Christmas: Cardiff gran who charges family ups her prices
- Published
Caroline Duddridge is also levelling up how much she bills male and female relatives to avoid being called 'sexist'
A grandmother who charged her family for Christmas dinner last year has raised her prices for 2023.
Caroline Duddridge, 63, previously made her adult relatives pay up to £15, while her youngest grandchildren got a £2.50 bill each.
But this December it has gone up to cover the increased cost of living and rising food prices.
Caroline, from Fairwater in Cardiff, described a general food shop in the current climate as "just horrifying".
She first got the idea to make guests fork out for her turkey dinner when her husband died in 2015.
She even tells her loved ones to transfer the money straight into her bank account, because it is easier to "keep track of any stragglers".
In 2022, her two sons were charged £15, her three daughters £10, her four grandchildren over five £5 and her two three-year-old grandchildren £2.50.
Her sons were levied more because they are full-time workers, while her daughters who work part-time also have families.
Yuletide 2023 will be slightly different though, she revealed.
"I have put the girls' prices up (this year) by £2 because I did get a bit of stick from people saying I was being sexist - not that I listen to public opinion, particularly," said Caroline.
Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, she added that even raising her prices still may not cover the amount supermarkets charge.
Caroline will be hosting Christmas for her family again this year
"I'm not sure it will, because when you buy a few bits and pieces it comes to like £30 or £40 and it's barely a bag full.
"This is not Christmas stuff either but just general shopping - it's just horrifying and you wonder where it's all going to end."
Caroline argues that, inflation or not, her fees are still good value for money given that her festive spread lasts from Christmas Eve until Boxing Day.
Previously that included a mini buffet of sandwiches before a slap-up turkey dinner with all the trimmings on 25 December, along with a nut roast and a choice of four desserts.
That would be followed by a full buffet on 26 December.
"I also do food for my parents and take it round to them - they find it a bit too much coming to mine now."
Caroline added that, while she understood some people calling her a Scrooge, many thought it was a good idea.
"There were the usual trolls, but some people thought it was really good idea - they even said they were going to adopt it themselves," she said.
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