Ever just decide not to send christmas cards?

[Disney Ella]

I stopped sending them about three years ago. It was just one thing too many that I felt I had to do, and I really didn't see the point of it. Fifty years ago, it was a nice thing to do, but I enjoy the e-mail age.

 

[EthansMom]

I'm sending out 30-40 Christmas cards. But this year, I'll be keeping track of who sends me a card and will not be sending cards to people who haven't sent me one in the last 2-3 years. I usually send out around 40 cards and am lucky to get 10 cards back. I will leave all of the older relatives on my list though. Hey, if I can get my list down to 25 cards, I'd be ecstatic. It's a lot of work.

 

[CJK]

Very interesting thread! I see no problem not sending cards if you are just not feeling it.

I'd be interested to hear more peoples' thoughts on whether they continue sending cards to people who don't send cards in return. I send between 73 and 77 cards each year and receive between 44 and 50 in return. Dh thinks I should cut all the people who don't send back. I struggle with that though, since the meaning behind the cards isn't to see who writes back is it? It's to let the recipient know I'm thinking about them during the holiday season. Maybe I'm "behind the times" and should just cut the 30 people who don't write back (but I will continue sending to my elderly relatives so really I'd be cutting about 25 people). What do you all think?

 

[Cyndirella]

No cards to friends and family here, and no guilt whatsoever! About 3 or 4 years ago I just decided to stop sending them - it was hard to find the time and something else to stress over. I was sending to people that I usually see during the holidays anyway, so it seemed like an unnecessary obligation.

I do send cards to my business clients though.

 

[Rex Rules]

I spent many years sending out bunches of cards for the holiday season. Last year, DH lost his job and things were thin, so I only did a few cards to the people who we received cards from. I felt terrible. But probably no one even noticed we hadn't sent out cards like usual.
This year I am not doing cards at all.

 

[disykat]

I don't send local cards, so the people I send to are people that live far away and I want to keep in touch with them. Although if I were stressed I would send them at a different time of year, I don't think I could skip a year unless something was really wrong. I know I worry when I don't hear from certain people, I wouldn't want people worrying about me. I think e-mail is another great option. For me, it is about staying in touch - not about sending cards. I just find cards an easy way to do that.

I haven't done mine yet, but I've bought the cards, had a picture copied of the boys, and written up a letter. All I have to do is address envelopes and write short personal notes. It should take me about two hours to do 35. I'll wait until we've got the tree up, put my jammies on and some Christmas carols on the stereo. Sometimes I do them during the 12 days of Christmas when things have settled down a bit.

I simplify in other ways, but I look forward to hearing from people at Christmas so that's one I won't give up. If I was sending to people I'd see anyway, I'd give it up in an instant.

 

[Tiffann4k]

We didnt send any out last year, I dont remember about the year before but we wont send any out this year as well.

 

[EthansMom]

I'd be interested to hear more peoples' thoughts on whether they continue sending cards to people who don't send cards in return. I send between 73 and 77 cards each year and receive between 44 and 50 in return. Dh thinks I should cut all the people who don't send back. I struggle with that though, since the meaning behind the cards isn't to see who writes back is it? It's to let the recipient know I'm thinking about them during the holiday season. Maybe I'm "behind the times" and should just cut the 30 people who don't write back (but I will continue sending to my elderly relatives so really I'd be cutting about 25 people). What do you all think?

You should do what feels right to you.

I'm just getting tired of trying to keep up with friends and relatives who aren't trying to keep up with me. I send out our cards with a newsy Christmas letter with our phone number, address, and email at the bottom. I would be happy if people just sent me a quick, "Thanks for the card. We loved hearing from you," email. I know people are busy and I really don't mind that they don't send me a card, but some of these relationships are beginning to feel one-sided.

Plus, I'm spending $0.45 on the cards and $0.37 for shipping, so I'm spending a bit on Christmas cards. If I cut my list, I could use the money saved to buy a toy for the Angel Tree at the mall and I could use the time saved to write personalized letters to my Grandmas.

 

[mtemm]

Thanks everyone! We got our first one received in the mail today and it made me feel just a wee bit guilty. I do like to send them. Who knows, maybe we'll do a post-holiday greeting. But if we don't we don't. I think the funniest thing will be in a few weeks when my husband asks if we are sending them. yeah, we. its never we, its me. lol.

 

[cruisnfamily]

Anyone else skip a year?

I decided to do just that this year. I'll let you know what happens

We usually cruise every fall and have one of the cruise photos made into a card but we didn't cruise this year and we're not sending cards. I just don't feel like it or something.

We'll do it again next year, but I'm taking this year off!

 

[MoniqueU]

It's rare for me to actually get them out on time. But if I do I send a picture card of my kids. I might be alone but I hate to get letters from people that don't take the time to call me all year but want me to read a whole page of their latest accomplishments. JMHO

 

[HeatherH]

I have skipped MANY years, and once I got over the initial "holiday guilt" feeling, it was great. It just became too much with other things going on, I was always psychotic about the right card and family photo, and writing all the right things.

Then I realized that the Earth would not stop rotating if I no longer sent out cards. Great revelation.

I feel very liberated now.

 

[aprilgail2]

I might be alone but I hate to get letters from people that don't take the time to call me all year but want me to read a whole page of their latest accomplishments. JMHO

oh no you are NOT alone...I hate those "brag sheets" that peple send out in the cards.....

 

[disykat]

I love the "brag sheets" - however I don't know anyone who brags. The letters I get say things like "ds is enjoying junior high" or "dd decided piano was not for her and has taken up the guitar". The letters tell me that Dad changed jobs, or mom went back to work, or the family got a dog. To me, those things are not bragging, but news that's makes me feel like I still have some personal connection with them even though I haven't seen them, or may even talked to them, all year.

My theory is that people that don't like Christmas letters to keep in touch haven't moved around much. I wouldn't want letters from local people that just hadn't kept in touch, but I love them from my friends around the country.

 

[mtemm]

well, looks like we are sending them after all. I was e-mailing a friend the other day and christmas cards came up. I told her that due to the move we have been so busy and hadn't had a chance to get the kids pictures done, etc, so I decided not to send them this year. She was so distraught she asked if she could come over and do a mini-photo shoot (she is a photographer). I hadn't expected the response, but she ended up coming over and getting great shots of the kids. then she went home and designed a card using them, and even ordered the cards for me. lol. Guess I am out of excuses.

I have to say I am so happy she went out of her way like this. It was an amazing thing for her to do, and I'm still stunned at how good my stubborn little children look.

 

[goofy4tink]

I'm getting to that point this year. I did send out a much shortened amount of cards. But, I think that next year I'm not going to do it. I may have a family photo taken in front of our Christmas tree, have a photo card made up and then send it out in mid-January. maybe, maybe not...we'll see. It's become too much of an 'obligation' now.

 

[Iggipolka]

I'm not sending out cards this year. I just don't have the energy or the time to do them.
I think that my relatives and friend's will surivive.

 

[minniecarousel]

mtemm - I think the year you move is a great way to notify people of your new address. Christmas card + change of address!

I'm sure you'll be glad you did them!

 

[DisneyJen0504]

We send them because we enjoy it. Sometimes we get just as many back as we mailed out, sometimes we dont. We dont take any one off our list b/c they didnt send us one. For us, it is about wishing our family and friends Happy Holidays. Its a nice gesture, that I feel is very worth the little time and effort it takes to send holiday greetings.

 

[Alicnwondrln]

we didnt do cards this year