- A 63-year-old woman said she was forcing her family to pay for meals in home because it helps her not to use so much of her money
- She said everyone has a December 1 deadline to submit their own money, and those who don't pay are simply unsolicited
- She also added that they also get jobs to help when it comes to serving food, and that the tradition has been around since 2016.
British woman Caroline Duddridge took her family Christmas traditions a notch higher after she discovered she was charging her guests who intend to eat at her house during the holiday season.
The strict family tradition of the British mother
The 63-year-old widower said she is making her children and grandchildren pay for the food she cooks for Christmas.
According to New York Post, mother of five and grandmother of six wards of adults KSh KSH 2000, her 12-year-old and 9-year-old grandchildren pay KS 700, while her two 3-year-old grandchildren pay KS 300.
According to Dudddridge, she charges less from adult women because they have families and they work part-time.
“I log into my bank account and check who paid for Christmas dinner in November. Once my ‘naughty and pleasant' count is done, I make a quick ring, chasing my ‘offender depositors', and remind them to meet the payment date on December 1,” she said.
She said her five children are used to receiving phone calls, reminding them of meeting payment deadlines.
Duddridge began charging for Christmas dinner in 2016 and has since become part of the family's traditions — relatives are already used to it.
“Some people may think it is strict to charge a fee for meals for children, but this is an important life lesson. Older grandchildren love trying and offering to help me get some of their money back, and I admire that,” she said.
Her husband died in 2015, cutting her spending income in half of her widower's income pension.
“Like many moms and grans who always make Christmas dinner, I couldn't stand the cost of buying all the gifts and paying for the whole dinner. I was worried that I would spend the New Year paying for it all again,” she added.
The price includes non-standard dishes, as everyone has the right to vote on the menu. Dinner usually includes wine, soft drinks, pudding, Christmas crackers, nuts and cheese, as well as traditional table decorations.
“My plan at least streamlines dinner and ensures that everyone has a say and helps out, and no one faces problems after Christmas with money. I know a lot of people will criticize charging for a Christmas meal, but it doesn't bother me. It's not grabbing money. It just makes sense for budgeting and fairly distributes the cost among everyone at the table,” she said.
The 63-year-old added that all her children and grandchildren also get the job serving her 12 guests and those who don't pay on time are not invited.
“To expect one person to pay for all the food and cook it, remove it, and use heating and electricity is too much. The amount I charge for dinner includes electricity. It's not hard for me, it's the only way,” she said further.
Although she loves Christmas, she says she finds it so exhausting.
Mom works as a child who works for pocket money
In a separate report single The mother, identified as Ash Nie Ligne, shared that she doesn't give her seven-year-old daughter pocket money until she proves her worth.
Mom explained that makes daughter Sage work for her money performing household chores and errands in it business.
She believes that her method of education instills in the little girl the values of hard work and respect, preparing her for the future.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
