Vocal Voices

If someone you usually sent a card to told you that this year they were making a donation to charity instead of sending cards, would you still send them one?

I decided this year to donate to Northampton Mencap. Our friends run it, so I know all the money will go where its intended, which is take all the members to Blackpool for the weekend in the summer.

I texted, emailed and face booked as many people as I could and any that I had no way of contacting I sent a card to, in case they were worried about us. Then I sent ecards to as many people as possible.

Last night I went to friends, there are 5 of us, we worked together over 20 years ago and meet up several times a year. Only one of them gave me a card. Two said 'you said you weren't doing cards this year' and the other said 'you said you were't doing cards then went and sent an ecard, so I had to write you one of my left overs, sorry its a bit naf"

I was quite surprised. In the past if people have told me they are donating to charity, I have always sent them a card the same as normal.

What do you think?

I still send! I have a couple of friends this year who are donating instead, but I have still sent them cards

I haven't had it happen, but I think people are genuinely a bit confused as to whether you don't approve of cards (and the waste) or just prefer to donate the card & stamp money for yourself.

I hadn't really thought about it but I suppose that initially I'd send a card - this year was an exception but usually I have my cards written quite early so would've probably already written their's before they'd said what they intended to do. After Christmas though I list who we've had cards from so that I know who to send one to the following year so it's doubtful that they'd get one the next Christmas.

I love cards Di, every year I am staggered at the waste of money, but I still love them.

I send so many, that I just thought this year I will give a donation to a local charity.

I've never done that Jo, I just dig the same list out year after year, I wouldn't know who had sent one and who hadn't

But, next year will be different. It will be a good way of pruning my list down. I am only going to send to those who didn't have a card from me, but were happy to send me one anyway

I've noticed that we seem to have less than usual this year. Maybe we've just pee'd a lot of people off

A lot used to come from John's office though but the last few years they've all put money into a donation to a charity.

It is a good way of pruning the list down Shell. My lovely friend Ruth is a cardaholic though, whatever the occasion she sends a card so there are all kinds of combinations on the list - Ruth and her husband R to me and John, Godson card to Joe, Ruth and R to Tom, their daughters to us, daughters to Tom and Joe

I think the best way if you are telling someone why you won't be sending them a card is to ask them to cross you off their list as well and make a small donation instead if they wish to do so.

miasmum wrote:I love cards Di, every year I am staggered at the waste of money, but I still love them.

I send so many, that I just thought this year I will give a donation to a local charity.

I just meant that the people who usually receive one wouldn't necessarily understand the reasoning. Some people do rant a lot about the whole wastage thing, so some may have felt you'd be offended by being sent one iyswim