Fedup with relatives

[SuperGert]

Sorry for the rant, but my in-laws are driving me nuts.

Knowing that I am on a tight budget, I always plan Christmas well in advance. I have a 5 year old Son and truly beleive that he shouldn't miss out due to my IVA. So have been saving up clubcard vouchers, and managed to get ALL the presents he was after for only £27 [:)]

I made sure I knew how many people were coming round for Xmas dinner, and got a cracking deal on a 4 bird roast for everyone, and have been buying little bits each week to add to the xmas supplies.

Anyhoo, today my mother in law throws the bombshell that my Sis in Law has invited her boyfirend and his Mother round our house for Xmas dinner and they are looking forward to spending the day with us. This is without asking, and my 4 bird roast is only for 6 people and not 8. I am absolutely fuming, as I can't afford to spend out on more food.

I was looking forward to Christmas, now I feel a stressful day approaching instead.

Sorry for the rant (

[Pandy]

SuperGert,

Buy more veg, it will eek out the meat more, make some nibbles to eat when people arrive before dinner i.e ritz (or cheap equivelent) crackers with a bit of cucumber and creamed cheese on. That way people won't want to eat as much for the main meal. 8 is a lot of people to have to cater for on a limited budget,
I sympathize, my sister does a thing in the US where you go to a meal with a food dish beginning with your name and makes a game out of it. It has proved great fun among her and her friends and they do get very inventive and can't wait to see what each other do and as she tells me it means she doesn't have to buy everything and cook it either, maybe you could suggest something like that as a thing explaining that 8 is a lot to cook for and you haven't got a big enough oven or pans etc.

[Foggy]

Roasties make a great filler -- always go down well and aren't too expensive

[plasticdaft]

Yup the dreaded family Christmas.

Extra stuffing or veggies may just do the trick but I agree its not polite to invite extras without asking 1st.

Paul

[Hair_bobbles]

It's not unreasonable to ask everybody to contribute towards the Xmas dinner. After all...there should be more happiness in giving than receiving...isn't that what Xmas is supposed to be all about!

I would tell mum inlaw - that you would like everybody to bring a dish & tell them what to bring.

[SuperGert]

Many thanks for the advice. My husband has said that we can make the roast stretch to everyone, and as suggested pad it out with lots of veg. Everyone will want to make room for pudding anyway [:)] Just got to figure out how to fir 8 guests round a 6 person table. Going to have to bring the garden table inside.

Oh the joy - looking forward to a very large drink on Christmas Day [:D]

[Shining]

You may find people automatically bring something as I would never turn up without anything to a planned meal out at a friend/relatives house. Hopefully their contribution will be forthcoming and useful. Have a wonderful day, in this house I often plan to cook for a lot less than actually turn up and like others have said veg and roasties will bulk it out.

[Skippy]

I agree with padding out the meal with extra veg. I would also have to say something to my mother in law about inviting people without asking me first as to me that's just rude and I would be furious!

[luluj]

Cocktail sausages wrapped in bacon and extra veg will pad it out ...but equally i would be saying something to ma in law ! I am sure it will all be fine in the end .... I cooked xmas for ten last year .... I had all my timings written down so i knew exactly when what had to go in /out of the oven ..... Gave me time for a few sneaky drinks!

[plasticdaft]

I'd be giving the mother in law a small portion!

[Helpless121]

I wouldn't be giving mine anything is she did that!
Well my wife said what everyone else has, extra veg and roasts would pad it out but if you can stretch to it, she also suggested maybe buy a small chicken and add that as an extra. If you have a Aldi near you, maybe pop in there and pick one up for £3.49 for a medium or £4.99 for a larger bird or even do a turkey pie as turkey is pretty cheap when you buy it prepared i.e. fillets or diced for about £1.99 and add some butternut squash to it, shove it in a pie? Just ideas my Mrs uses all the time for lovely meals on a budget.
It'll work out in the end as I'm sure the main high point will be seeing your little one opening his presses and having a joyous smile on his face. Happy Christmas from us and hope you have a great time.

[SuperGert]

All your suggestions have been great, and we have decided to cook a little chicken as also suggested. TBH, our son would probably prefer and eat the Chicken, plus we can have leftovers on boxing day [:)]

My hubby called his Mum over the weekend to emphasise that everyone will have to bring their own drinks, as we cannot be expected to fork out for that also.

I nearly screamed when the MIL said that they had decided to scrap the idea of just buying a present for our Son, and that everyone should by a present for each other, otherwise they would be forking out money for him and not get anything in return [:(!] Thank goodness I nipped that one in the bud and said a bit fat NO to that suggestion. As I pointed out, he is their only Grandchild so should not be holding a grudge against buying him a present just to get one in return, he is only 5 for goodness sake and secondly they are getting a hell of a lot spent on food by us, so pretty rude if they think they are being hard done by and getting nothing in return.

Geeze - Pass me a bottle of vino [:)]

My hubby doesn't like to see me so stressed out as I have put so much effort into a great Christmas without spending a small fortune. I am going to relax and enjoy the day and what will be will be.

Wishing everyone on the forum a very Happy Christmas x

[martinw]

font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica">quote:<hr height="1" noshade>Originally posted by SuperGert


I nearly screamed when the MIL said that they had decided to scrap the idea of just buying a present for our Son, and that everyone should by a present for each other, otherwise they would be forking out money for him and not get anything in return [:(!]

I always thought that with christmas gifts that it was the thought that counts, rather than an exchange of equally valuable goods

I think it's rather rude to expect a gift from anyone, especially as the limiting of gifts was discussed

Martin

[Shining]

at 5 he will enjoy his presents and the more the merrier. I'd gain far more enjoyment watching a little one open their gift than me receiving one

[SuperGert]

Oh boy do I now feel terrible about starting this post. We found out today the sad news that my MIL has been diagnosed with terminal lung cancer and that this may be her last Christmas.

News like this really changes how you think about things, and going to make sure that if it is her last then it's going to be a flipping good one that everyone is going to enjoy.

Lesson learnt that family, no matter how much of a pain in the botty they are at times, they are also the most important people in the world x