Neither rain, nor snow, nor sleet nor hail shall keep football fans from tailgating.
A tight budget? That’s a different story.
Although it’s a more affordable alternative to partying in the stadium, tailgating comes with its own costs. Calling for pounds of beef, cases of beer and pricey equipment, a single tailgate party could end up costing hundreds.
Still, a smart host knows how to tailgate without overspending. You can learn the art of tailgating on the cheap with the help of the guide below.
[See: 12 Ways to Be a More Mindful Spender.]
Cut down on food costs:
— Ask for help: Perhaps the easiest way to cut food costs is to ask your guests to contribute a dish. To organize your tailgating potluck, draw up a menu and send out an email encouraging guests to volunteer for different items. Make sure your sign-up list covers all the bases, including appetizers, snacks, mains and desserts.
— Stick to cheap, delicious recipes: As the host, plan on contributing at least one or two of the main dishes. You don’t have to dedicate the bulk of your budget to mains. Instead, stick to cheap, delicious tailgating foods, such as wings, kebabs, corn dogs and quesadillas. Stock up on frozen beef and veggie patties and load up on inventive ingredients, such as sauerkraut, salsa, chili and chopped veggies to spice up your burgers.
Save on alcohol:
— Don’t get too fancy: There is a time and place for fancy craft brews and cocktails. Your tailgating party isn’t one of them. Swigging cheap beer on game day is a tradition as old as time, so set aside any beer snobbery and stock up on low-cost classics. Remember: A cheap beer isn’t necessarily a bad beer. People are particularly fond of Lone Star, Pabst Blue Ribbon, Simpler Times and Yuengling.
— Buy in bulk: Typically, you’ll find lower per-unit pricing on cases of beer at grocery and liquor stores. You can also often score dramatic savings on booze at warehouse stores like Costco. Don’t have a membership? You may still be able to take advantage of Costco’s low prices. In states where alcohol clubs are prohibited, Costco locations feature separate liquor stores where non-members are permitted to shop.
[See: 6 Ways to Treat Yourself on a Budget.]
— Make it BYOB: As alcohol can easily become the biggest expense of any party, you can slash your spending substantially by making your tailgate BYOB. Supply a few cases of beer but suggest that guests bring their libations of choice. Encourage invitees who aren’t contributing food to bring along a case to share.
Set up for less:
— Head to the dollar store: Dollar stores are treasure troves of paper goods and party gear, including paper plates, plastic cups, napkins and cookware. In many locations, you can also dig up decent art supplies and decorations.
— Make your own spirit gear: Officially licensed team apparel and decorations come with high markups. To display your team pride without overspending, craft your own spirit gear. Grab the art supplies you found at the dollar store and paint your own banners. Hang up team-color streamers and bring along body paint to decorate faces with playful designs. Ask everyone to bring along any extra apparel and accessories in team shades to share.
— Borrow equipment: A perfect tailgate site calls for a lot of pricey equipment. Enlist the help of your friends to deck out your spot. Draw up a list of all the gear you will need, and ask your friends if they can bring along any of the equipment you are missing. Make sure you’ve taken care of all the tailgating essentials, including a grill with propane gas or charcoal, lighter fluid or gas regulators, grilling and serving utensils, coolers and ice, lawn chairs, folding tables, a fire extinguisher, tents, canopies or tarps.
[See: 10 Oddly Practical Things You Can Rent.]
— Research parking: Generally, the closer you park to the ballpark, the more you’ll pay. Park wisely, and you could save yourself a good $20. Before heading out, look up privately owned lots in the area that allow game day parking. Plan to set up camp in these cheaper zones and ask your guests to throw down for parking fees. On the big day, you can often catch shuttle buses that will carry you straight to the stadium.
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Sports Fans, Here’s How to Tailgate Without Blowing Your Budget originally appeared on usnews.com
