What do you contribute if not hosting Christmas dinner

[Star2015]

On the back of the how much do you spend if hosting thread, I wondered what you contribute if you’re not hosting.

We are going to my parents for Christmas Eve tea, Christmas Day and Boxing Day and have bought 2 nice boxes of crackers for both Christmas Day and Boxing Day day lunch.

Christmas pudding from M&S for Christmas Day.

Some fizz for Christmas Day from M&S.

I will make some homemade sausage rolls for Christmas Eve when we have hot pork sandwiches, as well as homemade mince pies.

I’ll make the terrys chocolate orange and malteasers Christmas pudding for Christmas Day.

We have bought a new board game to play Christmas Day.

I think that’s it... we will pick up a nice bottle of red wine and some biscuits to take around.

My brother and his partner will rock up and won’t contribute anything (no problem as my parents don’t expect anyone to).

Is this enough? I don’t think they are spending anything like £1600 some people have quoted but seeing it on paper it doesn’t seem like much.

What else could we contribute (other than cash?)

We are going to in-laws for Christmas Day and my parents for Boxing Day.

Since DH and I have been together, we have always done the cheese board and port. We have a fancy deli in our high street which does artisan cheeses and DH usually goes a bit mad! This year we’ve spent probably too much, but in my opinion you can never have enough cheese!

We will also take some nice wine to both lunches.

We are having champagne and nibbles this weekend for both sets of parents as a sort of pre-Christmas get together, and last year we hosted Boxing Day for both sides of the family (approx 13 people which was no fun for me whilst suffering from morning sickness!)

My DS, who is 30, and her DP, will happily turn up at my parents both days and contribute diddly squat (but will happily consume our cheese and expensive port every year!), and SIL also happily turns up to be fed but would never dream of hosting!

That sounds plenty to me, especially since they aren’t expecting (or wanting) anything. Very good idea to message your brother. It can sound like you’re just making sure you don’t double up on anything, but if you list it out, he will hopefully realise that he needs to contribute!

Good cheese.
My sibling brings pork pies, sausage rolls and anything else that looks good from her local farm shop.
It works well for us we'd hate to go empty handed.

Thanks for all the responses... just to clarify, the gingerbread loaf and trifle are things I’m making for Sunday when we are hosting my family at our house... I’m only taking mince pies and the chocolate to my parents which they know about.

Hope Ethan a wonderful Christmas!

Ethan? Bloody too early in the morning.... hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas!

That sounds lovely, OP. I'm going to PiLs for Christmas. I'm making Christmas Day breakfast and will contribute some wine and posh chocolates. Plus presents obviously.