When you are invited to a dinner hosted by family or friends, one of the things you wouldn’t expect is to pay for it.
One mother took to Mumsnet and expressed her frustration after she was told by her in-laws that she must pay for the meal as they are hosting Christmas dinner.
“My brother-in-law and sister-in-law are hosting Christmas dinner this year. I’ve hosted before. Basically, they are charging us per family for dinner,” she revealed.
“I’ve never charged them before but apparently because they’ve got a lot of people going this year they have decided to charge.”
The wife said that she was irritated by the charge as most of it would be spent on champagne, which she won’t be able to enjoy anyway as she will be driving her family.
“Then in the next breath they’re saying how many bottles of champagne they are planning to buy, but have said they will be splitting the cost evenly between us all. They know I won’t be able to drink as its just assumed by everyone I’ll do all the driving.
“I don’t want to seem tight but charging for Christmas dinner for me just feels wrong.”
The woman insisted that she would be more than happy to simply bring a dish and contribute to the Christmas dinner.
“I would, of course, have taken things round or would have been perfectly happy if they’d ask me to bring a certain course.
“My husband says he is on their side as they are doing all the hard work. Granted, but I’ve never charged them and would never dream of! It’s really put me off going, but of course I will go to keep the peace!”
Her post has divided opinion online, with one person commenting: “Fair enough to ask people to contribute by bringing dishes, desserts, or wine. I would feel uncomfortable being asked for cash too, especially if it was paying for champagne which I wouldn’t drink.”
Another wrote: “You don’t invite people over to your house and then charge them.”
A third said: “I do not understand this mentality. I’d stay at home. You do not charge people for dinner in your own home no matter day of year it is.”
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