Charging Family For Christmas Dinner

[Barmaid]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-5128567/Mother-charges-family-30-Christmas.html

Now, has she got a point? Or is she inhospitable/greedy?

[Old_Geezer]

It's not so much begrudging the money, it's begrudging being asked when one has been invited. It's like holding a party then selling tickets to it. Maybe she's just going about it all wrong. If one says, "If everyone chips in I'm willing to hold Xmas dinner", then that's one thing. If one says, "Here's an invite to my party, now where's my £30 ?", that something else entirely.

[Barmaid]

OG - that seems fair. For us Christmas is a collaberative affair - we'll have a chat about it September time and someone will offer to host. However, one of us will buy the meat, one of us will make the cake and the puds, one of us will supply the booze etc etc etc

Which just makes Prudie's point.

[mccfluff]

the pub we are going to for our works xmas lunch is £21.95 ph without drinks or pressies - xmas day its £59.95 without drinks...

[jno]

OG, she's been doing it for 10 years, so nobody's going to be thunderstruck when handed a bill. And, in fact, everybody seems to be happy with it. Not really an issue at all.

[Islay]

Just checked local pub and an adult is £85 and child £26.99

[Barmaid]

Ive just emailed the article to my sister in law and said that she is undercharging......

[ludwig]

It depends on people's circumstances. I personally wouldn't dream of asking anyone for a contribution (other than bringing a bottle or two), but I can understand someone less well off, saying let's all have Christmas dinner at mine - I'll provide the venue and do all the work, but we'll need to share the cost of the food.

That doesn't seem unreasonable. I don't know about the woman in question. She could be absolutely loaded but just mean for all I know. If that was the case and I got an invite from her (at £30 a head) I'd politely decline it.

[Old_Geezer]

Fair enough, but the question is what we all think if it.
I find I get involved with the washing up and miss the good bit doing the cooking. My own fault for living so far away from the rest of the family I suppose.

[murraymints]

she was on telly today..£30 includes all the booze , plus champagne, a present under the tree, canapés as well as 3 course dinner..cheese board sweets etc. I'd go for that !! she is a youngish woman with children and has 12-16 to dinner... clearly the family that does go appreciate all her hard work

[Old_Geezer]

OF

[murraymints]

she had also tried the you bring puddings/booze/starters whatever and most folk "forgot "

[dannyk13]

The one thing I don't really understand is why she is left to do all the cooking herself, or has she four boys?

[jno]

yow, £30 is cheap then, minty. And the actual cost to her of providing it free for a dozen or more would be astronomical.

Good for her, and for her family, making it all work.

[tamborine]

I wouldnt charge but my gkids now want to spend xmas & boxing day with t'other nan and their own school friends. My son wants me to cook the xmas meal for their visit on christmas eve. Ive refused so may not see them over christmas.....hopefully I will save myself their usual monetary gifts totalling £1k ;)

Xmas cruise? yep that'll do me.

[jno]

four boys? You think she has a 30-acre kitchen, dannyk?

[Barmaid]

Perhaps she cant get anyone else in her kitchen, Danny?

My kitchen is not big and its been v badly designed with hardly any work surface - certainly more than one of us in there is getting "cramped". Or perhaps they cant cook?! My OHs grown up daughter cant. At ALL!

[murraymints]

her child has food allergies and she does not like to chance contamination in the kitchen that could harm him, so prefers to do the prep herself

[EDDIE51]

Islay, my Weatherspoons is £28.50 for a 2 course Christmas Day dinner , just the meal no drinks. But it was sold out before the end of July! even though they are doing 3 sittings !
The same meal is £16 a head up to 23rd December , but that's nearly sold out as well.
The Hotel next door still has places available at £75 a head !

[DTCwordfan]

It's beginning to look a lot for Christmas."

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=it%27s+beginning+to+look+like+christmas&;oq=it%27s+begin&aqs=chrome.4.69i57j69i61l3j0l2.6445j0j7&sourceid=chrome&;ie=UTF-8

[Barmaid]

//you can get a 3 course Christmas dinner in a pub/restaurant for that//

You can, but would you want to?!!!!