I know we've discussed keeping Christmas gift-giving simple, but how do you keep Christmas card exchanging simple? Do you limit who you send them to? Do you not send them at all?

When we first got married, we sent cards to about 50 friends and family. Over the years it has expanded to over 80!! Last year, I decided that I stop sending cards to those on our list who didn't reciprocate -- and it only reduced the list to about 70. It's expensive and time consuming. Any ideas on how to keep it simple???

I usually don't send cards to people I see everyday or a few time during the week- though I do have a few exceptions. I love Christmas cards, though, so we do a fun newsletter with pictures every year. Mostly we send these to relatives and friends we don't see often. We keep the letter to one page and have photos as the border, then we make as many copies as we need. It doesn't take very long, and without having to hand write a note for each card, it's really very easy. I think our list last year was around 40 people.

Most people say they really like the pictures and the short letter. I really dislike getting cards that just have a signature, especially from people I don't talk to often. That seems very impersonal- like they just did their duty by signing a card and mailing it to me. I like hearing how their year was.

__________________
I don't believe in miracles; I depend on them

I agree with Jenn, I hate the cards with just a sig. We do the letter too and do a recap of the year and update of the kids, we keep it to one page. I send out around 50, but we include old friends so I could cut that out to just current friends and family and take it down to 30. We used to put the letter and a 4x6 print (printed online for 9cents each) of the kids in every card. We have a word file of all the addresses using the avery address labels template. Also have the return address labels with ours and a tree pic on the left side. I made them up and just update every year and print them out, stick on labels and stamps and presto ready to go. This year I'm thinking of getting the cards printed with the pic, we'll see. I'm also going to have a stamp made so I can just stamp the cards, Love Josh, Stacia, Julia, Jared and Jenna Seagroves. Way too long to write out now!

__________________

A woman is like a teabag. You never know how strong she is until she gets into hot water.-Eleanor Roosevelt

I used to send cards to everybody. Now, I only send to those I don't have regular contact with. I include a note and a picture of the boys.

Christmas cards are a big part of christmas. We have a special place to post them as part of our decorations. But oh my with the cost of stamps, it is getting expensive. So I can relate. In the past I sent them to everyone i knew. Especially people I haven't seen in years. To let them know we are thinking of them, This went on for quite a few years. Last year I sent them only to people who reciprecated. And new friends. I don't know about this year. I'm curious what others do.

__________________
"Before I was a Mom I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body." ~Anonymous

Interesting thing I read about the cost of stamps... I used to think they were expensive for cards, too, and then I read an article a lady wrote saying that (at the time- a few years ago) you could send out about 30 cards for the cost of a Beanie Baby ($6-7). And I thought- wow, it's really not that expensive, is it?

At 39 cents per stamp, you could send out 50 cards for under $20- about the cost to feed a family of four dinner at McDonalds. As a once a year splurge, reaching 50 people for 20 bucks isn't that bad.

__________________
I don't believe in miracles; I depend on them

We send out a lot...oy. But I start doing them in October and have them all ready to mail by early December. Dh has a lot of work related contacts/friends/associates that we exchange cards with and those are easy, it's a quick signature and that's exactly what we get in return. It's just what is done with Dh's company and his business, so that's what we do too.

For family and close friends, I've been doing photo cards in recent years and I write on the back of the card, a little update on us or whatever, just depending on the relationship with the person(s) we're sending the card to. For my inlaws for example, we see them weekly, I don't need to write them a note...kwim? It just depends. I love doing my cards though, I have a good time with it and love getting them in return and getting new pictures, new updates on what folks are doing etc

I send out photo cards of my kids. I send them to whomever I think would enjoy seeing my kids, and how much hey've grown. I know a lot of people keep track of who reciprocates, etc, but I don't think that is the spirit in which they are to be sent. I usually just have them rinted at Sam's, or an oline place for just a few cents each, plus the postage and its less than a dollar to make someone smile during the holidays. In my book...totally worth it!!!

__________________
Dottie

Mom to Michael 6, Matthew 4, Katherine 2, Ellen 1, and new baby EDD 10/29/08

We (I) used to send them to 100+ folks, but last year it was just 40+. This year I probably won't do that many. I try and hand deliver as many as possible, so that cuts down on some of the postage. We have a lot of our family and friends in the same town, so it is easy to drop by a card and let the boys deliver it. They enjoy doing that. I semi-homemade last years. I bought some photo cards on sale the year before and I added a little tag with a stamp on it. They turned out cute, and they were easier to do. Hope that helps. Simple is so much better!!!!

I've been doing the photo cards since the kids were born. For a couple of years, I did actual "photo cards" that you get through Walmart's photo center. Then last year, I got the blank cards that fold from Target where you just stick a regular 4 x 6 photo on them. I liked that better - I felt like it gave me room for a real signature (instead of the pre-printed one they put on the photo cards), and space to write a personal message if I wanted. I was at Toys'R'Us after the holidays last year returning duplicate gifts and while standing in line I noticed their holiday cards were like 75% off. I got the blank cards like last year for something like $1.50 per box! I'm already all set for this year......plus, we're going to Walt Disney World in November (it will be the boys' first time there) so I'm sure we'll get some great shots to choose from for the holiday cards this year!

__________________
The best things in life aren't things. - Ann Landers