Christmas card cutbacks planned by Brits

15/12/2009

Recession-hit Brits are sending fewer Christmas cards this year due to the postal strikes and pressures on their personal finances.

Figures from uSwitch.com, released today (December 15th), showed that one in six people are making the cutbacks and that 32 per cent believe that free e-cards and even text messages are an "acceptable" alternative to cards.

Confidence in the postal system's ability to deliver mail on time has also been undermined by October's nationwide strikes, which came about due to disagreements between Royal Mail management and staff over the modernisation of the service.

uSwitch.com pointed out that, if fresh strikes are called in January, many people could be hit by late payment charges on credit cards and loans due to delays in the delivery of bills.

Meanwhile, Brits are reviewing their own finances due to money problems caused by the recession - including a decline in personal income due to job loss and increased mortgage payments due to an inability to find a new home loan deal.

Ann Robinson, director of consumer policy at uSwitch.com, said: "We have a long history of sending cards in this country and the threat of strikes was potentially going to deliver it a hammer blow.

"The good news for consumers is that with the strikes postponed it's now business as usual [but] postal action could now take place in the New Year and this is really bad news for consumers who could see important bills delayed or go missing."

uSwitch.com also said that Christmas cards account for £324 million of sales, or 43 per cent of the total annual card market in the UK.

Tags; Budgeting Advice, Young Family Finances, Retirement Money Problems,

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