Budgeting and Teamwork: A Fun Friendsgiving Dinner Activity

During Thanksgiving, we traditionally gather with our families, friends and loved ones to express our thankfulness for each other. Still, behind the scenes, a great deal of time and money is invested in any group dinner. Friendsgiving is the ultimate combination of gratitude, good food and meaningful connections. 

But, putting together a dinner party--even with friends--requires budgeting, organization and teamwork. The fact is that while the dinner table is often filled with love and laughter, it involves real-world skills like managing expenses and making smart financial choices. So why not turn this year's Friendsgiving into a financial education activity for you, your friends and your family? 

Within this Friendsgiving activity, everyone can learn more about budgeting for special occasions. We have provided resources to assist you with leading this activity step by step.

The Scenario:

You and your friends are planning a Friendsgiving dinner. One friend will host the event, and everyone else will bring their favorite dishes for the feast. Your mission? Coordinate your Friendsgiving dinner, create a budget and learn how managing money can improve your financial literacy and benefit your life on more than just Thanksgiving.

Resources:

• Printable Activity Instructions
• Menu Form
• Recipe Form
• Printable Reflection Questions

Step 1: Send the Invitations.

Invite your friends or family to join the activity. Keep in mind that a larger group will require more food and a bigger budget.

Step 2. Build Your Menu.

Organize the menu and assign each guest a dish. Depending on the group size, some individuals may need to contribute more than one item.

Step 3: Gather Recipes. 

Collect recipes for the dishes being prepared. Then, identify the groceries needed to cook the food.

Step 4: Crunch the Numbers. 

Complete the recipe form to break down the cost of each dish:

• Item: the ingredients
• Store: where you will purchase the item
• Unit Price: the cost per individual item
• Total cost: the cost of the item in the quantity called for in the recipe
• Cost per person: the total cost of the dish divided by the number of guests

Step 5: Add Up the Bill. 

Gather the expense reports and fill out the menu form.

• Total cost of ingredients: the total cost to make your recipe
• Average cost per person: divide the cost of your recipe by the number of guests
• Who’s bringing the dish: write down the name of which guest is bringing which dish

Reflect and Learn:

After adding up the totals, gather your friends and family to answer these questions to bring the financial lesson full circle. 

1. Is the total cost of preparing your Friendsgiving dinner what you expected? Why or why not?
2. How does the cost per person at a Friendsgiving dinner compare to a restaurant? What are the benefits of hosting a party at home instead of going out?
3. What did you learn about comparing prices of items purchased at different stores?
4. What are the pros and cons of having a larger or smaller budget?
5. What financial literacy lessons from this activity can you apply to your life?

Why Budgeting Matters:

Friendsgiving isn't just about sharing food; it's about sharing knowledge, too. By turning festivities into a budgeting exercise, you'll walk away with more than just a good menu. You'll gain skills to help you navigate everything from grocery shopping to calculating a budget. And who knows? This Friendsgiving activity may be the start of a new Thanksgiving tradition. 

Ready to start learning? Let's make this the most rewarding (and educational) Friendsgiving yet!