Do people even like receiving Christmas cards? At 44 cents a pop for a stamp, are they even worth sending in this digital age when I can wish one and all a Merry Christmas or a Happy Hannukah with one status update on Facebook?
Now, for business purposes, I send out one of those magnetic calendars to the folks in my farming area, the ones whom I regularly send real estate updates throughout the year. I considered passing on the calendars this year but I ran into several people who specifically asked me if they were going to get my calendars this year and how much they liked them. How could I say no?
But in regards to the standard personal Christmas cards we send to friends and family: I have to ask myself how I feel about the Christmas cards I receive. I mean, do we even like getting them? Each year, we dutifully line our fireplace mantle and shelves with them… and every year, we collect them all and pitch them in the garbage once the holidays have passed.
Then, we started receiving the photo cards, you know the ones… line up the kiddies in matching sweaters and take a picture and send them to everyone you know. Now, I used to like these as they were the only time in the year I would see pictures of my friends’ progeny. Once again, social media has made that obsolete. I now routinely see pictures of my friend’s kids in real time. No longer the kids lined up against a phoney baloney Olin Mills backdrop with a forced smile. These photos on Facebook are varied and ‘real’ – like Camille at an annual corn maze/fall festival, Alex playing Xbox in the basement, Grant as a triumphant blur on a soccer field, etc.
Yet, each year, after Christmas, Hubby and I ride up to Target and pick up wrapping paper, Christmas cards and other assorted holiday junk for next year at 50% off. Well, last year, I couldn’t find the cards I’d stashed away the year before… so we didn’t send any out. Well, this year, we found them PLUS the ones we bought last year so I’m up to my eyeballs in two season’s worth of Christmas cards. Therefore, it seems only fitting I write some greeting inside, sign them, stamp them and send them out.
But it still begs the question: why?
- Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn: Free.
- US Postal Service: 44 cents a pop.
- Saving money to put towards a new pair of boots: Priceless.
Perhaps the fiscal soundness of the digital thing will make the decision for me.
p.s. Since I began this post a few days ago, I’ve noticed something. By this point in the season, I would normally have received a lot Christmas cards by now… to date, I’ve received 2. So perhaps I am not alone in my contemplation of withholding business from the US Postal Service… and relying solely on social media to pass on my Christmas Greetings.
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I was just about to send you a birthday card, but now I’m going to think twice about it . . . ; )