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?

[dannyk13]

Not something I would have expected from any member of my family.Not much Christmas spirit there.

[mallyh]

I think she is right to ask for a contribution but £30 does seem a lot

[Islay]

No she has a point, whilst I don’t ask for money for my titanic dinners I do ask everyone to bring a bottle of bolly or tatty

[mccfluff]

perfectly fine imo, santa doesn't exist, everything has a cost and its not really fair to expect someone else to stump up. food and drink aren't cheap.

[ummmm]

She has a point if she's providing everything.

[EDDIE51]

At £30 a head she is making a huge profit, you can get a 3 course Christmas dinner in a pub/restaurant for that. So just plain greed in my opinion.

[Barmaid]

"food and drink arent cheap". You aint kidding. The smallest turkey of the variety I wanted was £74 quid. To feed all my lot instead of just the 3 of us would be nearer £120. Thats before you even start on the booze bill.

[jno]

if she's the one who does it every year, whether by choice or not, I think that's fair enough. Her family could offer to take it over one year, but I understand her concern about her son's allergies might mean neither of them could attend. If her family's okay with this, it needn't bother anyone else.

£30 seems quite a lot, but she's right about the rising cost of wine.

[Islay]

On what planet Eddie? The last time I had Christmas dinner on Christmas Day it cost more than £30

[Prudie]

If by family she means visiting adults and their kids I think it's perfectly fine. When as grown ups we still all descended on parents it was normal to buy the turkey, or bring the cake or supply the crackers or buy the booze. Actual money makes it more blatant but the principle is the same and fair IMO.

[hc4361]

She hosts every year and I bet the £30 covers everything for the 12 hours she has guests - food, drinks, snacks, crackers and she buys everyone a present.
Good for her. A lot of people would baulk at hosting her family due to the severe allergies.

[hereIam]

I think she's got a good point.

[Old_Geezer]

Is she inviting guests or offering to hold it if al chipped in ? It sounds like she is doing the first but then asking for contributions.

When I get an invite, I offer, get refused, so bring bottles of good wine anyway.

Were I in a position to hold the dinner, I'd not expect money. Certainly wouldn't even dream of asking for it.

When my siblings and I get together for Xmas we share the bills in advance, as we are all hosts in a sense, regardless whose place we actually hold Xmas dinner.

[Barmaid]

Is she really making a huge profit, Eddie?

She is unlikely to be able to procure ingredients at wholesale prices. She doesnt have recourse to a professional kitchen and staff so whilst her overheads are lower, her overall time costs and efficiency are much higher.
Last time I hosted Christmas dinner I think I worked solidly for two days (its not just the prep, its the planning, the procurement, the getting the house in shape for extra people- ie making up the spare beds, getting the extra chairs out).

[Old_Geezer]

ALL

[ummmm]

Huge profit Eddie? Where do you shop?

[jno]

depends on the meal, Eddie. We spend Xmas at my sister's (her choice, we have alternated occasionally but she likes cooking) and I bet I get through at least £30 worth of food, wine and party hats. And if I have a bad year and it's only £25 worth, why on earth would I begrudge my sister something for her hard work?

[hc4361]

Certainly can't get Christmas dinner in a pub for £30 here - not on Christmas day and of course the cost doesn't include drinks.
My local curry house charges £30 a head for a traditional Christmas dinner or a 'festive curry', drinks extra.

[dannyk13]

I have never known either my mother or my daughters be solely responsible for Christmas dinners.They all help at whichever house is hosting.

[Mamyalynne]

All that really matters is if the family are happy with the arrangements, then it works for them.