I do, Tisha, but only to family or friends far away. And like you I buy cards that will benefit a non-profit organization.

There are an amazing number out there - this link will give you an idea of where and how you can give.

Here is a link that might be useful: Non-Profit Cards

Thanks for that link, Sheila!

I've whittled my list down over the years, to a smaller number for several reasons.

I don't like to send cards without a personal note of some sort inside and because of my business, this is one of my busiest times of the year and there are time constraints.

I don't like to put people into the position of sending cards as an obligation. It should be a joy. I feel I've likely done them a kindness by dropping them from my list. I replace a Christmas card with a note or card some other time of the year. They can respond....or not.

I've lost a good many relatives and friends over the years simply through death and the list goes smaller each year. That's the hardest one.

The price of postage is getting prohibitory when you can only send two cards for a dollar.....one if it is going over the pond.

I do not send out cards to my customers. If they're special to me, I'll make a trip to them and give them a gift.....but I dislike getting impersonal or imprinted cards made out by somebody's secretary. It just wastes a tree. If they have a good product, a card once a year doesn't matter or make them anymore likely to get my business.

That given, my list is very personal and easy to handle now. I will choose (or make) a card I think is special. I don't look at the expense, but the thought presented. I'll be more likely to pick out cards for that reason so don't look for bargains. If they're inexpensive....fine. If they're pricey.........again fine. That means cards sent to make money for charities are considered. I'd rather the profit go toward a cause I support than a stockholder.

Our list has gotten much smaller over the years, because we stopped sending cards to anyone we could say "Merry Christmas" in person. The people that we still send cards are those with whom we want to keep in touch--distant family, old friends, etc--but usually don't see during the year. In fact, (now comes a gag reflex in some people), I write a Christmas letter. We're pretty sure those folks want to hear about how we are and what we've been doing for the past twelve months. Most of them send letters, too, so it's a reciprocal sort of arrangment. In fact, with the birth of our second great-grandson last Monay, I can now get my letter in the mail! Of course, IMHO, email is a wonderful invention, and we keep in touch that way, also.

Regarding the Christmas letter. You surely won't get a gag response from our house. My husband comes from a very large, and at one time very geographically close clan. So close, most of them over three generations not only lived in proximity, but worked at the same family business and went to the same church the family patriarch literally built.

Only in the last generation or two have the family members moved to more distant locations, and the Christmas letter is an important tool to keep us close together like we used to be during the holidays. They not only exchange those but until very recent times there has always been a family newsletter and still remains family reunions.

Haven't we all gotten those very gooey letters from people we hardly know, however, informing the recipients that baby such and such won a beauty contest, they finally got their new hummer, and little such and such is spending the holiday with Madonna or Elivs or such. And they're off for their annual caroling in the Alps. If I love them, I'm happy for them and their good fortune. If I barely know them I wonder about their self esteem issues.

I have a pretty large list of family and friends I
send cards to.
I love Christmas and I love sending cards and buying gifts
for people I love. I'm a Merry Christmas person myself.

I only received one of those chatty Christmas letters
each year and it was from the wife of one of my husband's
partners. It was a glowing report about the family's
accomplishments, vacations, etc.
Once and only once was I tempted to send one back and it was a hoot!

Christmas cards are an excellent and inexpensive marketing tool for me. I send one to EVERYone I've ever met because they could be my next real estate lead and I want them to know I'm still aive. :o) I tuck in a business card with a hand-written note on the 40 or 50 "closest" clients. Then I mail them out, cross my fingers and make a wish that everyone will buy or sell property with me in the new year. lolol

Karen

DH and I enjoyed making our own cards, his quick pen-and-ink sketches, sometimes my added water color, and exchanging with friends. Don't remember when we discontinued, perhaps when it became more of a chore than a pleasure. Those folks we saw often we could exchange greetings in person, others we just gradually dropped off our mailing list...if noone cared enough to communicate or get together at other times of the year, why a card at holidays?

It's been years now since we sent cards, yet strangely we still receive a few... a few cousins and some of DH's old musician buddies. (a couple from back in 1951 I think when he played in small band at Clemson ...the bus they traveled in looked prewar...LOL). Beautiful card from a Korean he worked with during his time in Korea.

Mostly it's cards from our dentist, insurance guy, lawncrew, even the newspaper carrier...LOL The last two will get a bag of mini-candybars left from Halloween...or a bag of tangerines. josh

I used to buy cards. Then I would "why bother" to do anything with them. Then I would forget that I bought them, so I would buy some more.

I have accepted my limitations regarding Christmas cards. I don't even pretend that I will mail them out, so I save money by no longer buying them.

I just mailed out 42 to the Kitchen Table Card exchange

I don't do cards; I buy a phone-card with an amazing number of minutes at about the same cost as for cards. Then I do a phone call to each friend specifically for the purpose of saying Season's Greetings. We can chat to our heart's content, and I will say that I hear a lot of stuff that would never make it into a Letter, lol.

DH sends cards, all to various relatives who are scattered around the US. I suppose that's one way to stay in touch, but a signature on a mass-produced card just doesn't seem like much more than indicating "X is alive."