Christmas

I only send cards to family/friends that do not live close enough to visit regularly so will probably be 4 or 5 at most.
I remember my Mum buying packs of 100 cards and running out but I don't think anyone goes to those lengths these days!

LaCrepescule

have much to occupy her time.

Rude remark and unnecessary.

Why do you read a thread about christmas *Bluebelle*?

Don`t like it, then don`t read it

For goodness sake, live and let live

Good grief that was condescending notagran

All you who love Christmas, that’s great but discussing Christmas in August (well it was when the thread started) is silly and just wishing life away

If you need to think or buy early that’s absolutely fine but having threads about it while we re still enjoying summer / autumn is not the best at all and to be honest I find dispiriting
and quite depressing in this rather sad world of war and fear hunger and bullets

Now whose going to start a thread about Easter ?

Everyone’s pussy-footing around trying not to upset anyone.
Well, that would be a first on GN!😂
I think posters are saying it as it is to them, and are not ridiculous to be thinking about their Christmas card list if they wish to.

Aldom, I think she (LeCrepescule), simply got out of bed the wrong side, this morning. Bless her, we've all been there.

LaCrepescule I think your comment re 'the OP plainly doesn't have much to occupy her time ' is rude and uncalled for.
The OP asked a perfectly reasonable question.

This Poster, me, has lots to occupy her time. However I love Christmas preparations and enjoy them all the more when they are not rushed. They don't dominate my every waking hour and between now and December 25th I have lots of lovely non-Christmas related stuff going on.

have much to occupy her time.

This thread is plain hilarious. Everyone’s pussy-footing around trying not to upset anyone. To be thinking about sending Christmas cards (which, whether you like it or not, is dying out) and how much it costs, in AUGUST, is ridiculous. The OP plainly doesn’t

Bluebelle People can talk about what they like,I dont mind the question, even if I do things differently.
I know Christmas is sensitive and lonely for some, and for that I am genuinely sorry, but to be brutal it does not mean people should not talk about it when they like.
I don't know the OP circumstances, maybe she is concerned about the cost of things, thought about it and posed the question on Gransnet. No harm in that.

No one is saying you can’t start thinking or buying for Christmas Nanny27 in January if you need to or want to but we don’t have to talk about it or have threads about it on here That’s my point

For many it’s a difficult and sensitive time of year May have no family, may have had a Christmas bereavement, may be homeless, may have a broken family may have little money and the constant reminders are unnecessary

Why do we need to be talking about it in Summer ?
Let’s enjoy what bit of warmth and lightness of Summer that is left without jumping into the cold dark winter already

Nanny27

It must be lovely for those who don't even need to think about Christmas until the beginning of December but I don't have that luxury. With 17 members of my family to buy presents for I need to start early. I need to be finished by the end of November at least so that December pay can set aside for food shopping.
As a family we usually get together in the summer to decide who will host and what if any accommodation needs to be arranged.

Given what you have just said in your first paragraph, I am sorry if my reply was less than sensitive.
I have a fairly small family to buy for and my daughters help by getting some of the gifts I’ll give their families, and I give them the money for those. Also one of them will cook Christmas dinner for us all (they take it in turns) so I will pay for the turkey, ham and so on as my contribution.

In answer to the question, I’ll be writing our usual 80 or so charity cards, DH will be delivering most of them (note the division of labour there 😊) and a couple of dozen will have to be posted. All with second class Christmas stamps on them. We usually just send four to friends abroad. We don’t post much over the rest of the year, so I’m not going to cut down on them.

Stripeygran. It is a choice yes but I do need to begin my Christmas planning early as I would never have the funds to do it all at the last minute. That much is not a choice it's a matter of careful budgeting

My Christmas card list has shrunk over the years. I will be sending about a dozen or so, some will be doubled up to save on postage, as I know they see each other regularly. I make my cards so each one is designed with the recipient in mind.

Crossstitchfan

How can you even think about Christmas? It’s the end of August! 😱
In answer to your question, I shall only be giving cards to my youngest grandchildren. As a family, we agreed ages ago that we did not intend to pay the exorbitant price Royal Mail are charging. All my friends and neighbours feel the same, if their actions last year are anything to go by, when most of them refused to send any. Royal Mail had better watch out!
My hairdresser told me this morning that she is already dreading the time between now and the big day as most of clients are talking about it already, some have been for a week or more. She said it’s hard to chat about something that’s 100 days away! I couldn’t agree more.

Crafters start thinking about Christmas in July. If you're going to make things for gifts, or make your own cards etc, you start thinking early.
With the ridiculous price of stamps, you need to start saving early too!!

I shall send 3. One to my oldest friend, one to my next-oldest friend. Both now live a couple of hundred miles away from me. The third to a very old cousin who also lives far away. Difficult to know what to write in his card as one of his sons, three years ago, hanged himself a few days before Christmas. Can't really put anything except a lame "thinking of you" sort of comment.

WithNobsOnIt

I think Xmas card are now an endangered species.

Hate the word Xmas by the way. Ever since it reared its ugly head in the Sixties.

WithNobs, I believe it has a far longer heritage than the 60s and has an interesting, complex etymology.

But I also dislike its use when the full word would make more sense. But it is not that recent.

Nanny27

It must be lovely for those who don't even need to think about Christmas until the beginning of December but I don't have that luxury. With 17 members of my family to buy presents for I need to start early. I need to be finished by the end of November at least so that December pay can set aside for food shopping.
As a family we usually get together in the summer to decide who will host and what if any accommodation needs to be arranged.

No, it's not lovely. It's a choice. You don't need to do any of it.

It must be lovely for those who don't even need to think about Christmas until the beginning of December but I don't have that luxury. With 17 members of my family to buy presents for I need to start early. I need to be finished by the end of November at least so that December pay can set aside for food shopping.
As a family we usually get together in the summer to decide who will host and what if any accommodation needs to be arranged.

Re Christmas cards
I’ll still post to family members that live at the other end of the Country or abroad. Thankfully that’s only a handful of cards. Like you say, the price of a stamp is ridiculous, I nearly had a heart attack when I purchased a book of 4 first class stamps the other week. I’m also amazed that shops are now stocking Christmas items. It does seem a little too early. Though saying that, I do start my gift shopping in October.

I also look forward to Autumn and don't want the c word rammed in my face this soon. I agree with Flippingheck on it being about extorting more and more money from us. It's virtually all year! I'm bound to have missed some money grabbing celebratory days off but these are the obvious that spring to mind.

Feb Valentine's day
March mother's day
April Easter
June fathers day
Sept grandparents day (still?)
Oct Halloween
Nov bonfire night
Dec the c word!

B M Stores had some Christmas things last week!

TillyTrotter

I have a friend who has started C*******s gift shopping and booked her hairdresser in December already.
Some people just love it.
Cards will die out eventually like cheque books I believe.

I don’t think booking a Christmastime hairdo now is an indication of people starting Christmas too early. It’s a necessity if their hairdresser is as booked up as mine. I have done the same, even though I hate Christmas being talked about and advertised in August. With hair appts though, it’s needs must!
I shan’t do anything else towards it now until the beginning of December.
Autumn is to be treasured and enjoyed (crisp walks and cuddly sweaters etc). Don’t lose it because you let Christmas thoughts take over!