A mum has shared how she’s hosting Christmas and cooking dinner – but charging her family to attend.
Abi Richards, 35, spent £233 on food and drink for the festive period and is cooking for 10 family members.
She is charging them each £25 and the costs cover breakfast, lunch, and dinner for three days – including Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and Boxing Day.
This is her fourth year in a row hosting Christmas, at her home in Hampshire and every year her family have “chipped in” on the shopping bill.
This year, she saved the receipts and “worked it out fairly” – billing eight of the adults who are attending £25 a head for their share of the food and drink.
She said it’s “easier” to do it this way, so they “don’t have worry” about bringing anything with them for Christmas.
Abi said her family is more than happy to contribute and they were the ones who “insisted” on doing it from the f irst year she hosted.
Her “controversial” idea has had mix reviews from her followers on social media – with some “praising” it and others calling it “disgusting”.
Mum-of-two Abi, a content creator, said: “We’ve always split the cost.
“I didn’t initiate doing – my family suggested it to me.
“Every year I gave a rough estimate for them to chip-in.
“I never like to ask for too much or too little.
“This is the first year I kept the receipts and worked it out fairly.
“It’s funny – I’ve never thought it was a big deal.
“We’re in a cost-of-living crisis, so some people really struggle with it.
“Everyone is very willing to contribute.
“It’s whatever works for you and your family – this works for us.”
Abi lives at home with husband Ross, 37, who works in a bank, and their two children Teddy, five, and two-year-old Emmie.
She hosts the family – including her mum, mother-in-law, father-in-law, sister and her partner, and her niece – for three days.
Abi has been shopping in Aldi – where spent £172 on food and drink – before heading to Tesco for the remaining items.
She spends a further £61 in Tesco, bringing the total amount spent up to £223.
Abi worked out that of the 10 attending, eight are adults who are happy to contribute, and asked each of them to chip in £25.
She said: “Some years, my family have brought things with them.
“But this way, it’s all here when they arrive, and they don’t have to worry about getting anything.
“Breakfast, lunch, dinner and all drinks are sorted.
“I do check and see if there’s anything they want, but I’ve hosted a few years now and I know what everyone likes.”
Abi will make roast turkey and all the trimmings on Christmas Eve, and then 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’re doing the roast on Christmas Eve.
“I’m the only one with young kids, and I feel bad 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 more than happy to chip 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 now been viewed 19.6k times and Abi’s methods have divided the crowd.
She said: “The clip was quite controversial -but it was mostly positive feedback.
“People say they do it some form, bringing food or bits.
“Others have said it’s ‘disgusting’ and they would never let their family contribute.
“It’s not for everyone, but this is what’s always worked for us.”
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