How to Tailgate on a Budget

It’s football season, which also means tailgating. If you love to throw a pregame party at your home or in a stadium parking lot, then you know hosting can be expensive.

But you don’t have to let cost get in the way of a good celebration, because we have plenty of ideas for how to save money.

As a regular party host myself, I make planning ahead my guiding principle to control costs. I set the menu well in advance so I have more time to hunt for sales.

Amy Webb, an accredited financial counselor (AFC) based near Galveston, Texas, agrees. Planning makes it easier to invite other people to contribute and decide what you need to buy, she says.

Check your team’s schedule to get a leg up.

“Pick the games you want to go all out for. Sometimes people will plan to host last minute or every Sunday, and that’s when it can get pricey,” she says. Circling the date of a big rivalry game can give you more time.

Here are four more ways to save on tailgating.

Create a low-cost signature dish

What’s a popular treat in your region?

Perfecting one go-to dish can make a party feel festive without racking up a big expense, Webb says. She makes a kind of Cincinnati-style chili that features cinnamon, chocolate and other sweeter flavors to serve while she cheers on the Cincinnati Bengals.

“To me, that’s something cheap that I can make at home, and it makes everyone feel like they are in Cincinnati,” she says.

A ham-and-cheese slider platter is my go-to for tailgates. It’s relatively inexpensive to buy sweet buns, ham, cheese, butter and honey. Plus, sliders are easy to make in the oven and serve in a grab-and-go style for large groups.

Shop grocery discounts

When you know what you're making ahead of time, you can schedule your grocery shopping trips around sales.

Katie Ubelhor, an AFC in Cincinnati, buys the meat she needs on Tuesdays, when her local store marks it down by 50% to 75%.

That can work well even if your party isn’t until Sunday. “I freeze it and thaw it right before I need it,” she says.

Writing down your shopping list before hitting the store can also help, says Lynn McHann, an AFC in Bozeman, Montana.

“Apply the meal-planning mindset. Pick the main event — like wings or burgers, but not both — then use cheaper sides to fill everything else in,” she says. Otherwise, you might overbuy.

Don’t forget to apply your grocery store’s loyalty account at checkout, if you have one.

Hand out potluck assignments

Turning the tailgate into a potluck can spread out the costs, and guests are often happy to contribute. Your mission is to make it easy for everyone to know what to bring.

Webb suggests circulating a virtual sign-up sheet for people to select which type of item they want to bring. “It helps everybody,” she says, because otherwise guests might have no idea what to bring, or you could end up with too many desserts.

Drinks can also turn into a “bring your own beverage” invitation, says Amanda Christensen, AFC and extension professor at Utah State University Extension. She suggests that the host provide a cooler of ice and guests bring their own favorite beverage.

“Not only does this share in the community-building experience, but it also helps share the cost,” she adds.

Ubelhor says if you’re concerned friends can’t afford to purchase items to bring, you can invite them to share what they already own.

Maybe they have a canopy or a cooler at home that would help out, or they could find supplies to borrow from friends or neighbors. “There’s no need to buy something new,” she adds. Some library systems also allow users to check out equipment for gatherings.

Embrace simple decor tricks

NFL-branded decor can be pricey, but color-themed tablecloths and signs can feel just as festive, McHann says.

“Don’t pay a Pinterest tax and think we have to make an elaborate event for people,” she says.

Instead, make decorating an activity during the party. Guests can make their own signs with a few supplies. You can also encourage them to wear their team colors.

“It gives you the festive feeling but on the cheap,” she says. “No one’s ever left a great tailgating party saying, ‘I wish they had football-shaped napkins.’”

You can also look out for decor throughout the year, when it might be on sale. Webb picks up any tiger decor she sees at dollar stores. Because … Bengals fan.

“If it’s on clearance and a tiger, I will get it,” she says.