How to host a 'Friendsgiving' for under $20
My mom always told me the best way to express that you care about someone is through food.
But on a college budget, I found providing a full-blown Thanksgiving — or Friendsgiving — dinner for my close friends to be difficult.
Luckily, I discovered a few tricks to that will help you make a delicious meal for your friends without breaking the bank.
1. Create a shopping list and go through the store specifically looking for the right ingredients
I had decided ahead of time to make buttered carrots, sparkling cranberries, turkey skillet, mashed potatoes, rolls and pumpkin mousse. I made a list of necessary ingredients and only purchased what I needed.
2. Find off-brand substitutions
Save money by purchasing more store or unknown brands. Compare the prices of other items and find the least expensive product. Often the off-brand substitute tastes just as good as the name brand.
3. Simplify your meal
It is a lot more expensive to make a full traditional meal with a turkey, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, stuffing, pumpkin pie, green bean casserole and sweet potato casserole, so simplify instead.
Sweet potato and turkey skillet, pumpkin mousse and sparkling cranberries incorporate common Thanksgiving foods and save money.
Simple decorations can make a Friendsgiving table look really nice and it's easy to create by using what you already have. To make a simple centerpiece, I took my empty pumpkin can, filled it with water and put in a couple simple flowers that I had laying around my apartment. I'd also recommend cut out paper leaves and scattering them on the table to continue the 'fall' theme.
5. Find ways to save time
Instead of making homemade rolls, I bought ones that needed to just be popped on a baking sheet and put in the oven. Not only did it save me time, but it saved me $3. You can also prep elements of your meal in advance so you can focus on more time-intensive elements on the actual day of Friendsgiving. Remember, time is money!
After you've finished, set everything out on the table and then invite your friends to grab some food.
Not it's time to sit back, relax and enjoy the company of your friends — all while relishing the fact that you prepared this wonderful meal for under $20.
Bonus tip: Save the leftovers!
Creating such a large meal typically generates leftovers. Take advantage of this and pack the extra food away for later — this will help tide you over until the dining hall reopens!
Maija Inveiss is a University of Wisconsin-Madison student and a member of the Paste BN College Contributor program.
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