A resourceful mother has decided to charge $23 per person for her family’s Christmas dinner, stating her cooking is “worth every penny.”
Whitney Ainscough, 32, currently charges her large family of 12 $11 each for Sunday roasts, but she’s upping the price for the festive occasion.
This year, she expects to earn around $220 to cover food expenses, although she hopes “if she’s lucky,” an additional $11 will remain.
Whitney started this practice after leaving her job as a pharmacy advisor and relying on Universal Credit, which made it tough for her to afford cooking for her family regularly.
For Christmas, she aims to serve turkey, pork, and beef, along with holiday favorites like crackers.
She mentioned that her family is supportive of the charges, believing the price is “fair.”
Whitney, a social media influencer from Rotherham, South Yorkshire, reflected, “I couldn’t afford to make dinner anymore. I thought about it and decided on the $11 per person rate. They end up using my energy and watching TV while having dinner, you know?”
“They think it’s a great deal,” she added. “For Christmas, we will double it to $23 and serve even more food. I aim to make it a feast worth every penny.”
She plans to have a table full of options so everyone can choose what they like. “We’ll have to prepare more than usual, and the additions will be a bit pricier, like upgraded versions of pigs in blankets.”
Whitney generally hosts Sunday lunches, where younger family members help with the cleanup for some extra incentive. “It’s a solid lunch, and people really appreciate it—that’s why they keep coming back,” she said. “We typically have all the favorites: roast potatoes, Yorkshire puddings, and more.”
This Christmas, Whitney anticipates feeding 12 people, costing about $220 total.
It’s her second year serving as host, and she’s settled on the $23 per adult and $11 per child model. Her relatives seem to think it’s actually easier and better than cooking at home.
“Everyone chips in, and they enjoy my cooking,” Whitney mentioned. “It feels like a win for everyone.”
When she shared her decision to charge for the Christmas meal online, the reactions were surprisingly mixed.
“Some people commented, ‘I wouldn’t charge my family,’ or ‘We take turns cooking,’ but I think it’s justified since they enjoy my food,” she said. “I handle all the shopping for dinner, usually cooking at my mom’s bigger house.”
“I don’t know if I’d opt for turkey next time. I guess I’d just buy a variety of meats, not sticking to just one kind.”
“I’ll spend on whatever we need, even fancy crackers,” she concluded.
