To not want to spend £100 on a hotel for work Xmas party

[andreee]

My work Xmas party has just been announced, it is back to pre covid tradition - go to a huge ‘party to a party’ in a major city just over an hour away, work pay for tickets and drinks but you need to cover your own travel and hotel. Usually apparently everybody stays in a hotel and the girls will all get ready together, and go for breakfast the morning after. There is carpooling as well. I have never been to this before as I only joined the company during covid.

I am going to have to answer the dreaded invite next week and just don’t think I can afford to go. I don’t want to splash out on the hotel and nobody can share a room with me as they’re all bringing partners. I’ve had a look and the cheapest room I can find is £100!

Could just not drink, and drive home on the night, but at the minute the petrol there and back would not be much cheaper than the hotel! Money is so tight (single homeowner, it’s rough right now).

My boss has done a generous thing but doesn’t realise they have effectively priced me out of going to this party. It looks incredible and I do want to go, feel a bit left out with colleagues as it is already. Bit sad isn’t it.

What would you do? If I tell people the truth I don’t want them feeling bad, but if I make some other excuse it might look like I don’t care!

The moment out Christmas night out e-mail arrives I book my final week of annual leave. I have done enough of them and can’t do anymore. Easier to say ‘aw that’s a shame I’m off and have a few things booked so can’t make it’. It also means I don’t spend a full week getting asked ‘are you going to the Christmas party?’ ‘Why not?’

If you want to go then just drive, fuel will not be as much as a hotel. I wouldn't pay that to stay either

God this sounds awful. I bet there's loads of people who don't want to go,and not just because of the cost.

No offence to you OP but as an introvert that would fry my brain.

It is obvious OP doesn’t want to go. There is no way an hours drive would cost close to £100 anyway.

Tell your boss that in the current financial climate you decline the invitation.
No need to feel any embarrassment at all.

I have worked at places where attendance at such things was expected, or you would be deemed not to be a ‘team player’.

To avoid any issues I used to make comments about looking forward to the event… and then something came up on the night which meant I couldn’t go. Sick child, car headlights not working etc

Work should pay for the holiday room.

Our work party (public services on low wages) is 160 this year for dinner and hotel stay 😑before even buying a nice outfit and drinks etc.
I've declined and said I'm saving that kind of money towards my kids

Nothing to do with the actual cost I wouldn't pay to go on a work do full stop. It's work.

That’s so weird, any work christmas party I’ve been to travel and accom has been covered

It’s only an hour away. So of course it won’t cost anywhere close to 100 quid to drive there and back . Current average fuel costs is 17 ppm. So for say 50 miles it’s about 8.50, so 17 quid return.

😂😂

Since when was working from home incase you catch a cold after a party a thing?

If you want to go then tell them that you can't afford all the extras involved.

If you don't want to go then decline.

£100?! No way.

I don't even like the people I work with so the thought of having to spend the night with them and then have breakfast with them also would make me not go 😁.

I am in a new job where everyone works remotely.

An email went around today that the Christmas event would take place in a location two hours away from where I live and that staff is expected to pay for the meal and their own accommodation if they need a hotel.

So no I won't be attending.

I found it quite offensive really that staff is even expected to pay for the food. If a company can't even treat their staff to one meal a year at Christmas that's pretty pathetic.

Funnily enough I was starting to think I had chosen the wrong company and that one little thing helps me realise this is not the right environment for me.

Second this. You won't look like a dick for turning down the invite but you most certainly will if you then ask for a week at home because they might be "riddled".

Ask for a pay rise

Why is it always poor old Nigel from Accounts that gets singled out? 😆 It’s those shiny smarmy **s from Sales and HR that do my head in.

I can’t think of anything worse that a works Christmas do . I’d rather stick pins in my eyes .

Is all.food and drink included? If so 100 isnt too bad, you could easily spend more than that on a normal xmas meal considering meal, drinks, taxis etc. If there are cheaper accommodation options nearby you could look at that or the obvious answer is just dont go (office parties are generally shit anyway)

Great excuse not to go OP

Just drive, it won't cost nearly as much, as per calculations above. Unless you drive a huge Chelsea tractor, in which case you surely aren't worried about money.

Otherwise decline, if you don't want to go, but this isn't about affordability.

@audeloquipalam LOL 😂

Anyway it's all so false, no wonder people get pissed off their heads in order to get through it all. I don't drink, another reason to let them at it without me!

Could just not drink, and drive home on the night, but at the minute the petrol there and back would not be much cheaper than the hotel!

That can’t be right, surely?!

If you want to go but can’t afford the hotel, then drive. I can’t imagine petrol there and back will be more than £20?!

I have never ever been to a works party
It's enough to spend an 8 hour working day with most people let alone socialising with them
I just say 'no thanks, it's not really my thing but I hope you all have a great time'