Credit Crunch

They pile up on the doormat, multiply in the hall and end up taking over mantelpieces, shelves and even walls.

Then, after Christmas is over, their empty promises of ‘we must catch up soon’ end up in the rubbish or at best the recycling bin.

So this year, is it time to edit your Christmas card list and save both valuable time and money – and help the environment at the same time?!

Etiquette expert Jean Brooke Smith thinks it would be a shame if we stopped sending cards at Christmas…

"I always send charity cards, and although we're all thinking about cutting back a bit this Christmas, I'm still going to be sending cards to all my great friends and will include a little note about what I'm doing.  But I absolutely hate those 'round robin' letters – they drive me mad! In fact, if I see one – I don't even open it! I really don't want to know how little Johnny is doing this year…

"I think this year we will see a change however, especially with all the money problems around at the moment.  But I still think it's very nice to receive cards, particularly for older people who haven't got computers or mobile phones and don't find it quite so easy to keep in touch with friends and family.

"I think it would be absolutely horrendous if we all sent Christmas emails or texts saying 'Happy Xmas!' instead of cards!" said Jean.

Will we be doing 'our bit' for the planet if we cut back on sending out all those cards?

Alan Francis, from the Green Party in Milton Keynes doesn't believe that the environmental impact of sending Christmas Cards is that huge…

Recycling Christmas

"I certainly don't think that we should stop sending Christmas cards, however, from an environmental point of view it's nice to actually make your own cards.  It's especially nice for parents and grandparents to receive handmade cards from their children.

"You can also buy cards made from recycled paper and of course recycling your cards after Christmas will make a difference.

"If you're concerned about the environment at Christmas, perhaps think more about the presents that you buy and whether or not they're made from oil based products, also where in the world they're made and if it's had to be shipped in from thousands of miles away.  This will have a far bigger environmental impact on your Christmas than whether you send a few cards or not.

"Sending a Christmas card is nice ways of staying touch with people… particularly those you don't see every day" said Alan.

So will you be sending out Christmas Cards as normal this year?  Let us know…