Xmas card vent

I usually send out Christmas cards to 50 or so closest family and friends. I usually receive 3 or 4 back and sometimes 1 or 2 additional cards last minute clearly sent because they received mine first. I have never even had anyone mention that they even received it. I never cared much about receiving any and figured some people just don’t do cards. This year I feel differently. I know it’s petty but I think I’m just going to send to our parents and to those who sometimes reciprocated cards in the past. So not many at all. I figure this year so many will not be seeing each other that cards are more appreciated than ever. Sending out a card this year without it reciprocated seems like some sort of irrational rejection right now in my head. I know some people have absolute crazy in their lives right now and cannot even afford the stamps. It’s the last thing on so many peoples minds. We are not having it easy now either with 4 kids learning remote, working full time on the frontlines, hubby just lost his job(again), house fire(we are ok and back at home), and more I can’t mention. I really could use some cards this year but I know I won’t receive them. I know it’s selfish. So I have only 6 cards addressed and ready to go. I guess this is more of a vent than anything. I wonder if there is any program where I can write cards to seniors or lonely people this year. Are you going all out on cards this year?

Xmas card vent

We don't get back nearly as many cards as we send out, but I think that's because it's mostly families with small children who send them and we send to lots of older people and those without kids. If I didn't have a child I probably wouldn't send cards at all. There's no way I'd buy boxes of cards and have to write each one out.

The whole thing is a racket, IMO. Pay for the pictures, pay for the cards, pay for the stamps. For what? They just get thrown out. I do it because its expected but really I wish it weren't!

Re: Xmas card vent

I don't go by who sends to me.

I do have a small list- maybe about 30-35 people that i send to each year, and most do send cards back, but if some don't, I don't take it personally.

Like the PP said, some people without young kids don't send cards because it's just a boxed card and needs to be written out, some people are busy, some had a death in the family maybe and aren't in the Christmas spirit, some may be feeling depressed, you never know.

I don't ever think that I'm being singled out by them- I always think they just didn't send to anyone.

I send the cards because I want to, I enjoy designing them with pics of my daughter, people have mentioned how they love seeing how much she's grown each year and enjoy my cards, and that's it.

I never looked at it like gift giving where it has to reciprocated.

Xmas card vent

I think it depends on who you're sending them to. If it's older people without young kids, they may not send them. I know my mom loves receiving the cards from all her nieces and nephews with the photos of the kids. I don't think they mind that she doesn't send one back.

But, if you're sending to other families and they don't send to you, then I would take them off the list.

I'm actually surprised that Christmas cards haven't gone by the wayside now that we have social media. You can see photos of your friends all year long now. You don't have to wait for a card in the mail in December!

Re: Xmas card vent

i get what you are saying.

I have kept my list pretty much the same list I do every years. though every year I may remove a person or 2 but then I also sometimes add a person lol

I send to my family and l know most enjoy it cause they tell me they do and honestly if I am not getting a picture card I don't even want one lol i know that horrible but it goes right in the garbage I just enjoy the picture ones so I don't really get upset if I don't get one from everyone.

now if I send one out to someone and they sent them out to other and no me I would be kind of annoyed and probably wouldn't send them on the year after that. Petty I know!

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I stopped sending cards a few years ago and when I did send them out, if I didn't receive for 2 years, I didn't send to them.

I started out with 100 cards when we first got married and was down to maybe 30 when I stopped.

Xmas card vent

Sorry but I have never sent out Christmas cards and just because someone sends me one doesn't mean I should feel obligated to have to send them out.

I am sorry you have been going through rough times. I hope things will start becoming better in the new year.

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I get upset not getting holiday cards, just because they make me cheerful to put them up. But I have never sent any cards myself. to anyone. It is just not one of our traditions. So when I get upset I only get 1-3 now (some years we had like 20 I feel like) my husband reminds me people probably only send to those who send to them. Plus I think with social media now, most people don't even bother to send any at all now. I don't think it's necessarily personal.

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I totally get why people don’t do cards anymore, I guess I’m just disappointed this year in particular because I could really use the holiday pick up. I don’t post pics of my kids on social media. I also wonder if I am I offending anyone in any way by sending them, like it’s viewed as showy or maybe brings up painful feelings somehow. This will be the last year I order them.

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funny you should mention this....

I usually never send out cards. It's just not my thing.

This year, I sent out 15.
I figured the year has been so rotten, people could use the extra cheer. getting a card can bring.

Will I keep it up next year? i doubt it, but if I do maybe to 6 people.

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So I normally send cards and get them in return, but not as many as I send. I do get phone calls from those that don’t send but they are older and their children are grown so I send to them to make them feel good. I have received four cards so far, but I haven’t even taken a photo for ours yet. I was planning on doing it this weekend and sending New Years cards instead.

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There’s no wrong or right way to go about Christmas cards. I can understand how you are feeling and you have valid points.
For me personally, I send them out every year (about 50-60) and receive about 35 cards in return. I’d send them out even if I didn’t get any because I enjoy making my cards and figure those who relieve it crack a smile (I try to do something different and funny each year)

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I updated my list a few years ago to only include people that also send me cards and family. I also check every year to make sure I send one back to everyone that sends one to me. It's just too expensive to be sending to a ton of people that don't even reciprocate. I like getting them to some extent but I also think it is just throwing money out the window.

Xmas card vent

I don’t send cards. Ever! I just don’t feel like it’s a priority in my life. And truthfully if people took me off their list because I don’t like doing them then so be it.

Cards to me are like a gift. You do it for yourself not to get something back.

Message edited 12/7/2020 7:48:30 PM.

Re: Xmas card vent

I’m sorry you’re feeling this way, but just know that you’re not alone. I felt like this a few years back and it was disappointing. I updated my list and now feel better when sending my cards out.

Xmas card vent

I stopped spending hundreds on Christmas Photos two years ago. Waste of money. If its over $100, i don't do it. And i also consolidated Christmas card list to immediate family and people who send us cards, everyone else can see the pic on FB and get a general Merry Christmas message. I think i sent out 15 this year

Xmas card vent

I took a bunch of people off our list too the past couple years.