I love three things: Duke, food, and free stuff. Combine them all and you get a tasty deal and save a few bucks. You might only have have 100 food points left for the semester or you might just like free things—here is how you can eat all the free food on campus:
1. Check your email and scan Facebook
Photo by Caroline Bay
On any given day, there will always be special guest speakers with refreshments or informational talks with pizza. You just have to find them. (Can’t wait? Here’s who delivers pizza the fastest.) If you’re not afraid of a bunch of emails or notifications, I recommend joining as many listservs or Facebook club pages as possible to increase your probability of coming across a free food announcement. Look for those magical four words, “Lunch will be provided.”
#SpoonTip: In your email search bar, try typing in “free lunch” or “free food.”
2. Attend cultural events
Photo by Caroline Bay
Every Monday, in the Center for Multicultural Affairs (CMA) Office, the Hare Krishna group serves a delicious vegetarian Indian meal starting at 5:30pm. Yes, please. Small donations are recommended, but not required.
3. Go to parties
GIF courtesy of giphy.com
Good parties have munchies and beverages. The beverages might come at a price, but the munchies are usually complimentary. Load up that mini plate and be sure to go back for seconds or click here for some boozy beverage ideas.
4. Check the dorm fridge
Photo by Le Yi (Alice) Zhou
Hey, if no one’s name is on it and it’s been in there for a day, it’s up for grabs, right? You just probably don’t want to eat the leftover Chinese that’s been sitting in there since the semester started.
5. Attend Monday Motivations
Photo by Caroline Bay
The CMA also hosts weekly Monday Motivations where students and community members can, according to the Student Affairs website, “discuss issues pertaining to multiculturalism and social justice.” The topics and speakers are pretty cool… with the bonus of free lunch, of course.
6. Tupperware
Photo by Emily Waples
Ok, so you do need a swipe to get into Marketplace, but the leftovers you take out of Marketplace are basically free and you can get super creative with them. Although not allowed in Marketplace, it’s pretty easy to sneak in your tupperware. As long as you have a bag and a container, you’re good to go. Can you top these stolen Marketplace goods?
#SpoonTip: Sitting in a booth provides increased protection from Marketplace managers’ gazes.
Enjoy your spoils. You earned them.