Blueprint: A budget-friendly Friendsmas done right

Read time 7 Mins

Posted 09 Nov 2023

By
Alexandra Whiting

Friends celebrating in front of a Christmas tree with Espresso Martinis

Be the host with the most – DIY festive accessories, fun AF drinks menu, and money left over.

Good food, good drink, good friends – at its essence, a party is a timeless combination of elements brought to life by the individual touch that hosts and guests contribute to the occasion. To help you pull off your best and most fun-filled gathering yet, our Dan’s Daily Blueprints tell you everything you need to host whatever event is next on your hit list.

There’s a lot of events throughout the holiday season – with family, work, your netball team – but the one you most want to do, the one you’re not trying find an excuse to avoid, the one with the people you most want to spend time with, is Friendsmas (whether you call it that or not – but if you don’t, you should start). Christmas is already an expensive time, so you might be thinking this treasured tradition needs to get cut this year, but we’re here to say it doesn’t have to go. Just tweak it. Rather than going to a restaurant, which is spenny and limits your time together, save by keeping it at home. Save money, savour your time together, and, effectively, save Friendsmas. With our blueprint on how to throw the perfect Friendsmas party on a budget, we’ll show you not just how to do it all, but how to make it better than any previous year.

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Dress code

Just because we’re cutting costs, doesn’t mean you’re downgrading the sartorial requirements. Dress to impress or have a theme, if that’s your thing. If it is your thing, just be sure to keep it loose and easy to do, so no one has to buy anything to fit in. “A Little Bit of Sparkle”, “Dressed Up” or “Merry and Bright” are all fun, festive and can be met with something your mates already have in their wardrobe.

Two women drinking Espresso Martini cocktails at Christmas party

How to decorate

A little DIY craft and creativity, and you’ll be pulling out all the stops without pulling out your wallet. Place-setting the table will add a touch of formality and grandeur, but rather than make individual place cards, roll out a butcher’s paper table cloth and write your guests names on their spots. You could give your crayons and paints a real workout and add some other elements (there are some great ideas on Pinterest, start here). If you have a Christmas tree up, make it a central focus and use it as a prop in your photos on the day.

What to drink

Around here, bevs on a budget doesn’t mean goon. Below we’ve curated six low-cost, high-value drinks that’ll make your money go as far as possible this Chrissy.

1. The cocktail hack

Your friends are over, you want things to be easy – go for a cocktail mixer to save you the muss and fuss. Pick up a bottle of the much-hyped Fever Tree Espresso Martini Mixer and some vodka, make sure your ice trays are loaded, and you’re good to go. This mixer makes five cocktails, and if you pick up a vodka like Rivka, it all works out at $6.40 per cocktail – bargain! These are excellent cocktails on arrival for a mega-affordable price.

Bottle of Fever Tree Espresso Martini Mixer

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2. The no-carb brew

If you love beer and but necessarily all the carbs that can come with it, you’re going to really be into the XXXX Ultra Zero Carb, especially at this time of year. With the same crisp, refreshing flavour you want from a traditional brew, this zero-carb option is light, low on bitter and super balanced. It’s a great drink to add to the party offering and might even get more takers than just the usual beer sippers.

3. The crowd-pleasing pack

The thing about trying to keep a gang of mates happy is that everyone likes something different. If you want to be the host with the most, grab a Brookvale Union Mixed 10-pack and you’ll be giving everyone options. There’s a Vodka Lemon, Lime & Bitters or Vodka and Peach Iced Tea, Alcoholic Ginger Beer and even a Vodka and Creaming Soda. The best bit? They’re just $4.50 a pop.

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Dark fruit flavour Ferngrove Black Label Malbec

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4. The bagnum

Don’t let wine in a pouch make you feel like you’re not fancy – bagnums are the way forward. That’s especially true of the Tread Softly Rosé. Naturally lower in alcohol and long-lasting (up to four weeks after opening!) in its sustainable package, this rosé is an ideal sipper for a crowd on a warm day. We also love that it slips straight into the fridge, leaving room for all the bits and pieces your guests will squish in there when they turn up.

5. Bubbles that over-deliver

If you think great bubbles are beyond your budget, we have two seriously hot picks. The De Bortoli King Valley Prosecco is a winner, which, at less than $15, is everything you want from a fresh sparkling wine (the pretty label doesn’t hurt, either). If you can stretch a little further, try the Sieur d'Arques Grande Cuvee Cremant de Limoux. It’s not Champagne, but it is French and delish, and the bottle is straight-up gorge. At just $20 with the current My Dan’s member offer right now, this is a maaaajor bargain.

Bottle of Taltarni Blanc de Blancs on top of presents

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6. Summer in a bottle

Spritzy, sweet and with a hint of watermelon in the mix, the Devil’s Vine Wraith of Watermelon Moscato is just screaming to be poured out, icy cold, among your mates. Think large wine glasses, some ice cubes thrown in, maybe even cubes of fresh watermelon in the glass, too. At just 8% ABV, it’s a prime pick to be enjoyed in the sunshine with friends.

What to eat

Don’t go conventionally “Christmassy” – there’ll be plenty of baked dinners to sit through in the next month. This year, make Friendsmas Italian. Pizza and pasta are great because they’re filling and crowd pleasers. You can make them fancy or simple, inexpensively. You can use up leftover ingredients on your pizzas: pork from an aforementioned roast, ham from the leg you won at the pub’s meat raffle, feta from the back of your fridge – or get guests to each bring a topping. You can also premake them and simply cook when it’s time to eat, so it’s low drag on your time in the kitchen. For the pasta course, simple is always best: penne alla vodka, cacio e pepe, carbonara or pesto. Focus on getting your pasta al dente and your sauce perfectly seasoned rather than a complicated, costly recipe. All up, it’s a great menu for companion drinks. Not overwhelming in flavour, satisfying but not overwhelming. It also allows for a quick and easy clean-up.

Playlist

Start off with some background music, a playlist titled something like “Music For When Your Cool Friends Come Over”, then escalate to your crew’s favourite sing-along and dance tracks – Spotify’s Today’s Top Hits does it every time. It’s time to show off your Ice Spice rap skills.

Pouring sparkling wine into a glass with Christmas presents on table

Don’t forget

We want to keep the cost low, so this year, be clever with your presents and ensure a price-capped Secret Santa. You could also do away with presents altogether and ask everyone to put in $50 each (you’d be paying four times that if you went out) to contribute to the food and wine instead. You could also do a Secret Santa with DIY festive, wearable accessories for each other. Say what? Everyone draws a name in the weeks before and then has to make (strictly make) an accessory for their person to wear at Friendsmas. A giant shiny bow-tie made from wrapping paper. A tinsel fascinator. A personalised Santa hat. A headband made of battery operated fairy lights. Show your love with your creativity.