Posted on 12/01/2022 3:46:52 AM PST by dennisw
Duddridge started charging for Christmas dinner in 2016, and has since become part of the family’s traditions — immediate relatives are used to it by now.
“Some people might think it’s harsh to put a levy on meals for kids but it’s an important life lesson. The older grandkids like to try and offer to help me to earn some of their money back and I admire that,” she said.
Grandma charges family $45 a head for Christmas dinner Duddridge said she spends “dozens of hours” scouring grocery stores for the cheapest and best deals, especially with the price of groceries skyrocketing this year.
“Every week my meal budget buys less and less so I have to be tactical in buying ingredients to make the dinner for my 12 guests,” said Duddrige, who receives about $1,200 a month in widower’s pensions.
Her husband passed away in 2015, cutting her expendable income in half.
“Like many moms and grans who always make Christmas dinner, I couldn’t bear the cost of buying all the gifts and paying for the entire meal..
The mom of five and grandma of six is charging adults up to $18 for the meal, her 12-year-old and three 9-year-old grandchildren have to pony up about $6, and her two 3-year-old grandchildren are being charged $3. She charges the adult women less because they have families and work part-time.
“I log into my bank account and check who has made their Christmas dinner payment in November,” she told the Sun of her annual tradition. “Once my ‘naughty and nice’ tally is done I do a quick ring around chasing my ‘delinquent depositors’ and remind them to meet their payment date of Dec. 1.”
But I will eventually receive cash from them for the meal,” Duddridge said.
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
this is weird to me, at least.
i hosted T-day and i am hosting Christmas on purpose- my food is good, the house is clean, no one will start any drama under my roof.
everybody contributes small stuff and they bring their own drinks- otherwise i pay for everything.
Good grief !
GET THE PICTURE????
Those of you who are bitching about it, YOU try living on $1200 a month.
HAHAHAHAHA - no kidding.
Surprised anyone shows up for dinner if she is charging and going after people for money. She found a way to make money off of family members.
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Welcome to my upbringing by my mom...
Once we(my brothers and sisters)hit 16 years old, my good ole, Roman Catholic Mama, aka “Gorbachev” charged rent to live in her home. I left “home” at 19. I thought I can pay rent and live in peace without the all pretend family love.
She could ask that each family bring something.
Charging is ridiculous. If everyone pitches in, she wouldn’t have a problem. Or, just don’t host it.
Those of you who are bitching about it, YOU try living on $1200 a month.
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B.S. Picture!!!
If she can cook and charge $$, she can earn money in the REAL WORLD.
I smell entitlement and disgusting love of the all mighty $$
I see. Neither of you are willing to take the challenge.
That’s fine ... you don’t have to.
But it does color the value of your opinion on the matter.
Have a nice day!
I do a lot for elderly neighbors in my community (and most of them are). Shopping, driving to doctors, misc. errands. They talk.
$1200 a month? Don’t know about the UK, but in the USA that means they get EBT (food), LIHEAP (heat), free phone, LIHWAP (water bills), weatherization (oodles of $$ for new windows, water heater, boiler, insulation), and of course medical care.
So, “you try living on $1200/mo.” I couldn’t. But anyone over 65 definitely could.
One of my neighbors, I’ve known her since I was little. In the past 20 years she and her husband hosted their family holiday feasts, had the 3 kids, their spouses, and grandkids over. She’s a champion cook. Financially I’d say they were in good shape, not rich, but comfortable.
Her husband died three years ago. She’s 80 now, with mobility issues (still walking, but it’s a struggle). Last Thanksgiving she still had the holidays with her kids and grandkids, but they hosted.
This year she was home alone (well, not quite alone, one of her kids gave her a cat). Home alone for Thanksgiving with her first cat ever, she says she loves it...
And you know for a fact she lives on $1200? You saw her bank account?
Right... It has been my experience that when people proclaim how “tough they have it” it’s often pure manipulation.
My “mama” had it tough too! So tough, she found no problem to charge additional money for things she never bought. Just to help out the “family”.
PT Barnum says there is “one” born every minute...
How much to use the toilet?
Then there is the pay per view to watch the football game.
Don’t forget the tip the coat room attendant.
Hey, parking is not free either
Yes I know for a fact her entire income. I used to file her income tax return for her, and have helped her with accounts, housework, phone calls, doctor visits. I do as much for half a dozen others on a regular basis. A lot of seniors can’t navigate websites, some don’t even have a computer. They have difficulty applying for benefits, filling out forms, finding documentation.
Others just pretend to and their only problem is loneliness, which qualifies them for attention as far as I’m concerned. I prefer being around seniors. They know stuff!
“”The math doesn’t add up.”
Come on man. You expect accuracy from the MSM? They are not accurate on reporting on Covid, elections, global warming, etc. Why do you expect accuracy from them on what grandma charges?
I would never charge my family for T Giving or Christmas dinner. Frugal is one thing. Being a cheap ass is another.
“Gorbachev”? Why not say “Thatcher” instead? Booting birds from the nest IS love. Funny how they manage to sprout wings on the way down.
“I prefer being around seniors.”
I do too. I have always loved being around older people. Re: the OP’s topic, families imagine that Grandmum will always be a around and will always produce the magical Christmas meal that seems to fall from the sky.
So 16 years old is a bird that needs to be charged while going to high school?
Awww, is that you mama?
LOL!
The reason I used Gorbachev is because she was the dictator in the home.
I love being around kind and not greedy seniors...
Thankfully most seniors are kind.
“How much to use the toilet?”
If I ever get my dream toilet—the kind you find in commercial buildings that sounds like a rocket taking off—you better believe I’m gonna charge for rides, lol! Power flushing gallons of water at a time ain’t cheap.
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