How to plan the perfect Christmas dinner as a student

Inviting your friends or flatmates

Firstly, create a social media group chat to invite your friends to the festive fun. Make sure you allocate a date and time that suits your group. Consider asking your friends if they have any dietary requirements. Is anyone a vegetarian or only eats Christmas dinners with Yorkshire Pudding? It’s important to make note of this straight away.

Setting a budget and collecting money from friends

It is easier to agree on a budget before going food shopping, so there is a set menu leading to fewer disagreements over what vegetables are on the table. Are there any items that can be crossed off the shopping list to reduce costs? Maybe the brussels sprouts your parents encourage you to eat every year but you secretly dislike? Remember to confer with your friends to ensure everyone’s budgets are being respected.

Shopping for food and decorations 

• Go food shopping as a flat - a sociable experience, but will require more planning 
• Designate a product for which attendant to buy - easier for people to organise, however guests may prefer different brands or flavours of products. 
• One person buys a roast dinner ready meal - a quicker shopping and cooking process, although it may reduce the fun of cooking 

There are many shops within walking distance from our university sites and accommodation. Food shopping can be expensive, so we recommend visiting cheaper supermarkets and taking advantage of any available deals. Consider buying cheap decorations to create a more festive environment. Tinsel costs no more than £5!

Designate a flatmate to a task

It is important to separate workloads to make the experience more enjoyable. Do you have a friend who is always cooking delicious meals? Maybe they could take on the role of head chef? A potential role for someone who doesn’t enjoy cooking could be doing the washing up.

Create a Christmas playlist 

What’s a social event without a fantastic playlist? We recommend you create a fantastic, festive playlist. Why don’t you take inspiration from our Spotify Christmas playlist? 

Find an outfit 

Do you want to set a dress code for the event? If you enjoyed Halloween at university, why don’t you get those fancy-dress costumes back out? Imagine eating Christmas dinner with the Grinch, Jack Skellington from The Nightmare Before Christmas or Rudolph the reindeer. You can purchase these fantastic costumes and more on a budget in the Derbion. Or maybe you want to host a black-tie event? It’s time to get out the shirts, trousers, and formal dresses. Whatever the dress code, never forget the Santa Hat!

These tips are just a general guide to hosting a Christmas dinner. Feel free to customize this list to suit your friends' needs or even add a Secret Santa if your budgets allow for it. Remember to enjoy this Christmas dinner. It’s time to celebrate the end of another fantastic term at university with your friends. Make it one to remember!