Reciprocal Xmas Cards?

I'm of two minds about cutting people from my list who never return the favor. We always put together an involved year end Xmas letter. It made sense before FB as a way to stay in touch with many family and friends about our family. Over the years fewer and fewer cards have been received by us. Yet I run into friends periodically who mention the letter and how much they are looking forward to it. One year I didn't get it out to many, and the complaints rolled in.

I'm of two minds about cutting my list. On the one hand I feel like it is virtually all on me to keep up some of these relationships, on the other hand, I'm more forgiving and what's another envelope and stamp? Family gets it no matter what, btw.

I think generally people are just not sending cards like they used to. But I think our letter has become an entitlement to some of my friends. Thoughts?

Maybe post the letter on Facebook and restrict privacy to just your friends

Or email it! I know a lot of people post a pic to FB or email a card because it's better for the environment.

I addressed most of my Christmas cards this evening and find myself thinking that I need to write up a short Christmas letter for about 10 valued old friends or relatives. I exchange cards with them annually but rarely see or have contact with anymore other than the exchange of cards. They usually send a letter and put a personal note on their cards and I enjoy reading them. Typing this confirms that I will put something together for them tomorrow.

Yes, it seems like people don't send cards like they used to. In particular few people I see on a regular basis don't send cards and I don't send cards to them either. I've given up sending cards to those that do not reciprocate unless it is an elderly relative or similar. But, for those friends and relatives that enjoy sending cards as much as I do--Love them!

Do you send Christmas cards because it gives you pleasure to do so and/or you hope someone else might enjoy them? or do you send out of some obligation? if the latter, stop sending them. if the former, stop worrying about who sent what.

conandrob240 said:

Do you send Christmas cards because it gives you pleasure to do so and/or you hope someone else might enjoy them? or do you send out of some obligation? if the latter, stop sending them. if the former, stop worrying about who sent what.

Exactly.

My last Christmas card went out about 40 years ago. Since then, I have sent maybe 5 postal cards when I went on trips. I don't miss sending them.

I am wistful about not managing to get cards out for the last 6-7 years, but I do still write a Chrustmas letter every year. I post it as a note on Facebook and I email it to friends who are not on Facebook. Then I print a few copies and mail to my very few contacts (mainly elderly relatives) who don't have computers or email. So it gets out, but ...

We send about 45-55 cards yearly. That's way back from years prior. People move (no address updates are the worse), decease, divorce or you just plain fall out of touch. Mr. K and I enjoy going to Papyrus after Christmas and loading up on great Christmas / Holiday cards for next year.

I do get annoyed when people don't inform you of address changes. That's an automatic drop, for sure.

I stopped sending Christmas cards several years ago, initially because I just didn't have time, and then decided to send e-cards to be environmentally friendly. Turns out most of the people didn't pick up their e-cards (the e-mails were going into their spam boxes, and, unlike me, they never look to see what's in their spam). And then I was still getting some real cards in the mail and I loved getting them. So this year I am back to sending real cards, hoping people will love getting them as much as I love receiving them.

I haven't sent cards in years. I found I was doing myself a disservice by trying to do too much (crafts, cooking, cards, gifts for everyone). I was making myself sick. So now, I am grateful for the people in my life but they have to accept that I don't send cards. If they are of a mind that if I don't send one, they won't either, that's okay, too.

Happy New Year notes are the answer.

I send them when I can, when I'm in the mood. And when I do, I just sit and think about who I want to send a card to. The end.

When my first was younger, before FB, I and all my friends sent out cards. I would get so many that I'd have rows of cards tacked on our kitchen door.

I stopped sending mine out years ago when my second was born (indeed, so much stopped with our second child) and relied instead on a steady stream of updates via FB. I never looked back. And fwiw, so far this year I've received two cards.