Christmas cards

[Katiebee]

Some people at work have jumped on the bandwagon of not giving Christmas cards but instead giving money direct to charity. Isn't this just an excuse not to have to sit and write cards? After all, they could buy charity cards and send those! Or am I being cynical? Merry Christmas!

[HGKinsey]

I have jumped on the very same bandwagon. We decided as a group in work that we could just as easily wish each other a happy Christmas face to face. We nominated a charity and have raised a massive amount which makes us feel as if we have really done something worthwhile. The option to send cards AS WELL as giving money was also there but no one took it up. We still send cards to the people we don't get to see, and yes, most of us buy charity cards as well. As long as no one feels left out then it's an alternative way to mark the Christmas season.

[woofgang]

Most charity cards only give a percentage of their price to the charity as there are manufacturing and marketing costs. The direct donation route cuts out the middleman and puts more money where it is needed

[Janetex]

Same bandwagon here plus it's environmentally friendly. I usually make a phone call to someone I'm not likely to see and do send a couple of New Year cards.

[banana]

There are always on-line cards you can send .No cost and no watse .What could be better ?

[classy]

I do unpaid work for a charity and we welcome donations like this. We send each other e-cards which are often more fun anyway.

[Jaybee]

Surely it's better to give, say �1 directly to your chosen charity, than the measly 10p or so from a packet of cards?

[sft42]

I just don't bother with any cards......and sorry to sound in any way smug but I donate to charity throughout the whole year so I don't feel any need to do anything special at x-mas.

[darth vader]

glad to read that i'm not the only one with this same train of thought. I cannot abide by christmas cards, it seems such a crock - "to X, from Y" - no sincerity, no meaning, no thought. Also they are from people you see often or every day and can quite easily spend 5-10 minutes with and say nice words to, not some poxy card. I particularly detest cards from work colleagues (you see them every day!) and will consider this idea for next Christmas as it seems such a nicer thing to do. I do write a chosen few cards each christmas to people i wouldn't normally see throughout the year, and send messages of how things are going/how my family are (before you all cast your "scrooge" comments at me). Agree with sft42 - 4TH TIME THIS YEAR! - charity is about giving throughout the year, not at christmas out of guilt, so all please spare a thought for those that need it.

[Katiebee]

OK, OK, I guess I'm just cynical! I applaud you all, and maybe I'll do the same next year. And darth, you be careful - agreeing with sft 4 times just can't be good for your health. The stress might make your asthma worse! Merry Christmas all!