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To want to stop paying all Xmas hosting costs

163 replies

Grinch26 · 11/09/2026 11:33

Morning,

After some constructive advice really.

For the last 10 years approx I have gone back to my widowed mum's for Xmas.

I buy all food and drink and cook for her friends and neighbours Xmas day and boxing day and other days just her and me or maybe the odd one of her friends joins.

Mum has plenty of money , it's just one of those family patterns which we keep repeating.

I'm looking at retirement in the not too distant future ( work restructuring and I think getting a new role in late 50s will be a challenge ) and want to see if we can share the costs a bit more equitably , and ask the neighbours and friends to contribute by bringing something maybe a desert or cheese etc

Am I being being tight ? And how would I go about it if not ?!

Its prob 500 odd of food and drink and I would feel better if cost shared , I'm happy to do all cooking and also recognise that mum is hosting in her home so paying for utilities etc

OP posts:
Marieb19 · 11/09/2026 16:27

Your mum and her neighbours probably think you want to do this because you have never complained before. Asking your mum to come to you is an obvious solution but if you're going af Easter, make arrangements for everyone to bring a dish. Cuts down the cost and the work.

Millytante · 11/09/2026 16:36

99999xx · 11/09/2026 13:56

And what is wrong with her knowing that ?

She must be pretty foggy if she has been oblivious to all her DD has been spending these past ten years, and largely on those guests who are bugger all to do with her.
Really, OP’s Christmases have been an annual block of three - five days of being a housekeeper and cook, as well as a lady’s companion, and all with the usual financial arrangement completely backwards. She pays for this privilege.

I’m hopping mad on her behalf, and would find it very hard not to burst with all the frustration and impotence at dear DM!

AlwaysExtraHot · 11/09/2026 16:42

I think the friends and neighbours are cheeky lazy cats.
I can't imagine being hosted every Xmas and not insisting on contributing money/bringing something (and I mean more than a token bottle)/mucking in with prep and clean-up.
A quiet Xmas at yours for your mum sounds like the best option unless you think they would respond well to a suggestion of everyone pulling together.

MyOliveViewer · 11/09/2026 16:51

Grinch26 · 11/09/2026 12:48

I've decided to ask my mum if she wants to come to mine for Xmas and leave it at that

Good plan.

Millytante · 11/09/2026 17:05

OP, I’ve lost track of comments, but whoever advised you not to rock the boat because you never know how long your mother has left is slathering you with emotional blackmail.
You yourself deserve consideration now, as (forgive me, but I am much older, so I’ve a licence to blurt!) you are no chicken either.

Think about this, if emotional pressure is the way all this is going.
Say you change nothing, and your mother passes away within five years (God forbid).
There’s every chance you will have a solid, festering resentment inside by then, and with good reason, and this will definitely taint your memories of her.
I think now is the perfect time to ensure your loving relationship is refreshed and perhaps pruned a little.
(I’m blathering in like this because my mother’s final years, vis à vis me, or vice versa, could have been brighter and happier, more honest; and this is very hard to have lurking behind my memories of the dear old thing)

Far better upset the apple cart now, use a bit of kindly firmness if necessary but do not agree to be steamrollered any more.
Standing up to the weight of ten years’ habituation might seem daunting but in reality, it doesnt make your case weaker does it? It makes it stronger!

You have no more available money or chunks of time and energy to give (and that need not be explained in detail, unless DM is not very bright) so Christmas absolutely must change, for the two of you.
So what? It’s a change trivial in the extreme, when you are proposing a lovely snug family celebration at your house now, and how nice DSis will be home too! Old people cope with altered circs a lot better than their reputation insists.
When the alteration is necessary because the always reliable person badly needs the change, it’s pretty well unarguable for anyone decent.
With that in mind, be ready to keep up your end and don’t shift from Christmas at yours.
The change could be revivifying for both of you.
But if (horror alert) this comes to pass, but on Dec 27th DM has a fall or worse, it would be nothing at all to do with you, in terms of more guilt.

Please, please, stand up for yourself. You have the right to exist as much as anyone but are trying very hard to take up only half your allotted space. A dutiful daughter need not be entirely self-abnegating.

Who knows how many Christmases any of us has left?
Resolve to enjoy them rather more to your own taste now; it’s high time.
/rant ends

[The pp who knew of an old chap who died after not getting his way at Christmas knows very well that it does not constitute a parable to guide us.]

Ashmol · 11/09/2026 17:23

It's very hard to say NO to her face really, and I get that. There are ways to do it, all are outlined above, pick one! You have absolutely nothing to feel guilty about, you have been (are) a very generous and kind daughter all the way along.

The mould needs to break. Once you do it, it will be fine. It's the awkwardness around thinking you might be coming across as mean looking for a contribution that might be difficult for you. You are anything but that, it is reality, and I doubt anyone including your Mum will mind. I often think that guests just do not realise how much time, effort and cost goes into hosting things and visitors. Everything just appears due to your good work!

I broke the mould when my mum died. I was the host for years after Dad died and all the family came to mine. Then Covid came the year after mum's passing, and the routine stopped for that year. It never came back.... myself and partner fecked off to Spain the first Christmas travel resumed. The family were a bit gobsmacked but wished us well, and there's no issue at all now. We go every year since. It's bloody great and we FaceTime on Christmas Day now from afar!

TheOliveWriter · 11/09/2026 17:26

Grinch26 · 11/09/2026 11:43

Thanks, I've been saying I will be retiring for the last year but it doesn't seem to be sinking in!

It's more pressing this year as my home needs some work done and I don't want to be 500 quid down at Xmas before I've even thought about presents !

One of my siblings is also staying at Xmas this year but they are skint ! So I'm getting nervous at the costs involved in hosting or paying for 2 large meals and drinks Xmas day and boxing day for 10!

Do love Xmas however

As the cost, rather than the effort is the major challenge you probably need to be upfront with your DM, who probably has no idea how much you are spending. Something like.. I need to make changes to how I support Christmas for everyone from this year Mum, because I am retiring, and inflation is hitting hard. We could cut back and not invite the neighbours, or ask them to bring a contribution, or perhaps you could help with the costs..? NB organising the neighbours will need to happen or you will have some cheeky fs arriving with a large bag of 10p carrots, or passing off an unwanted Christmas food gift.

SandyHappyPerson · 11/09/2026 17:36

We normally host at xmas in one way or another as we have the space, and pay for it all, but it is getting really expensive, we've offered to do the main dinner at ours this year as we do have room to squeeze in 12 people, but I've told everyone they can bring a dish and their own booze. No one seems to have a problem with it so far!

If people are only coming because it is all paid for them, then they are users and you should probably look at doing things a little differently anyway.

Makebelieveanotherlife · 11/09/2026 17:41

Grinch26 · 11/09/2026 15:30

Thanks everyone, I have invited her to mine at Xmas, she is thinking about it.

I do need to break the habit but as a pp said I sometimes wonder how many Xmas we have left so don't want friction

And I’ll guarantee that once she’s no longer around you won’t hear or see these people again. And then you will look back at all your best years spent slogging away pleasing this bunch of stranger. The easiest and cheapest thing is to turn up somewhere with a bottle of wine and desert. All it requires is 10mins to the shop to pickup.
the real slog and hard work is cooking and cleaning and hosting. These are all strangers to you! Stop this now. Have your mum over and you will still be spending time with her.
I also think your mum has a huge cheek putting this on you. Off course she knows the cost and effort of all of this.

Cherrytree86 · 11/09/2026 17:43

Makebelieveanotherlife · 11/09/2026 17:41

And I’ll guarantee that once she’s no longer around you won’t hear or see these people again. And then you will look back at all your best years spent slogging away pleasing this bunch of stranger. The easiest and cheapest thing is to turn up somewhere with a bottle of wine and desert. All it requires is 10mins to the shop to pickup.
the real slog and hard work is cooking and cleaning and hosting. These are all strangers to you! Stop this now. Have your mum over and you will still be spending time with her.
I also think your mum has a huge cheek putting this on you. Off course she knows the cost and effort of all of this.

@Makebelieveanotherlife

you can’t guarantee that, don’t be so cynical. Some of us just have nice friends and neighbours

Bikergran · 11/09/2026 17:47

Bloody hell, how many are you feeding, or are you buying it all ready prepared from Waitrose/M&S? That seems an insane amount to me. It may be that your DM has no idea how much you spend. If neighbours and friends are coming they should absolutely contribute. Ask one to bring cheese and biscuits for x number, another a trifle to feed x number, others to bring the wine and/or snacks and nibbles. Or if your DM doesn't want to ask them, show her how much you spent last year and get her to cover most of the costs, they're HER friends, not yours!

Abricot1983 · 11/09/2026 18:00

Tell the truth. “ mum I just want to let you know that I know I’ve paid for the Christmas food and drinks in the last few years; but I’ve looked towards planning my retirement and my finances won’t stretch to carrying on with this. I’m very happy to do the cooking and love coming to you, I just can’t afford it”

CatMum27 · 11/09/2026 18:15

I’ve been in a similar position OP. After my parents died my sister would invite me to Christmas at hers with her family and I’d offer to contribute something like buying the deserts. I usually ordered two or three things from the local M&S to pick up as I took the train to where she lived. Happy to do it and help in the kitchen on the day.

My sister has form for inviting all the waifs and strays of her block of flats to dinner - one year there were about ten of us over the course of the day who were all served food and drink. Over the years I was asked to order more and more to feed these people and the cost was getting extortionate. I wouldn’t have minded so much but the other guests never contributed anything so it got a bit much to be paying for their dinner. Never mind the years of dinner my sister and family had had with me and my parents without paying a penny.

In the end I had to be quite blunt with her. I’m fine with paying my way and I’m happy to contribute to the cost of a meal but I was getting fed up of subsidising everyone else’s Christmas when they contribute nothing so I stopped. Brought a single contribution and that was it. It was rocky for a while but she got over it. I think sometimes you have to just shock people into understanding you if they refuse to actually listen. Good luck!

EmmaB1309 · 11/09/2026 18:19

Christmas is way too expensive for one person to pay for themselves every year. I usually cook Christmas dinner for 7-10 of my family. My dad always offers to pay half. Since he’s retired I always decline but suggest he brings drinks (mostly soft drinks, a few beers for himself and my OH and a bottle of white for me). My sisters don’t offer and I don’t ask since both are single parents and one of them was recently made redundant.
I don’t think it has to be an awkward conversation.
Mum, I’m finding it bit much paying for all of this every year. Would you be able to pay something towards the cost and ask your friends to maybe bring a little something?

PinkyFlamingo · 11/09/2026 18:22

Grinch26 · 11/09/2026 13:33

Company and friendship !

Is that not
normal for friends? Without feeling you have to reward them with free food and drinks?

caringcarer · 11/09/2026 18:23

LadySparrow · 11/09/2026 11:50

Invite her to yours, so you don’t have to fork out for all her friends and neighbours

I think this might be easiest option.

Gallusoldbesom · 11/09/2026 18:31

If your sister is going to be there this year I think you’re off the hook. Just tell your mum you have been offered a holiday away with friends (or some other believable tale), save £500 and enjoy a peaceful decadent Christmas by yourself!

hattie43 · 11/09/2026 19:38

Spaniels4Eva · 11/09/2026 12:50

We had 14 for Christmas day last year, and a fair few on Christmas Eve. Our food bill was nearly £700 and I'm just not doing it again this year. Sod all the baking and days of preparation - we're having a roast dinner, with a nice pudding/cheese board after and if anyone wants anything else, they can bring it themselves. My food shop budget is £300 and I won't be going over it.

That’s the way to do it , we have to know when to stop otherwise you can spend a fortune . Setting a budget is a good idea and helps keep track when of what you’re buying , who really needs 5 types of desert and 27 different vegetables.

Evergreenz · 11/09/2026 20:14

OP, this may not apply to you at all, but I had a similar arrangement with my MIL (though not as extreme as yours!). Did all of Xmas, all the cooking, food buying, invited her friends etc year after year. However, in my case, MIL had done a lot for us and continued to be generous at other times of year (eg children's birthdays) so I sort of viewed it a a quid pro quo. Does anything like that apply to your mum?

BCBird · 11/09/2026 21:11

I think I would knock it on the head. Because you have always done it, it's become expected. Trying to work out who brings what will be a nuisance. Tell people now so they can make alternative arrangements.

Grinch26 · 11/09/2026 21:13

Evergreenz · 11/09/2026 20:14

OP, this may not apply to you at all, but I had a similar arrangement with my MIL (though not as extreme as yours!). Did all of Xmas, all the cooking, food buying, invited her friends etc year after year. However, in my case, MIL had done a lot for us and continued to be generous at other times of year (eg children's birthdays) so I sort of viewed it a a quid pro quo. Does anything like that apply to your mum?

No! But she's a great mum and we get on very well

OP posts:
Grinch26 · 11/09/2026 21:15

BCBird · 11/09/2026 21:11

I think I would knock it on the head. Because you have always done it, it's become expected. Trying to work out who brings what will be a nuisance. Tell people now so they can make alternative arrangements.

Yes, I have invited her to mine, and made it clear that if she would rather not then that's fine but I'm staying at mine. I've said I'm.not up to cooking and shopping etc all over Xmas as I have renovations starting in the new year and want a break.

OP posts:
QueenietheGreat · 11/09/2026 22:54

HermioneWeasley · 11/09/2026 12:19

Just stop - it’s not just the expense it’s a lot of work for you. I am younger than you (a bit) and I find it knackering

@Grinch26
If it were me this year I'd take the £500 and go somewhere nice, be waited on hand and foot but explain to mum that as financial circumstances have changed you'll sit down with her after Christmas to discuss 2027's Christmas Day scenario properly as you desparately need a break from doing it all every year now and this will be the last time you'll ever be able to spend that sort of money again anyway
So you've given yourself a last Hurrah as in the future you're going to need more fiscal help from her and her acquaintances
If things are to keep going
Just saying

BIWI · 11/09/2026 23:51

Grinch26 · 11/09/2026 21:15

Yes, I have invited her to mine, and made it clear that if she would rather not then that's fine but I'm staying at mine. I've said I'm.not up to cooking and shopping etc all over Xmas as I have renovations starting in the new year and want a break.

How did she respond to that?

Bananacrepewithnuts · 12/09/2026 04:11

WaltzingWaters · 11/09/2026 11:43

If you want to continue going to your mums and hosting neighbours/friends then I would message/talk to your mum and say you’re no longer able to pay for everything and how is best to arrange things going forward.

  • you still buy everything but split the cost between everyone
  • everyone brings a dish and a bottle of wine (or whatever works!)

Or if it’s all just a bit too much, make other arrangements altogether. But I think it’s really cheeky that everyone has been allowing you to cover all costs and labour and not contributing anyway! Definitely change that.

That's what I thought. Well cheeky.

They've had a touch for 10 years and regardless of affordability they should be contributing in any case.

Time for a change!