This blog has me already thinking about getting ready for Christmas.
Preparations include Christmas cards. Do you love them or hate them? I am on the love side. I don't love getting them ready, but I do love the actual sending and receiving of them. Maybe it is because my side of the family lives out-of-town, and we have several out-of-town friends that we keep in touch with.
Here are some ways that I simplify Christmas card giving:
1. Find some cards that you like for cheap. Last year, I found some on the dollar aisle at Michael's (8 cards for $1). They were small and blank inside - nothing fancy. But I liked the simple Scandinavian looking Christmas design. And, I was putting my daughter's photo inside, so that added more to the card. Another year, I got some from Target on the day-after-Thanksgiving sale.
2. I don't write a long update or send a lengthy letter. That's what a blog is for.
3. I usually only send cards to out-of-town friends and family that we won't see over the course of the holiday season. We do a lot of visiting and so we end up seeing a lot of my husband's extended family in person. My list still ends up being quite long even when I only send cards to those far-off. If I included everyone else that we visit, too, that would add like 30 more cards to my list!
In the past, I also have purchased my Christmas cards from Pier 1 Imports, where they offered ones on recycled paper with a portion of the purchase going to benefit UNICEF. If you are interested, explore options to find cards that are environmentally-friendly. The folks at Ideal Bite usually offer some great tips in this area around the holidays.
Please don't call me a scrooge just because I don't buy expensive cards and give them out to every single person I know. I just try to simplify by buying cards that I like and that are a good price, and sending them to our far-off friends and family that we won't get to see.
I do it all because Christmas cards are a tradition that I enjoy!
Preparations include Christmas cards. Do you love them or hate them? I am on the love side. I don't love getting them ready, but I do love the actual sending and receiving of them. Maybe it is because my side of the family lives out-of-town, and we have several out-of-town friends that we keep in touch with.
Here are some ways that I simplify Christmas card giving:
1. Find some cards that you like for cheap. Last year, I found some on the dollar aisle at Michael's (8 cards for $1). They were small and blank inside - nothing fancy. But I liked the simple Scandinavian looking Christmas design. And, I was putting my daughter's photo inside, so that added more to the card. Another year, I got some from Target on the day-after-Thanksgiving sale.
2. I don't write a long update or send a lengthy letter. That's what a blog is for.
3. I usually only send cards to out-of-town friends and family that we won't see over the course of the holiday season. We do a lot of visiting and so we end up seeing a lot of my husband's extended family in person. My list still ends up being quite long even when I only send cards to those far-off. If I included everyone else that we visit, too, that would add like 30 more cards to my list!
Is sending Christmas cards easy on the environment? Probably not, when you think of the paper, the ink, and the fossil fuel for shipping. But I hardly ever mail anything anymore, so this is an exception.
Will I always mail Christmas cards? Maybe not. There might come a day when I just send e-cards or do something else. But right now, for this, year, I plan to mail our cards.In the past, I also have purchased my Christmas cards from Pier 1 Imports, where they offered ones on recycled paper with a portion of the purchase going to benefit UNICEF. If you are interested, explore options to find cards that are environmentally-friendly. The folks at Ideal Bite usually offer some great tips in this area around the holidays.
Please don't call me a scrooge just because I don't buy expensive cards and give them out to every single person I know. I just try to simplify by buying cards that I like and that are a good price, and sending them to our far-off friends and family that we won't get to see.
I do it all because Christmas cards are a tradition that I enjoy!
Find more frugal tips here. Also, check out my "Home Haircuts" post if you haven't, yet. That's something I never thought I would write about!
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3 comments:
I don't give out to my entire address book anymore. I send them mostly to relatives and a few friends and the cost is cut down significantly. I usually pick a couple boxes up after Christmas for a variety. This year, I found 10 free at Vistaprint so I got them to add to my collection.
Great post...I, too, love sending and receiving Christmas cards.
You know, I think there's something really nice and traditional about Christmas cards--my mom never sent them, but now that I live on my own I make it a point. Last year I just popped a movie in and addressed them all while I watched. e-cards just don't feel the same, you know?
Thanks for the post!
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