So, how do you drop people from your Christmas card list?

[Aurelia]

There are people you haven’t associated with for years, and your only contact with them is a once-a-year Christmas card: do you finally drop them from your list, or do you just keep on sending cards? I’ve tried not sending cards, but then, a few days before Christmas, a card shows up from them, and I send one back because I feel it’s impolite not to.

 

[Celeste88]

Don’t feel guilty about dropping them. With the price of everything going up you have to make budget cutbacks. BTW, postage is going up next year so I imagine people will be sending out fewer cards in 2006.

 

[vluvski]

My parents keep a running tab of who they get cards from. Since we like keeping in touch, even if it’s only once a year, people only get dropped after they fail to give us a card for three consecutive years.

If you really don’t feel connected, then don’t waste your time or money. On the other hand, don’t be spiteful by ignoring more diligent efforts to stay friends. Besides, there are so many other ways to keep in touch, there’s no need to spend money on postage for people you don’t care to keep in touch with.

Maybe such people can be downgraded to a Christmas email- obviously you have internet access if you can post here!

 

[Dorothy]

I no longer send Christmas cards to people that I see frequently.
I wish them a Merry Christmas in person and that is it. I only send cards to dear friends and relatives that I keep in touch with.

With the cost of cards and stamps going up each year, it just seems imprudent to spend all those $$. I would rather give it to charity.

 

[Sir_Knight]

We have two Christmas card lists:

1. *] One are that people that we have regular contact with during the year. They are dropped from our list if we haven’t received a card from them in seven years.
   
   *] The other list are folks that we have no contact with except for Christmas cards. They are dropped from the list if two consecutive years go by without a card from them.

 

[OutinChgoburbs]

Use a Christmas card file or book. Decide how many years you will wait until you knock them off your list, and set up criteria. Mark it off in the Christmas card file: When did you see them last? Are they just “Christmas card” friends?

Personally, if I don’t receive a card in 3 years, or I have not done anything other than exchange Chrismtas cards in five, and they aren’t family, they get dropped after 3-5 years.

 

[theresa]

I figure if there’s no contact from somebody all year long, and they send me a card with only a signature, no note or update on how they are doing, they get dropped pronto. I return a card that year but quit at that point. Also, if I see someone periodically, I make sure I wish them a wonderful Christmas in person, rather than send a card. I reserve my time and $ by sending cards to those who want to keep in touch with me as much as I want to keep in touch with them. You have to draw the line somewhere. Merry Christmas to all!

 

[puzzleannie]

Aurelia:

I’ve tried not sending cards, but then, a few days before Christmas, a card shows up from them, and I send one back because I feel it’s impolite not to.

so don’t send one back this year, just enjoy the card they sent, and next year you won’t get another one. When I send cards it is just to send a greeting and good wishes, it is not for the purpose of laying a guilt trip on my friends, or to prod them into sending me a card. Same with phone calls, letters etc.