Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Christmas lunch - guests, contributions and leftovers

276 replies

HardonCollider · 21/12/2024 17:29

I can’t decide who IBU here so please help.

There’s a small number of us for Christmas lunch, we’re hosting. SIL (single, no children) has bought the turkey crown under duress. For completeness, we host every year for her and PIL (for the last 10 or so years) and haven’t previously asked for anything. Nothing has ever been offered either, no drinks brought round as a thank you. Now SIL is saying she will take all of the turkey leftovers!

I can’t decide if that’s fine as she’s paid for it or if she’s being a CF as she’s getting the whole Christmas dinner prepared (she won’t lift a finger while she’s here, never does).

So who IBU - me for expecting the leftovers to be left, or her for taking them all?!

OP posts:
SpunkyOchreGuide · 21/12/2024 17:30

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

SpunkyOchreGuide · 21/12/2024 17:31

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

Ferro · 21/12/2024 17:31

Stuff your face with as much turkey as you can, and let her take the leftovers. Then don't invite her next year.

TTPDTS · 21/12/2024 17:31

It's a bit cheeky of her to expect to take leftovers from the turkey home - more so if she's been catered for with zero contribution for 10+ years!

You should charge her for all of your hosting, especially as she's the lazy type.

I'm a little petty - make sure you put all of the scraps from people's plates into the turkey leftovers, make sure she's not missing any!! Perhaps suggest she brings her own roasting tray so it can all go home with her and she won't miss out on the juices too?

SpunkyOchreGuide · 21/12/2024 17:32

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

biscuitsandbooks · 21/12/2024 17:32

I would buy my own turkey crown and tell her she can have Christmas at home.

Pandasnacks · 21/12/2024 17:33

What are PIL bringing? Odd that she's already specified she's having the leftovers

HardonCollider · 21/12/2024 17:34

Pandasnacks · 21/12/2024 17:33

What are PIL bringing? Odd that she's already specified she's having the leftovers

PIL provide crackers and drinks (and are in a very different situation money-wise). SIL has a large disposable income.

OP posts:
HardonCollider · 21/12/2024 17:35

biscuitsandbooks · 21/12/2024 17:32

I would buy my own turkey crown and tell her she can have Christmas at home.

Very tempted to buy another. Or just send her the money for this one 😂

OP posts:
RandomMess · 21/12/2024 17:36

What a bitch!

You have to take the piss out of her at the dinner table.

BreadInCaptivity · 21/12/2024 17:36

She's being horrible and mean.

She's had years of being hosted.

She should have put her hand in her pocket years ago.

I'd tell her to F off and buy the turkey crown and tell her to stay at home.

SilverChampagne · 21/12/2024 17:36

biscuitsandbooks · 21/12/2024 17:32

I would buy my own turkey crown and tell her she can have Christmas at home.

Me too. Why would you have such a stingy, difficult character around your Christmas table voluntarily?

Coconutter24 · 21/12/2024 17:37

I’d just keep eating turkey until it’s gone!! Haha. Are they staying into the evening? If so turkey sandwiches for everyone.
It’s odd that she has already said she’s taking the leftovers.

poetryandwine · 21/12/2024 17:37

For clarity, you say you’ve not asked for anything before - I assume SIL hasn’t offered, either.

For ten years, WTH? Eat it all. Do you have a dog who might enjoy a treat?

Isseywith2witchycats · 21/12/2024 17:37

I host my grown up children and their partners every year provide all the food and drink and they are welcome to take home any leftovers if they want them, Christmas is supposed to be a time of good will, its once a year, one day, if you don't want her to take the leftover turkey home just say no its staying here maybe offer her a few slices to take home

LumpyandBumps · 21/12/2024 17:38

Do you have a dog?
If so would he/she enjoy Turkey for lunch?

Trickabrick · 21/12/2024 17:38

Make sure you farm off some turkey leftovers while she’s not looking and leave her a paltry amount, denying all knowledge if she queries the amount to take home. It could become an annual challenge you set to see how much you can nab before she notices.

HardonCollider · 21/12/2024 17:39

Trickabrick · 21/12/2024 17:38

Make sure you farm off some turkey leftovers while she’s not looking and leave her a paltry amount, denying all knowledge if she queries the amount to take home. It could become an annual challenge you set to see how much you can nab before she notices.

This is my kind of solution! A bit passive aggressive but it would keep me happy!

OP posts:
StrawberryWater · 21/12/2024 17:40

She's being a cheeky mare.

  1. Because you've hosted for the past 10 years with no contribution from her.

  2. I presume you're still having to cook the damn thing? If so I think I'd tell her she can take the turkey if she contributes some money towards the cost of cooking it. Be petty back!

SpunkyOchreGuide · 21/12/2024 17:40

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

fanaticalfairy · 21/12/2024 17:41

I'd buy and cook a separate crown and send her home with the whole thing she bought.

StormingNorman · 21/12/2024 17:41

You’re essentially talking about being paid for cooking in turkey leftovers.

Let her take the leftovers home. I have never come across anyone behaving this way before, but I’d let her take them and buy a second crown to cook up for my own twixmas leftovers.

MolkosTeenageAngst · 21/12/2024 17:41

She’s being unreasonable. It would feel wonderful to just give her a plate piled with nothing but turkey and ensure she wasn’t offered anything else across the day, but of course that would probably spoil Christmas. In reality the easiest thing to do is probably just not to invite her next year; if she pushes for an invitation perhaps say okay but there’ll be a £50 charge to cover food and drinks.

icouldholditwithacobweb · 21/12/2024 17:42

I'm single, no kids. My parents host every year, me, my sister, her partner, their kid. Every year I buy a turkey crown & transfer my mum some money towards food for hosting all of us for multiple days, because nobody ever wants for anything and surely that's just what you do?!

HardonCollider · 21/12/2024 17:42

poetryandwine · 21/12/2024 17:37

For clarity, you say you’ve not asked for anything before - I assume SIL hasn’t offered, either.

For ten years, WTH? Eat it all. Do you have a dog who might enjoy a treat?

No, nothing has been offered before! It’s taken a bit of convincing that she should pay for the turkey but I’m wondering now if it’s worth it 😬

I'm not averse to her taking some of the leftovers but it’s the way she’s already said she’s taking all of the turkey!

OP posts: