It’s the busiest time of year for the postie. Parcels, presents, and cards are flying across the country – and beyond. But with the cost of stamps creeping ever higher, and WhatsApp/emails inboxes offering a cheaper (if less charming) alternative, many are asking: is the humble Christmas card still worth it?
And if you are sending out festive missives, when is the crucial cutoff date for sending cards this year?
How much has posting increased?
Let’s talk numbers – and those cost of keeping in touch. In 2000, a first-class stamp cost just 27p. Fast forward to 2025, and you’ll need £1.70 to send that same letter –a rise of £1.43, or a whopping 529%. Second-class stamps have jumped too, from 19p to 87p. That’s a 358% increase.
To put it another way:
- A book of eight first-class stamps now sets you back £13.60.
- Last Christmas? £13.20.
- In 2000? Just £2.16.
Why the price hike?
Royal Mail says it’s about balance – keeping things affordable while covering the rising cost of delivery. But the numbers tell a story. Letter volumes have plummeted from 20 billion in 2004–05 to just 6.6 billion last year. Fewer letters, more addresses, higher costs. Since 2022 alone, the price of a first-class stamp has risen six times.
But do people still care?
The tradition of sending Christmas cards began in 1843, thanks to Sir Henry Cole, a civil servant who wanted to get more people using the Post Office. But in 2025, the sentiment seems to be fading.
A recent survey of 2,000 UK adults found:
- 60% are receiving fewer cards.
- Over 75% aren’t bothered.
- More than 40% hope the trend continues.
- Nearly half only send cards because they receive them.
And the top three reasons for this thinking? The majority blame cost, say digital messages are easier and think cards just don’t mean as much anymore.
Interestingly, Gen Z – the least likely to send cards – are also the most sentimental. A quarter of those born between 1997-2012 say they keep the ones they do receive. Perhaps because they’re a rarer item to them?
When is the cut off for Christmas post 2025?
If you’re still planning to send cards this year, here are the Royal Mail cut-off dates for 2025:
- Royal Mail 2nd Class and 2nd Class Signed For – Wednesday 17th December
- Royal Mail 1st Class and 1st Class Signed For – Saturday 20th December
- Royal Mail Special Delivery Guaranteed – Tuesday 23rd December
- Royal Mail Tracked 24 – Monday 22nd December
- Royal Mail Tracked 48 – Friday 19th December
Howden’s North Pole Mail service is open!
So, does the rising cost of posting mean the end of Christmas cards? Maybe not just yet. But it’s clear the tradition is under pressure: from our wallets, our inboxes, and our changing priorities.
And if you still want to keep the magic alive this Christmas, we’ve got something special to help you do just that. Pop into your local Howden branch and post your Letter to Santa in our North Pole Post Box. It’s our little way of giving back this Christmas – and helping you sprinkle a bit of magic for the little ones in your life.
Posting to Santa is completely free, and every child who writes in can get a reply from the Father Christmas himself!
Sources: Royal Mail, Daily Mirror, This Is Money, BBC News
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This is a marketing blog by Howden.