One mother said she was planning to host a Christmas dinner again this year, and this time she was charging families a fee to attend.
Abi Richards, 35, from Hampshire, England, said she spent nearly $300 on food and drink this Christmas to cook for 10 family members over three days. (See the video at the top of this article.)
She charges just under $32 each to cover the cost of breakfast, lunch and dinner on days such as Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day, which is celebrated in the UK.
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Richards shared the news in a video posted to social media, sparking a mixed response.
“It's going to be expensive,” she said of the costs associated with all the groceries.
Abi Richards said she was charging her family for Christmas dinner because it would be “expensive”. (Abi Richards/SWNS)
Richards told news agency SWNS that this will be the fourth year in a row that she will be hosting a Christmas dinner at her home.
She said her family “spends money together” on groceries every year.
But this year, she saved the receipts and “did a fair calculation” and charged eight of the adults in attendance for their share of the food and drinks.
She feeds her mother, mother-in-law, father-in-law, sister, sister's partner, and niece during the holidays.
Ms Richards said this method was “easier” so families didn't have to worry about bringing anything for Christmas.
Some on social media praised the plan, while others called it “disgusting.”
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Richards lives with her husband and two children, ages 5 and 2.
In addition to her immediate family, Richards is feeding her mother, mother-in-law, father-in-law, sister, sister's partner, and niece over the holidays.
Richards feeds her extended family for three days during the Christmas break. (Abi Richards/SWNS)
Richards makes a roast turkey on Christmas Eve using all the ingredients, and on Christmas she uses leftovers from the festive buffet. another meal on boxing day.
Richards calculates in the video that she spent nearly $300 between the two stores.
So she did the math and decided to charge adults about $32 per person.
“It changes the dynamics of the celebration.”
“Actually, I don't think it's that bad for three days worth of food,” Richards said.
Diane Gottesman, an etiquette expert and founder of the Texas Protocol School in San Antonio, told Fox News Digital that charging a specific amount “can easily come across as aggressive.” Ta.
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“As if you were going to a restaurant, don't give a specific amount,” Gottsman says. “It would change the dynamics of the celebration and everyone could go out to eat at a restaurant instead.”
Richards told SWNS her family is happy to contribute. She said they were the ones who “insisted” on doing it from the first year she hosted.
Richards calculated the cost of her own groceries to come up with a price for her family. (Abi Richards/SWNS)
“Each year I give a rough estimate of what they can participate in,” Richards told SWNS. “I don't like too much or too little. This is the first year I've kept my receipts and calculated them fairly.”
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Gottsman said there may come a time next year when Richards will pass on the apron to another family member.
“If you feel like you can't afford lunch or dinner, you should give up hosting next year and offer to help someone else,” Gottsman said.
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But Richards told SWNS she didn't think it was a big deal.
“It's not for everyone, but this is what has always worked for us.”
