When throwing a pot luck, why do some people feel the need to be the cheapest people ever!!??

Question

Were throwing another pot luck at work.. and at our past ones, i always stick to the rules of the pot luck... make something tasteful, and filling and enough for everyone... im the only guy in a department of girls, and the girls i work with are SOOOOOO CHEAP... they all opt for the desert. "cupcakes, brownies..ect" and they dont make them...they just buy the 3 dollar assortments at albertsons..while i spend 50 dollars and a whole night making enchilada casserole.... so were having another pot luck... and i dont want to bring anything expensive this time... its a sandwich theme, what should i bring?

i really dont want to seem cheap, i just came to find out that there are other departments that are gonna join us. so im sure they will bring more things, and i dont want to seem like a cheap *** to them. thank you all for the gread advice! that chicken salad sandwich sounds good!
its a wonder these girls would ever get married... i feel sorry for thier future husbands or current ones at that.

Answer 1

Oh, I hate that too. When someone signs up for cokes or mustard. That irks me to no end!!

Bring chips and dip or chips and salsa!! Easy and cheap and goes well with sandwiches. Let someone else bring the main course this time. Sounds like you always pull the most weight!!

Answer 2

At our business it's the opposite. The women work the same number of hours each week as the men, but the women are expected to make something "homemade". The men have been known to go together and split the cost of rolls and butter from the grocery store.

For the sandwich theme here's what I make.

Slice a large loaf of French bread length-wise. Spread a mixture of mayonnaise and mustard on both halves. Add sliced turkey, ham, roast beef or whatever meats you like, sliced cheese, sliced tomatoes, and onion. Sprinkle with oregano and replace the top. I either put the sandwich intact into the original bag, or slice it and put it in an airtight container.
This is easy, and since you are the chef you get to chose the meats, type of cheese and other toppings.

Answer 3

It sounds like you've either been raised in the South, or at least raised Southern Baptist!!! Kiss your momma for me for raising you correctly! It sounds like the only person who LIKES to do pot luck is you! Maybe the person in charge of the pot luck needs to organize takeout instead. It's obvious you work with a bunch of people who don't give a whoop about preparing something special to share. I don't think they deserve your effort, if that is all they ever contribute.

You can't necessarily be mad when it may just not be something they care about or enjoy doing...why not organize and collect money for boxed lunches instead? The organizer can collect everyone's money, and go pick it up. That way, you can all enjoy special food together, and nobody can cheap-skate out b/c you eat what you paid for.

The other thing is: Pot luck usually isn't very cheap when you make enough of your dish for everybody. You're always going to spend at least $10 on ingredients for whatever you bring. May as well spend that money on a real lunch, and then you don't have to lug a dish to work!

Answer 4

Oh my neighbor is exactly the same. Every time we have a neighborhood picnic she brings a vegetable tray with what looks like a sliced up half a carrot and a lemon wedge. Some people just don't care. For sandwich theme you could get a cheap package of bologna and lay it out on a tray like you got it at a deli. Surround it with some lettuce and insert some toothpicks and you are set.

Answer 5

I have to provide a whole lunch for my husband's work once a month. Everyone has a day to bring lunch and most of the people don't put thought into it either. I say buy hot dogs and bring that! If someone complains, say that since everyone else doesn't have time to invest, neither do you. Good luck and know that you aren't the only one, I totally understand. (If you want cheap but good still, go with meatball sandwiches)

Answer 6

It must be that they aren't such great cooks, so to save themselves and embarassment... they rather go out and buy something cheap... Where I work it's the other way aroud... everyone brings home cooked meals...yummy... thanks for making me hungry btw lol...

Don't ever spend more than 20 bux from now on if that's how they work there lol... not worth it obviously... hmmm... do you like spinach dip???

I would just go to a bakery and get that round bread, cut the middle like a circle u know lol O like that haahhahaha and put the spinach dip inside the bread you then take the piece you took out and cut it into pieces and lay them around the dish you're going to be using so they can dip the pieces of bread in the dip... like fondue (is that how you spell it? lol)...

It's cheap, taste good and makes a wonderful display... or be cheap like them and make grilled cheese hahahaha

Answer 7

Maybe you should talk to your manager about making a sheet for the potluck. (Or if you have time, offer to do it yourself!) One week Krystal, Jenny, and Barb bring the entree parts, Lisa and Danielle bring the salad, and Christy, Annie and you bring dessert. Next time the potluck comes around, switch everyone's roles.

You shouldn't be shouldered with always having to make the good food. In a passive-agressive way, it may stop them from being so cheap when they actually have to cook something and put time into it like you have.

Good luck! (I hate potlucks that end up being all sweets.)

Answer 8

Its great that you have the time, energy and money to go all out for your pot luck but it sounds as if you have different expectations for the event than everyone else in the office. Lower your expectations and bring something that takes similar effort as to what the others are bringing. Different kinds of sandwich wraps are a great way to show creativity in a way that does not cost too much and is really easy to do and they look great. I like to made bacon, cheese and lettuce wraps, pizza wraps with pizza sauce, cheese and pepperoni, ham and cheese and I always find a vegetarian option like a mixed veggie wrap with green peppers, lettuce, tomates, onions and pineapple. This is supposed to be something fun not something that causes bitterness for you

Answer 9

I would bring something that requires a little less effort and cash.

Chicken salad with celery, almonds and grapes or apples
Tuna salad with onion and parsely (pickle relish is good too)
Roast Beef with cheese and horseradish mayonnaise (easy to make)
Turkey with cranberry
Humus and cucumber

Salads are good with sandwiches, how about a cucumber salad. I use sliced cucumbers, rice wine vinegar and a little OO.

Answer 10

despite the fact that if chrome metallic is a non ferrous metallic it does not have a risky fume such does aluminum. The spot could come off with some intense scrubbing using some ingredient like an s.o.s pad if actually the pot has flaked something it could be very obvious that it has actually flaked or cracked.