Do You Invite Friends to Dinner?
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'You’re being far too kind, agreeing to favours for those who do very little for you. It is time you started to say no to giving up all your spare time?'
Just read my horoscope. Three times this week i have hosted friends for meals, a light lunch, a full on lunch and evening dinner. Apart from the cost i never get a return invite although their visits can sometimes last 6 hours.
Am i the only one who invites friends for meals these days? If i didn't do the inviting, they wouldn't, but if i stop i won't get to see them.
This doesn't apply to my family as we always feed and visit each other. When i was a young woman it was common practise to host and be hosted, why do people no longer do this?
I invite my friends to ours and they invite me to theirs. It does usually involve a playdate with our kids but we have lunch and catch up too.
Lynibis But you do seem to begrudge the situation, otherwise you wouldn't have posted the question.
I used to do the same and have friends around, but it never bothered me when they didn't host. Now if they were hosting a dinner party and I wasn't invited, I'm sure that I would have got the right hump.
TheChimp I am finding it more expensive in the cost of living situation and do feel it would be nice if they contributed dessert or went halves in a takeaway on the odd occasion. I suppose I am judging by my own standards as I would not dream of going to someone empty handed. I even take some wine or homemade cake when I eat at my sons even when they say not to. I have always been generous and it is hard to know when I am taken advantage of when it is not a two way street, so yes I guess I can feel a bit put upon but don't begrudge, or do I? Hard to analyse how I feel as I am not better off than any of them.
Edit, as I said elsewhere, definitely not dinner parties, I doubt anyone would come to a single elderly lady for a dinner party 
Lynibis We have BBQs a few times a year and there's one family member who doesn't offer to bring anything, not even booze for themselves. The rest of the family will always ask if there's anything we need anything, and if we do, they'll bring it. Maybe some rolls or coleslaw from the supermarket, but that's about it.
I'd come on dinner party with you because I'd love to have a hear your experiences.
TheChimp not on there I'm afraid only tik tok doing my history stuff. I know you are in Wales and I have studied lots of Welsh history and find it appalling how the Welsh were treated historically. First one I read was about Owen Glendower, but also Llewellyn ap Gruffyd, etc. I have posted about Edward I and tricking the Welsh into Ed II becoming Prince of Wales on @historynutter
I only have family. Otherwise it’s just my husband and me. We don’t have friends but wouldn’t do that anyway. It seems like it’s all one way and them taking from you so I wouldn’t do it. Or why don’t you at one of your invites subtly invite yourself? Wouldn’t be out of place if you are the one that has been hosting until now.
Nope, we don't need excuses, we don't do dinner parties ect...it's not our thing
martinlufc5637 oh my goodness, no way are they dinner parties, just friends coming for lunch and a catch up. You must understand that I am elderly and live alone so if I didn't keep in touch I would be living a very lonely life. The evening friend, every Saturday, arrives about 4 and leaves around 11 so have to give some sort of food, often something I would do for myself, sausage and mash, cottage pie, pasta bake etc.
Lynibis any sausage apart from tomato sausages, they are horrible, I love cottage pie too, it's my favourite thing to eat
I don't do it because I think there's generally a lack of reciprocation. It becomes an expectation by some people and they have no shame in taking advantage of free food and drinks 
It makes me sad that friends and neighbours are no longer part of each others lives. I guess times have changed and people no longer feed anyone other than their own family. I was raised in a time when neighbours were friends and we were in and out of each others houses on a daily basis, even if just for tea or coffee and home baked cake. Seems feminism and working mums (a necessity nowadays) along with social media has destroyed all that. Thing is unless you are over a certain age you wouldn't even realise what you're missing.
we love inviting people around to eat but its a lot less than it used to be due to the cost! My wife loves to really push the boat out and have themed menus and spends all day cooking for it. Most of the time we have friends round these days it will be snacks - or getting a takeway in
didbygraham that's wonderful, I do love socialising. I hope your friends reciprocate as your wife goes to such lengths. Mind you, some people are a bit uneasy at doing it to the same level lol.
We used to be part of group, 8 of us, the dinner parties became competitive between two couples. I was pleased in a way when lockdown started and when we were invited to start up again I declined as I have a low immunity. Still not joined in with them.
My friend comes to my place some days because she does shift work .I buy food and she cooks it. We eat together.It works well for us both. She's a better cook than me and it works cheaper all around and is presently a help to us both as well as good company shared.
Not dinners but happy to have people in for a coffee or a couple drinks & picky bits. We prefer going out than hosting in doors.
Glitterandgold yep, that's great, doesn't have to involve a meal and I guess many people are not confident enough to cook for others.
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