A mother says she will be hosting Christmas dinner again this year, this time charging her family.
Abi Richards, 35, from Hampshire, England, said she spent nearly $300 on food and drink this Christmas as she cooked for 10 family members over three days. (See the video at the top of this article.)
She charged them $32 per person to cover breakfast, lunch and dinner on those days – 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 on social media, prompting mixed reviews.
“It’s going to be expensive,” she said of the costs associated with all the groceries.
Abbie Richards says she charged her family for Christmas dinner because it was too “expensive”. (Abbey Richards/SWNS)
Richards told news agency SWNS this was the fourth year in a row she had hosted Christmas dinner at her home.
She said her family “spends money” to buy groceries every year.
This year, however, she kept the receipts and “resolved the issue fairly” – charging the eight adults at the event their fair share of food and drinks.
She provided food for her mother, mother-in-law, father-in-law, sister, sister’s partner and niece during the holidays.
Richards said it’s “easier” this way so her family doesn’t have to worry about what to bring for Christmas.
Some on social media praised the plan, but 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 provides holiday food to her mother, mother-in-law, father-in-law, sister, sister’s partner and niece.
Richards fed her extended family for three days over the Christmas holidays. (Abbey Richards/SWNS)
Richards said she would make a roast turkey with all the fixings on Christmas Eve, use the leftovers for a holiday buffet on Christmas Day and another meal on Boxing Day.
In her video, Richards calculated she spent nearly $300 between the two stores.
So she did the math and decided to charge adults $32 per person.
“It changes the dynamic of the celebration.”
“I actually don’t think it’s that bad for a three-day diet,” Richards said.
Diane Gottsman, an etiquette expert and founder of the School of Texas Etiquette in San Antonio, told Fox News Digital that charging a specific amount “could easily be seen as offensive.”
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“Don’t give them a specific dollar amount, like they’re going to a restaurant,” Gottsman said. “It changes the atmosphere of the celebration and they can all go out and eat at a restaurant.”
Richards told SWNS her family was more than happy to contribute. She said they were the ones who “insisted” on doing it from the first year she hosted it.
Richards calculated the cost of her groceries to come up with prices for her family. (Abbey Richards/SWNS)
“Every year I do a rough estimate of their donations,” Richards told SWNS. “I never like to ask for too much or too little. This is the first year I’ve kept my receipts and counted them fairly.”
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Gottesman said it may be time next year for Richards to hand the apron to another family member.
“If she feels she can’t afford lunch or dinner, then she should give up hosting next year and offer to help others,” Gottesman said.
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But Richards told SWNS she didn’t think it was a big deal.
“It’s not for everyone, but it’s been something that’s worked for us.”
