A mum has shared how she’s hosting the Christmas dinner and cooking dinner – but charging her family to attend.
Abi Richards, 35, spent $294 on food and drinks over the festive period and is cooking for 10 family members.
She is charging them $31 each and the cost includes breakfast, lunch and dinner for three days – including Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
This is her fourth consecutive year hosting Christmas at her home in Hampshire and each year her family has “paid” the shopping bill.
This year, she saved receipts and “did it fair” — billing eight adults, who are spending $31 per person, for their share of food and drinks.
He said it’s “easier” to do it this way, so he “don’t have to worry” about bringing anything with him for Christmas.
Abi said her family was very happy to contribute and that they had “insisted” on her doing so since her first year hosting.
His “controversial” idea has received mixed reactions from his followers on social media – some have “praised” it and some have called it “disgusting”.
Mother-of-two Abi, a content creator, said: “We have always split the costs.
“I didn’t take the initiative to do this – my family suggested it to me.
“Every year I would give them a rough estimate for inclusion.
“I never like to ask for too much or too little.
“This is the first year I have kept receipts and worked fairly.
“It’s funny – I never thought it was any big deal.
“We’re in a cost-of-living crisis, so some people are really struggling with that.
“Everyone is very willing to contribute.
“It’s what works for you and your family – it works for us.”
Abi lives at home with her husband Ross, 37, who works in a bank, and their two children, five-year-old Teddy and two-year-old Emmy.
She hosts the family for three days – including her mother, mother-in-law, father-in-law, sister and her partner, and her niece.
Abi has been shopping at Aldi – where she spent $216 on food – before heading to Tesco for the rest of the stuff.
She spends an additional $77 at Tesco, bringing the total amount spent to $294.
Abi discovered that eight out of 10 people attending were adults who were happy to contribute, and asked them each to give $31.
She said: “For a few years, my family has brought things with itself.
“But this way, everything is right here when they come, and they don’t have to worry about finding anything.
“Breakfast, lunch, dinner and all drinks are arranged.
“I check in and see if there’s something they want, but I’ve hosted for a few years now and I know what everyone likes.”
Abi will make a roast turkey and all the trimmings on Christmas Eve, and then cook the leftovers with a festive buffet on Christmas Day, followed by another meal of WHAT on Boxing Day.
She said: “This is the first year we are having a Christmas Eve roast.
“I’m alone with the little kids, and I feel bad that I don’t get to spend as much time with them on Christmas day because I’m cooking.
“I enjoy cooking and hosting, and everyone is so happy to join in.
“It’s just the way we’ve always done it.”
Abi posted a video on social media and was “shocked” by the response.
The video has been viewed 19.6 thousand times so far and Abiy’s methods have divided the crowd.
She said: “The clip was quite controversial – but it had a mostly positive reaction.
“People say they do it in some form or the other, bringing food or crumbs.
“Others have said it is ‘disgusting’ and that they would never let their family contribute.
“It’s not for everyone, but it’s what’s always worked for us.”
