Woman is charging her family for Christmas dinner for sixth year in a row
Published
| Last updated
With the cost of living crisis affecting Brits up and down the country, many of us are cutting back and trying to save pennies where we can.
Which is one of the reasons why one woman has said she's charging her family for Christmas dinner.
With a three course meal, drinks and other snacks, hosting Christmas for family and friends can certainly be costly - but would you ask your guests to chip in?
Caroline Duddridge, 63, from Cardiff has been charging family for the last six years - and she even has a deadline for when the money needs to be in her bank account.
.jpg)
Speaking to BBC 5 Live on Wednesday, she said: "If you don't pay by 1 December, you're not coming.
"Obviously there were a few moans and grumbles saying 'I've got a few children', but at the end of the day that's not my problem really, is it?"
Caroline added that it's a good lesson for the kids, and is especially important during the cost of living crisis that the cost is spread evenly.
Caroline - who is a mum-of-five and nan-of-six - charges her sons £15, daughters £10 while the cost for the grandchildren varies between £2.50 and £5 depending on age.
The women are charged a little less because they have children and work part time.
She told The Sun: “I don’t allow late payments and the kids know it. Some complain about their bills and other costs, but I simply tell them they’ll get uninvited. Everyone pays up.
“I know many people will criticise charging for the Christmas meal, but I’m not bothered. It’s not money grabbing, it just makes budgeting sense and spreads the cost fairly between everyone at the table.
“Expecting one person to pay for the entire meal and prepare it, clean up, have their heating and electricity used is too much.
“The amount I charge for dinner includes electricity. It's a no brainer for me… it’s the only way to go."
Last week, one woman on Mumsnet was left furious after revealing she'd been charged £40 per person for Christmas dinner, by her sister-in-law.
"My SIL said she would host Christmas this year as she has a big new house and plenty of room for us all. I asked if I should bring something and she said she would just do a shop and split the cost," she explained.
"She did suggest we bring our own alcohol. I thought it was a little odd, as did my hubby but he reminded me that she was cheap and the food wouldn’t cost that much anyway! Best to just agree with it instead of making a fuss.
The woman explained that she ended up taking five bottles of wine with them, of which they only drank one.
"I feel really ripped off! I don’t want to upset my husband, but his family are a new level of cheap. If I did that to my brother, he probably wouldn’t speak to me again!"
What do you think?
Featured Image Credit: Caroline Duddridge/Facebook
Topics: Christmas, Food And Drink
