Fall in Texas can only mean one thing… footbalf & tailgating. But hosting tailgate parties can get pricey! So what do you do if you want to have a great tailgate party, but money is tight? Here are some ways to save tailgating.
Tip #1
Attend only half the games in person. For the other half, tailgate at home. You’ll save on both game and tailgating expenses. Check out the average game expense.
Check this out, the average spending per person for “away” (at stadium) games:
- Parking: $40
- Ticket: $100
- Hot dog: $5
- Beverage: $6-$8 (soda, beer)
- TOTAL COST: $152 per game
Then tack on the cost of tailgating, which is an average of $30-$40 per person. That’s an expensive outing!
Tip #2:
Cost-share with other tailgaters, It’s all about strength in numbers. When times are tough, there is no better way for everybody to save money than to be able to pool your resources. Have everyone chip in a few dollars toward the supplies or bring a dish to pass and your good to go.
Tip #3:
Do it yourself and cook at home. Brew your own bear, build your own cornhole and make your own food. Not only is it more satisfying, it’s a whole lot less expensive. You don’t have to cook everything from hot dogs to turkeys either. You have to haul around a grill, buy propane or charcoal, and then all of the condiments. So, cut back on the amount of on-site cooking you have to do by making some of the food in advance. Chili is a great way to feed a huge crowd for under $25.
Tip #4
Buy cheaper cuts of meat. You can substitute sirloin or t-bone for filet mignon every so often & still get your beef on. And as for ground beef, leaner is not always better.
Tip #5
Purchase what you need in advance and buy in bulk.
Shop the sales! USE COUPONS and rebate apps! We do weekly ad match ups and good store deals every week. With a little time and smart shopping you can save a BUNDLE! You can find deals on bulk items at places like Wal-Mart or Sam’s Club. Even the dollar store will have all sorts of necessities like napkins, plastic silverware, decorations, and more. Keep an eye out for coupons and rebates. If you know you’re going to want a specific type of soda or beer for your tailgate if you have a few weeks in advance to plan you can wait until they go on sale and grab them when they are the cheapest.
Tip #6
Save on Party Supplies
Herr are some creative ideas to help you save:
- Don’t buy ice packs. Freeze bottles of water to use—and then you can drink the water as it thaws. Savings: $15.98 (Amazon) for ice packs or $2 per 10-lb. bag of ice (BagofIce).
- Don’t use utensils or additional plasticware. By serving snacks and meals you can eat by hand, you don’t have to buy utensils. Savings: $6 per 24-pack (Amazon) of knives, forks, spoons. Leave condiments in their containers. Put garnishes in recycled yogurt or cottage cheese containers. Use empty six-pack holders to hold smaller condiments, napkins and sanitary wipes. Savings: $9.99 for a 100-count box of plastic plates (Amazon).
Tip #7
Take the fewest number of vehicles as possible.
Instead of making 5 cars all drive separately, waste gas, pay for parking, and then go through the nightmare of trying to get spots all next to each other, arrange a meeting place before the game and have everyone pile into only the vehicles needed to carry all the party items and the people.
Tip #8
Buy tailgating items when they’re on sale, NOT the week before. If you know you will be tailgating don’t wait until the last minute to get the BIG STUFF. Every week we share all the greatest deals on chairs, tents, grills at rock bottom pricing. Don’t wait to buy everything until the last minute as your wallet will be a little slim!
Here are some examples of some deals that we’ve posted in the past. Note: These are expired deals but we post new ones daily! Just go here and scroll through the retail deals.
Home Depot ~ Big Discounts on Tailgating Items
Ozark Screen Canopy + 2 Chairs Only $89 (Retail $129)
Kingsford 2 Pack Charcoal Only $9.88
Here are some additional fun tailgating ideas and deals if you want to splurge:
It’s GIANT yardzee/farkle time from Rustic Rhines! Inspired by the classic game of Yahtzee and Farkle, this set of 6 yard (or on the carpet inside) comes with a bucket for playing and storage, 2 erasable giant score cards, and a dry erase marker! Nothing additional is needed…just get ready to have fun! This is PERFECT for kids, tweens, teens, adults, teachers, church groups, camping trips, parties, tailgating, rodeos, any pass time….YOU NAME IT!
Blocks are made from durable, lasting wood. It’s been cut to 3.5″x3.5″x3.5″, and edges are lightly routered for easier rolling. Blocks are then sanded and can be painted ANY color of your choice. Dots are hand-painted on in white or black and then each block is sealed with outdoor-quality finish. Since they are handmade, each set is unique and slightly different. The bucket makes a great rolling cup and when the game is over…..tuck the dice and score card inside for convenient storage and easy transport!!!
Get all of this for just $65! Ordering is easy, you can message on Facebook at Rustic Rhines , emailrusticrhines@yahoo.com, or text/call them at 682-777-6088. Once we receive the order we will then send you an email with all the details to approve and a link to pay online.
And remember that they can personalize with any color/names/your logo/colleges/sports…pretty much anything, etc. at no extra charge! Don’t wait to order, beat the rush.
And only for MyDFWMommy readers, get FREE SHIPPING AND $20 OFF THE 2ND SET! To get this great deal, all they need to do is mention this post when ordering!
