To charge my guests for their dinner

[OhDeeeeeryMe]

Name change as some of you may recognise me..

My husband lost his job recently and money has been tight. Today I invited my friends for dinner and they texted at the last minute to say that their babysitter could not make it and they would be coming with their SIX children in tow...

So anyway, would I be unreasonable to charge them £2 per guest for their dinner? I think this is reasonable?

They texted after they'd already set of, with 45 minutes notice that you had six extra guests coming?!

They have already gone so far out of the bounds of polite guest behavior that I think it's anything you choose to do is reasonable!

For what it's worth, as students we always paid the cost of food to whoever was cooking dinner for our group of friends. Otherwise it would have been massively unfair on those who liked to cook. I realise that a dinner party is different, and that it's awkward to ask them, but I don't think that guests paying for food costs is necessarily always unreasonable.

You can't charge guests!!!

Ask them to call at a garage/Tesco express on their way to yours for extra stuff.

They cannot expect you to feed an extra 6 children.

Hmmm..a two hour drive and not a single shop open on the way?

What Bella said.

Tesco express will be open.

And service stations.

They told you more than halfway into their journey? Cheeky gits.

I think it would be most unreasonable to be saddled with six extra guests visitors.

It happened to me once. My husband and I had nine people invited for lunch (eleven including us) and had set the table accordingly. Individual starters were in place etc. What happened? Three extra uninvited peole turned up (obviously thinking it was going to be a buffet but they had not been invited). We knew who they were but ....... there was no more room around the table.

It meant that my husband, one of his sons and I had to eat in the kitchen, leaping into the dining room occasionally to make sure everyone had what they needed or would like. That event still rankles so if you recognise yourselves ........... Frankly, it told me something about the way they had been brought up!

I'd order dominoes for all the kids and get them to pay

Surely the money spent on the babysitter will cover the cost of the extra food they stop off to buy?

Your guests are very rude!!!!

I couldn't charge a guest but my hospitality would be reduced and I'd serve same food amongst the extra guests tbh

Mabel

I couldn't charge but I'd insist they found some pizzas or somethig onroute. How rude!

If money is that tight how come you are having friends for dinner?

Personally, I'd excuse myself and cancel.

Where do you all live? Asda, tesco and sainsburys all open here today.

All the local shops (spar etc) have been open at least un til 4pm.

Have you text them back op?

I would text back and say that you don't have enough food for the children and suggest they pick something up on the way. They should have contacted you before they left home. I think it is incredibly rude particularly if they know about your dh losing his job. The fact that they didn't bother to contact you means they knew you'd suggest rearranging.

This has got to be a joke!

I want to know what's happened! I'd serve up pasta or head to Tesco, most shops are open here today. Maybe a takeaway if you ask them to pay. Sandwiches, get them to grab a couple of loaves of bread/cheese/ham etc on the way.

Incredibly rude, I don't think it matters what you do - I doubt they'll get a return invitation - I'd probably send a text to ask what they planned to feed their kids as you haven't enough food in. I think the evening will be a really horrible experience, I'd have to say something - which would ruin the evening and if I didn't say anything I'd so tense and furious the evening would be a right off anyway.

You could text to say you have just started vomiting and can't have guests.

Miserable situation.

I wouldn't be spending a penny. The OP invited two people and is expected to cater for 8. Two for a roast dinner wouldn't be an additional burden and I assume it would be a treat for the OP to have both a lovely meal and the company of friends. I'd be questioning friendship if they don't offer to cover the costs of catering for six children or arrive with food for them.

Charge them, if you want to lose them as friends or have all your mutual friends laugh about your tightness for years to come

They ABU to just expect to turn up with all their children, but you would be unreasonable to charge them.

Macdonalds for the children before arriving ?

Please let us know what happened in the end. I expect it worked out all right. But did it?

Putting aside the various etiquette issues for a moment, charging for meals you serve crosses a boundary into the catering/hospitality regulations

Before i get flamed for being dramatic/pedantic etc etc I do fully appreciate that it is a one off, but if your 'friends' decided to blame your food for their DCs being sick on the journey home, you may face some very awkward questions!

Frankly, I think they are incredibly rude and you'd do well to life laundry them out of 2012

They don't know you have the extra food, just tell them you haven't got enough to feed everyone! They've been enormously rude.