Categories: Holidays

Celebrating The Big Game On A Budget

Super Bowl LIV is coming up before we know it. So now is the time to start making plans for how to spend that Sunday. The Super Bowl could seem like an event where you have to shell out a bunch of money in order to have a great time. But, this doesn’t have to be the case. This article will teach you how to celebrate the big game while still maintaining a budget.

1. Stay Home

Staying home is one of the major ways to save money while still watching the game and having a good time. Going to a bar to watch the game can seem like a fun time. However, in reality, it will be overcrowded and can force you to shell out a lot of money just for one day. Bars will be full of people and you will have to get there extremely early in order to secure a spot for you and your party. Also, we all know that eating out and getting drinks is way more expensive than dining at home. The Super Bowl is a day where you’re going to want to eat and drink a lot. So, the smart move is to put that money toward groceries you can eat at home, which will stretch out your budget.

2. Make Drinks At Home

Alcohol is often a big expense. However, this cost can be reduced by being smart about the alcohol that you choose to buy. I recommend making one signature drink for your Super Bowl party. Pick a drink that has only 2-3 ingredients, which will minimize costs. You can easily serve margaritas, which only require tequila, margarita mix, and ice. These are also a great option because you can serve them blended or over ice depending on what your guests like. You can also just offer beer, which can be bought in a 24-pack, which is a good idea if you are hosting a lot of people. The key is to just not offer that many options because too many choices results in needing a lot of ingredients, which adds up at the store. Having too many options also leads to having a lot of leftover drinks, which just ends up being a waste of money.

3. Ask Everyone To Do A B.Y.O.B.

This is another great option to handle drinks for the party if you don’t want to be in charge of all the alcohol. When you are inviting friends or family over, mention that the event will be B.Y.O.B. (bring your own bottle). If everyone brings drinks, there will be plenty for everyone to share. This will also be extremely helpful if you are on a budget because you won’t have to spend any money on alcohol.

4. Consider Doing A Potluck

One of the best ways to be on a budget on Super Bowl Sunday is by hosting a potluck. I recommend starting a group message with everyone who is invited to the party and coordinating a menu. Then, everyone can decide who will bring what. This drastically cuts down costs because each person will only be responsible for bringing one dish or item. This is a great alternative to the host being in charge of the whole menu, including drinks, appetizers, main dishes and dessert. Splitting the costs of food with all your guests will make the whole event cheaper and easier for everyone, which is perfect when you’re on a budget.

5. Keep Decorations To A Minimum

Party planning can be a ton of fun. Choosing the perfect decorations seems like an essential part of getting ready for a party. However, if you’re on a budget, you need to minimize the decorations. The truth is that everyone is there to watch the game, the halftime performance and the commercials while being surrounded by their friends. Only a few people will actually notice or appreciate any decorations that you spend time and money on. Therefore, this makes decorations a component of the party that you can easily cut back on. If decorations are important to you, you can opt for a few streamers, signs or other inexpensive items that will make your house more festive. But, save your money when you’re tempted to buy Super Bowl-themed plates, napkins or wall decor that will only be used once and is essentially just a waste of money.

6. Ask A Friend To Co-Host The Party

This step requires you to enlist the help of someone else. I recommend recruiting a significant other, family member or best friend to help you plan the party. This can ease the whole party planning process and take a lot of the stress off of you. When you have an awesome party, you can also both take credit for all of the hard work that went into it. If you’re on a budget, this is also the way to go. You can split costs with the other person, which cuts expenses in half. This can also allow you to splurge a little more on some aspects of the party because you are then only paying for half of it. Just make sure to pick a co-host who is just as dedicated as you are to making this the best party possible. You don’t want to choose someone who will slack on the planning or complain about any costs for the party.