Itโs a modern solution for a modern holiday problem.
A mother found herself at the center of a very controversial conversation when she revealed how she plans for holiday dinner logistics.
As Thanksgiving and the Christmas holidays are inching in, our finances are getting ready for the annual spike in spending whether for gifts, alcohol, or the food we prepare. Not to mention sales and deals left and right, and the money we use for traveling for vacation or reunions.
Putting it simply, holidays are an expensive affair.
Not for Gemma Andrews, however. The 33-year-old mother has devised a way to make the preparations more economical and efficient. But with it, she kind of ruffled the feathers of some people.
Andrews charges her family around ยฃ30 or $40 per head if they want to join the festivities.
It might be easy to judge Andrews and her supposed deviance from the holiday spirit of generosity and kindness, but she has her reasons for doing so. She has been hosting her familyโs annual Christmas dinner since she has a house big enough to accommodate everyone.
One of her main reasons for charging people is her sonโs allergies.
This is also where the tradition of charging people started. At first, when preparations were deemed too time-consuming, opting for deliveries was suggested. But since her son has allergies, Andrews needed to know how the food was prepared. She needed food that she prepared herself.
It was at that moment when her grandparents gave her some money and told her to buy food to cook instead.
Since then, she started charging people for food.
At first, she only charged ยฃ10 per head, but only for adults. But as time passed and more children grew up, the expenses swelled dramatically.
โThe alcohol content has gone up as more children become adults, and there are more people who have had children,โ she told This Morning. โNo one has ever had any issue,โ she later added.
While other people think that sheโs a new version of Mr. Scrooge, others think itโs smart.
One of the hosts said that not because sheโs not sharing food doesnโt mean sheโs not sharing anything. She also shares effort in cooking and preparing. She also shares her home. And when other people stay the whole day, the other host said that her charge is definitely a bargain.
It also fixes some of the potluck problems especially when someone forgot the food they intended to bring, her lack of control over the ingredients, or if one of the guests canโt or doesnโt want to cook at all.
Eating out is also not an option for her.
Besides her sonโs allergy, she shared that you canโt eat out with your pajamas on. You donโt have scattered conversations in different parts of the house nor can hear children ask for help for the puzzles theyโre making.
The Christmas Spirit is still very alive with Andrews.
And while itโs not your conventional feast, you can give her credit for streamlining the entire process of whipping up a big feast. Who knows, other people might pick up on this trend as well. Just as long as the charge gives everyone a good time, we really canโt see whatโs wrong with it.
Watch how this mother devises an effective and efficient way to make a holiday feast.
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