I am usully the early bird sending out cards.My job tonight is to make them out.I'll leave my familys cards at my parents on Monday for the family,save stamps And take DH family card with us on Christmas day to give out.
Recieved,1- parents today,1- from sis,1- niece& hubby and no others.I was looking forward to our Insurance Co.too.I juts told DH,I'm calling them right after and complaining.,that I was waiting on it...LOL.
Don't even remember how many I sent, wasn't much, but since I didn't send any last year I figured I'd better let a few folks know that we were still alive!! We've gotten a bunch and I'm sure we'll get more but no idea how many.
Years ago, I used to send 35-50 every year, then it went down to 20 or so and, for the last several years I haven't sent any so I don't really expect to get any which is pretty much what has happened!
This year, I have only received 3 from relatives (most are photo cards from younger family members with pictures of their children with a printed signature/no personal message) and 5 from businesses' that I don't really think are sent because they are thinking of me at this time of year. Instead, I think they are hoping that I will think of THEM when I do business next year!
It used to be that Christmas cards were a way of keeping in touch ~ long-distance telephone calls were just too expensive to call casual friends and hand-written letters were reserved for close family members and friends but, now, with the internet, facebook, e-mail and such people are staying in touch in other, more impersonal ways.
It's too bad in a way. I like hearing from friends via computer but sure don't print out their messages and set them on the mantel the way I do Christmas cards!
I sent out at least 100. So far we've gotten about 80 and with our mail delayed in the forwarding process I imagine we'll get at least another 30. Most of our friends are very traditional like us in the sending out cards. Only a niece sent a digital via Facebook. Nothing better than re-reading cards and looking at family pictures after the holidays.
Posts: 2781 | Location: Michigan and sw Florida | Registered: May 16, 2007
I just don't seem to have the time to send cards any more. I did mail some to the three kids and my penpal in England. We've received probably a dozen.
I definitely send more than I receive. I still enjoy sending them via mail. I have many older relatives and friends who appreciate them. Mine will go in my prayer basket with all the others.
I send out more than I receive but it is a way to keep in touch with old friends -- most of the ones I don't receive back are the ones from DH's relatives -- his cousins! I may give them up next year!
We definitely sent out more cards than we have received so far. We've gotten many nice e-mail greetings, including those pretty cards from Jacquie Lawson. But, not as many as we would have liked from siblings and cousins. I guess it's because we are in pretty much constant touch with them through phone, e-mail and Facebook.
I am old-fashioned enough to enjoy sending out cards with those pretty holiday stamps, especially to some overseas friends. And, I love getting cards in the mail, where we put them in a basket on the coffee table to enjoy.
We may not mail any cards next year, except to some older relatives.
Even my young cousin, who eschews anything 'old-fashioned", admitted he likes getting cards in the mail. Though I keep in touch with most people throughout the year there is just something.. oh, special.. about a card. Like someone cares enough to actually DO it. It is small act of kindness.
I buy special cards for certain people and I must admit the pickings were slim this year.
Posts: 5968 | Location: North MN & Northern AR | Registered: Oct 01, 2002
I send out about two dozen and usually get about that amount mailed back to us. There are some people who just feel that they should email you their greetings. The following year, I just cross them off my list.
Posts: 2550 | Location: Ohio | Registered: Feb 25, 2006
I'm thinking this is a general trend as I talk to others. We also have cut WAY back on both received and sent. About 3 years ago when postage kept rising steadily and time was short, we just decided it was not something we really wanted to do.
We do send out individual email greetings with photo attachments to friends and relation, and mail only a couple of cards to those few who still don't do computers.
I'm also thinking mailing Xmas cards may tend to go the way of long letters sent by mail? Fewer and fewer, but those that do, will certainly still be special to some who receive them.
Great Topic!!! Years ago, I used to send out about 15-20 Holiday cards, which I always decorated inside. Over the years, I sent out less and less. This year, I sent out none and received none in return!!! I did get a calender from the Insurance Co. though!
Originally posted by Wavy: Great Topic!!! Years ago, I used to send out about 15-20 Holiday cards, which I always decorated inside. Over the years, I sent out less and less. This year, I sent out none and received none in return!!! I did get a calender from the Insurance Co. though!
LOL about the calendar, Wavy
Posts: 2423 | Location: North East Florida | Registered: Oct 19, 2003
We used to send out many dozens and gradually reduced that as it was so time-consuming. This year I sent 3 and hand delivered another 3! I send flowers, phone elderly relatives, and email/phone friends. Of course at my age there are few older relatives still with us! Most people I know have greatly reduced or quit sending cards. I received a few cards which is always surprising so I phone or email them to say thanks.
My insurance co. has not sent me a card! And after all I give them! LOL I'll have to stop by and get a calendar from them!
Lucky
"I have always had an aversion to the concepts of in style and out of style." ~Rose Tarlow
Our insurance co's do not send calendars either, but then I probably would not use one they did send. Anyone recall back when local Mortuaries sent calendars? Usually very peaceful scenes and one could check off the days, so you knew how many you maybe had left?
Number of cards sent out: 0 Number of cards received: 12
We stopped sending out cards years ago. I had a Christmas stress meltdown one year, which led to us reexamining our Christmas traditions. We crossed many things off of our to-do lists then, and took back our sanity. Christmas cards ceased to be a tradition for us.
I still love to receive cards, but I don't expect any since we don't participate ourselves.
Took our cards on vacation and discovered I didn't bring the addresses with me. I also have relatives who moved and didn't share the address. My brother sent me a text message, so he made the attempt to get a Christmas message to us. His card will get to him via our mom....he has to be sure to check her house. We did the same with my husband's siblings.
My MIL loved sharing how their mail carrier sent them a card WITH postage. They were delighted by this. As I counted the cards posted, I realized how they didn't even have duplicates of cards.
Ten cards....and I know some are "in the mail". Some friends are late senders-love ALL my dear friends; I am late, too.
Our hearts remember friends and families during the holidays that are going through much to remember us. They're never forgotten.This message has been edited. Last edited by: trish212,
About ten years ago, we decided to stop sending cards because of the expense. We still received a few, but not many. After our parents died, DH decided we should start sending cards again to stay in touch with friends and relatives. Three years ago we sent about 70 cards and received about 60 cards. Last year we sent about 60 cards and received only about 30 cards. This year we sent a little over 50 cards and only received 25 so far. Many of our friends and cousins are elderly and we know they appreciate being remembered so we will probably continue to send cards whether we receive any back or not. My family is better about staying in touch than DH's family.
Posts: 155 | Location: California | Registered: Sep 17, 2005
If some of our cards are being sent later, I can find cards still coming in our mailbox, too. We have had two more in the past two days. Glad I have the Non perfect type of family.
I used to send out cards. I did the whole Christmas thing--sent out cards, bought presents (even when I was flat broke), and was sad because I lived alone so really didn't have anyone to share all the "joy" with.
The older and older I get, the less I care about Christmas. I haven't sent cards out in years and have to say, off the top of my head, received one card this year. From my aunt. My other aunt sent a present and it had a card inside.
It is probably from those two aunts that I learned the most about doing the "right" thing, i.e., sending out cards, buying presents, etc. But they both married young and were wealthy so they had everything I didn't.
Now, a bizillion years later, that stuff is unimportant to me. What is important is kindness, world peace, thoughtfulness of others, family. That's what Christmas means to me. I am trying to raise my kids that way, too, not "how many presents is Santa going to bring me." They're more into the presents. :-)
We haven't sent cards in years. probably since the kids were little.. 15 years easily. We get maybe 6 cards each year, 2 business, 3 from much older family members, 1 Christmas newsletter from our oldest friends that always exhausts us and frankly depresses me. They are retired and !!!!ACTIVE!!!! we will never be able to retire and are raising 2 little kids again. Its a good day when we are in bed at 9 p.m.
I haven't the energy to lick the envelopes!
Life is GOOD!!
Posts: 1340 | Location: Upstate NY | Registered: Nov 10, 2004
And take DH family card with us on Christmas day to give out.
