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Xmas cards 2021?

(111 Posts)
SuzieHi Wed 10-Nov-21 04:33:26

Wide awake so up in the night drinking tea & looking at gransnet- at 4.30am!
Last year we cut our Xmas card list drastically - only sent to aged/single friends & family.
Think with the Covid problems it all seemed so wasteful on paper, card, postage etc when charities were struggling so much.
We e mailed Xmas greetings to those we could & also explained we were making charity donations instead of cards. Didn’t want them to think we hadn’t just forgotten them or had run out of time! Sent a few free e cards too - to those I thought would like them.
Seems a bit sad to lose the tradition but will do the same this year.
What are other Grans doing?

montymops Thu 11-Nov-21 13:24:39

I love sending and receiving cards - remembering friends from more than 70 years ago. I love to hear news from old friends made throughout my life. Also from newer friends made more recently. I would never give it up! I guess I’m quite childish in my pleasure at hearing the letters plop through the letter box?

knspol Thu 11-Nov-21 13:23:53

Still send them although did cut down on numbers last year. Many go overseas so postage costs a small fortune but they go to people I don't see anymore but had happy times with that I like to remember.

Noname Thu 11-Nov-21 13:07:24

I will be doing the same as previous years; buying some lovely charity cards with every intention of sending them but before I know it, it’s Christmas Eve and I still have them! ?

grandtanteJE65 Thu 11-Nov-21 12:53:41

For years I have only sent cards to the very few people of my parents' generation who are still alive, and who do not use the Internet.

Everyone else gets an e-mail with an attachment telling how our year since last Christmas has been.

Jang Thu 11-Nov-21 12:45:57

I buy charity cards or make my own every year = love sending & receiving Xmas cards - all part of my Xmas Decs. Tried reducing my list but peeps still send - have just one friend who had stopped and told me last yr by letter they are giving the money saved to charity ..

Secondwind Thu 11-Nov-21 12:36:18

I do love Christmas cards, but posting them these days costs more than I paid for the cards themselves. I think putting them up at home adds to the festive feel. Several people have swapped to emailing now, so that’s what I’ll do for them. I resolved last year to just send cards to those who sent them to me and that’s what I shall do this time. It’ll probably take me a decade or more to get through all the cards I have!

Nannashirlz Thu 11-Nov-21 12:29:17

I buy charity cards and send to family and friends all charities need our help more than ever. As my dad used to say a card cost nothing also I’m helping Royal Mail too lol

MaggsMcG Thu 11-Nov-21 12:20:44

I stopped sending card to most of my card list around 2006. I donate money to the Cystic Fibrosis trust. The amount varies according to what I can afford that particular year. I use to send £25 but it was sometimes more. I will continue to do that whilst I have the money. Everyone that has email or social media gets a Christmas Themed message. I send to elderly or to relatives that dont have or use electronic media.

sazz1 Thu 11-Nov-21 12:10:37

I'm cutting down this year and just sending to immediate family and extended family I have seen in the last year. The 15+ nieces nephews great nieces and great nephews I haven't had any contact with or ever received a card from aren't on my list.

Chimaera Thu 11-Nov-21 12:09:10

That's the card we made for our mums last year - DH does the technical stuff, adding the lights!

Applegran Thu 11-Nov-21 12:07:30

I always send charity cards and will continue to do that - though the list is long and it takes ages to write them all! but for me, its worth it. I do receive quite a lot of cards, but don't tally them to see who I sent to and who did or didn't reply. Its a way of keeping in touch and sending love and good wishes, so I don't want to stop. I do anyway give to charity - and make a special donation to a homeless charity at Christmas.

Chimaera Thu 11-Nov-21 12:06:59

I'm sitting here, making ours! About 50 of them. I go to craft classes, so I might as well put the skills gained to good use. Keeps me occupied for a while!

heatherjw Thu 11-Nov-21 12:02:19

I do send less cards these days and those I send are either Charity cards or ones I make. I feel it is an opportunity to keep maintain contact with those friends I see infrequently. I add a letter and include photos of the family and grandchildren as I am reluctant to post images of the grandchildren on social media

Bijou Thu 11-Nov-21 11:55:40

I still send cards to let people know that I am still alive! Also if I don’t receive a card from anyone I assume they are dead.!

Happysexagenarian Thu 11-Nov-21 11:53:02

I'll be buying them, writing them (with letters), and sending them as usual this year. Charity cards for the general ones, and special ones for the family and close friends. I printed out my card list last night, sad to see it's dwindled to about 45 now, a far cry from the days when I sent over 100 each year. Now I just have to get to the shop to buy them! Yes, it's expensive but it's only once a year.

I usually buy all my Christmas Cards and the birthday & anniversary cards I will need for the following 12 months all at the same time. I write a list and check them off as I choose them. It's a scary bill at the checkout, but at least I know I won't have to make last minute dashes to the shops for a card.

I really don't like e-cards. I have one relative who sends me e-cards, he's in poor health and can't shop for cards. I always send him a nice family card. Apart from that I never see him or hear from him!

Theoddbird Thu 11-Nov-21 11:50:35

I don't send many cards but will continue doing so. I always buy charity cards and always with a dove of peace on...have done that for over 40 years now.

nipsmum Thu 11-Nov-21 11:45:20

I'm waiting on Christmas cards in my Tesco order. I will send some. Unfortunately friends are getting less and less as I get older but there are still a few I try to keep in touch with even if it's only at Christmas.

geeljay Thu 11-Nov-21 11:31:02

Since I lost my wife, the number of cards I send has been reduced drastically. But I do phone most of them, to have a chat and wish them a greeting of the season. Seems to be more welcomed.

Oofy Thu 11-Nov-21 11:30:13

I saved cards received for a few years, thinking it would be nice to make a collage screen from old cards as a Christmas decoration, still have a couple of IKEA bags of cards in the loft with that in mind. Might as well recycle them, don’t see me getting around to doing that any time soon.

IzzysGran Thu 11-Nov-21 11:28:00

Personally I love sending ..and receiving Christmas cards
Sorry an e-card doesn’t cut it for me
Also hate it when people say “I’m sending money to charity this year instead of cards” !
Just give to charity, if you don’t want to do cards don’t bother..?
It’s all personal choice.. ?

Oofy Thu 11-Nov-21 11:27:08

We still send a lot of cards. We moved around a lot with our jobs, as did former valued colleagues, and it’s often the one time of the year we catch up, rightly or wrongly. The postage rise is a nasty shock this year though; it’s a pity Royal Mail wouldn’t sell, say, half price special postage for Christmas cards, maybe if you posted them before the end of November but not deliver for a few weeks in time for Christmas, I reckon they would have a lot of takers, and possibly make even more than they do from standard postage rates.
For years I resisted doing a “round robin” printed letter to put in with the cards, feeling it was too impersonal, and could be “boasty” if you weren’t careful. Then I realised I enjoyed reading them (and being able to make out the writing), was writing more or less the same in each card and struggling to fit it all in on smaller cards, plus arthritis in my hands caught up with me. Now I cheerfully put one of my own in the card, address it to the individual, add in a couple of photos of family, with a short personal note at the end. Those that don’t like them needn’t read them, but I like to think my friends will!

EmilyHarburn Thu 11-Nov-21 11:22:46

I have bought my 50 cards and stamps and am starting to write personal notes to the people I havde not manged to contact of see this year.

Riggie Thu 11-Nov-21 11:22:16

We cut down several years ago. It was by accident really. I was poorly in the lead up to Christmas so I suggested to DH that he should write the cards - especially to his side of the family and he decided not to bother!! I sent a few out to friends of mine (late but with an exolanation). There was a pointed comment from MiL who noticed but I told her to ask her son!!

We still do some, but not a lot. In fact I was sorting some stuff out yesterday and found some cards which I hope I'll be enough for this year so I don't have to buy any more!!

Fronkydonky Thu 11-Nov-21 11:12:21

I will continue to send Christmas cards, fortunately the local scouts may be collecting and delivering again this year in my city I hope. This costs a fraction of what Royal Mail charge to post cards. Last year Scout post was halted due to the pandemic. I deliver by hand whilst walking our dog to local addresses. It makes my blood boil when folk use the excuse “ I’m donating to charity instead” I donate regularly to charities as well as sending cards. It’s possible to do both. I think folk need to know that they are still in our thoughts - especially during a global pandemic.

Rosalyn69 Thu 11-Nov-21 11:08:27

I love Christmas cards. I like to put them on display in my study. It’s part of Christmas. Old fashioned I suppose.