The Manual is a biweekly “how to” column that features ways St. Edward’s University students can learn quick projects, practical fixes and cheap ways to have fun and survive in Austin.

For students, the Thanksgiving holiday is always a welcomed reprieve from studies and a chance to travel home to see family. However, if you’re like many other college students, the holiday can often feel like a time for cramming in much-needed time with friends or last-minute studying for upcoming finals, all while low on the dough. What can a college student do? Try filling your holiday break with these cheap, multitasking ideas.

Have a Thanksgiving Meal in Austin

There are several local places that are offering make-do meals for Thanksgiving. For starters, The Driskill Grill will be serving a classy Thanksgiving meal special. “Enjoy a lavish holiday brunch or six course price-fixed dinner with wine pairings,” according to the restaurant’s Web site.

For a more traditional dinner, go to the Driskill 1886 Café and Bakery located in the Driskill Hotel.

On Sixth Street, Katz’s Deli and Bar offers a traditional turkey plate and many other homey, wholesome options. Also, it’s open 24/7, so no need to worry about getting there in time.

Threadgills will be open until 10 p.m. on Thanksgiving. This Austin classic will be serving turkey and dressing, and its famous strawberry rhubarb pie.

Volunteer in Austin

The Thanksgiving holiday is meant to make your reflect on what you have. What better way to appreciate all the great things in your life by giving back to the community? If you stick around Austin for long enough, you can check out women’s shelters, homeless shelters, retirement homes, and hospitals to see what you can do to help out those who may not have much.

For example, the Thundercloud Subs Turkey Trot, benefiting Caritas, needs help on Thanksgiving Day. You may contact Molly Sipe of Caritas at (512) 646-1251 or [email protected] for details.

Also, Austin’s Operation Turkey is in need of volunteers to help cook food, to sort donations, to package the food in to-go containers and to deliver the food.

If you sign up as a volunteer in the upper right-hand corner of the Web site (www.operationturkey.com) where it reads “Newsletter & Volunteers,” the organizers will send you details via e-mail.

All you have to do is show up at one their locations at 9:30 a.m. on Thanksgiving morning.

Host a Potluck Party for Friends

There’s no reason you can’t enjoy a festive dinner with your friends before you travel back home to celebrate Thanksgiving with the family.

Hosting a potluck dinner party is a cheap, simple, and fun way to spend time with friends. Easy potluck dishes include cranberry sauce, dinner rolls, a garden salad, green bean casserole, and—of course—desserts like cookies, cupcakes, and pies.

Set out your dishes on a table, grab some drinks, play some board games, and watch some football before you head to back home.

Go home with a friend

If you live too far away to head home this Thanksgiving, consider trekking home with a friend or roommate. Not only can you can spend some quality time with your travel buddy, but you can attain that traditional family feeling that often comes with this holiday.