send many now anyway. For those you’re close to, you could text or email...email a photo...or find another way to say hello. I think they would love it. And this year especially, I think there are other things to worry about. I would bite the bullet...

We stopped sending Christmas cards a couple of years ago (except for dgc & parents) Instead we donate to charity, the first year we donated to Mind & last year Crisis which provided a meal & entertainment for a homeless person. I put a status on fb saying we would be doing this instead of cards & all reactions were positive, in fact last year when I said about Crisis a few friends also did the same.

* and of course, giving to charity is a great idea!?

Certain elderly ladies that I know, who live alone, seem to measure their self-worth by the number of cards they receive for Christmas or birthdays. I would continue to send cards to these people and maybe agree with couples and families that cards will stop after this year,

I send to those remaining elderly relatives and friends that send to us but not to my sons or younger members of the family as they tend not to display them in the way my mother and I in turn did. I would advocate making a card, maybe cross stitch or craft that can be kept and framed xxx

I get an E-card every Christmas from a friend. They don't cost much and no postage charges. You have plenty of time before Christmas to look into the costings. That way you solve your problem

Don't feel guilty, we send them out of habit. I have pared down my list the last couple of years and only send them to people I don't see or speak to regularly. A cousin in another County, a couple of friends from school etc, who I don't want to lose touch with but xmas is the only time we 'catch up', so always include a little annual update. Don't see the point of sending cards to my dad, sister & friends who I see regularly to say 'Merry Christmas' when we probably speak or text the same on the day itself anyway! Break the habit, that's all it is.

I bought Christmas cards from RSPB this year because I got such pleasure from the birds in our garden this spring and summer throughout lockdown. Some built their nests and raised their chicks and we watched in admiration as they flew back and forth feeding their young. Never had the time to bird watch before. I send cards to people I care about whether or not they send to us. So, a bit of charity and a bit of love.

Charities are struggling as it is this year so I will buy charity Christmas cards and give a donation too as there are no fundraisers happening.

I usually buy cards from the National Trust and/or the Scottish National Trust. So many charities need our support this year that is is difficult to choose. However, as I frequently leave it to the last minute, it might be a late dash to AgeUK just down the road.

I use ecards a lot. Jacquie lawson site is very good. You can even print out the message you get back from your friends.

Its easy, just stop. Dont send any. We havnt sent christmas cards for years. I message anyone i need to send christmas wishes to

I will be giving to a Local Dogs Home Charity which is desparate for funding.
The only cards I will give will be to my ACs and DGCs I can cut down on their cards by buying "To my Grandchildren" rather than individual ones.

I am another who sends Jacquie Lawson cards. They are beautiful and most are animated. Take a look at the website. You have to pay to join but it is is a small sum in relation to the cost of cards and stamps.
They cover many other dates too, such as birthdays, anniversaries, just thinking of you etc. I use them all the time.

i stopped sending cards years ago i now make a donation to charity(s) equivalent to what I would spend on cards stamps etc

I know the cost is a big factor for a lot of people in their decision not to send them any more, but the first two couples in our circle who stopped sending them and said they were donating to charity instead, truly have plenty of money (I do know this) so def. not a question of ££.

I dare say they just couldn’t be bothered any more - admittedly, writing a long list of cards can be a considerable chore - in which case IMO there would be absolutely nothing wrong with just admitting it.

There are a few cards on our list (mostly far-flung overseas ones) which dh does feel he needs to do himself - but it’s a major chore to him and he often puts it off for so long, it’s doubtful whether they will ever arrive in time. So I have every sympathy for anyone who CBA.

I usually try to get all mine written before 1st Dec and posted ASAP afterwards. (where’s the smug face emoji?)

I bought cards last year and never sent any, this year I have already started writing them.
Partly because of Covid and partly because I do not know yet if postage will go up in the new year.