Grandma Charges Her Family For Christmas Feast Every Year Including Toddlers

Dec 11, 2023 by apost team

The holiday season is one of the most awaited celebrations every single year because aside from gift-giving and creating moments with family and friends, it is also the time when you can eat anything because usually, someone cooks an overflowing abundance of food.

However, a woman named Caroline Duddridge, who was 64 years old in 2023, has a completely different take on the annual festive dinner as she makes her family pay her money for their meal, including the younger ones.

Duddridge spoke in an interview with The Sun published in November 2023, where she revealed that she retired from teaching years prior, only to go back and unretire because it was the only way for her to survive the rising cost of living.

“I’m a grey rinse grafter who is now back at work to pay the bills,” she said. 

Even though she lived under a widow’s pension after her husband died in 2015 due to cancer, she noted that it wasn’t enough and she needed to earn more, so she decided to go back to school to work as a supply teaching assistant in order to “survive.”

“I’m not the only one who can’t afford to be retired. Many of my friends are the same. I am a ‘pensioner seeking employment’” she added.

In addition to her job, she also took care of her elderly mother at the time.

As she was 64 years old at the time, it wasn’t easy for her to work with younger children at local primary schools because she needed to be on the ground to communicate with kids better.

“It’s incredibly hard work but I love it… My knees and back have seen better days but with the reception and year one kids you have to be up and down all the time,” she said. 

In a separate interview, Duddridge revealed that since prices are constantly rising, she even charges her family for their Christmas dinner, even her grandchildren, who were very young.

For her adult children, mostly in their 30s, they have to pay her £15 (approximately $18.82USD), while the younger ones, a 12-year-old and three nine-year-olds, are being charged £5 ($6.27USD). Lastly, the youngest ones, two three-year-olds, will eat for £2.50 ($3.14USD).

Every November, the woman said she would check her bank account to see who had already paid, and after she had tallied the “naughty and nice” list, she would call her children to remind those who haven’t transferred the money yet because the deadline is every first day of December.

“I’m spending dozens of hours finding the cheapest prices, best bargains and timing supermarket trips to get the pick of cut-price yellow label items… Every week my meal budget buys less and less so I have to be tactical in buying ingredients to make the dinner for my 12 guests,” she said.

Duddridge noted that she’s strict with payments because she doesn’t allow her kids to transfer the money at a later date because she’ll get them uninvited to the Christmas feast.

“I know many people will criticise charging for the Christmas meal, but I’m not bothered,” she said.

In addition to the food, the money she charges to her family also includes electricity, as it could get chilly during the holiday season, and they have to use the heater.

“Some people might think it’s harsh to put a levy on meals for kids but it’s an important life lesson. The older grandkids like to try and offer to help me to earn some of their money back and I admire that,” she added.

apost.com

What do you think of this woman’s move every Christmas season? Would you charge your family for their meals? Let us know your thoughts, and make sure to pass this on to your friends and family.