Few annual events reach the same heights as the Super Bowl. If you aren’t one of the lucky few that get to see the game in person, then finding or hosting a watch party is one of your best bets to enjoy the big game. It’s always fun to invite friends or family over to spend time together, but hosting can be stressful, not to mention expensive. Here are a few tips to help save your sanity as well as your checking account.
Look for what you have tucked away
The first step when planning your Super Bowl party should be seeing what you already have available at home. Taking the time to see if you can find those paper plates, plastic cups, or even that extra bottle of BBQ sauce hiding in the back of your closet or pantry can help save you time and money when you’re at the store.
Set a budget (and stick to it)
Creating a solid financial game plan is essential to ensure that your Super Bowl party is both successful and cost effective. Making a list and setting a spending limit before heading over to the store can help you avoid buying too much and blowing through your budget on items you weren’t planning on getting. Try to avoid shopping when you’re hungry as well, because it’s much harder to say no to a chocolate cake shaped like a football on an empty stomach (especially if it’s something you weren’t planning on including in the festivities).
Keep it simple
When hosting a Super Bowl party, it’s best to not overthink how intricate you want your decorations to look or how many complex hors d'oeuvres you plan on whipping up for the game. The NFL’s championship game is one of the few televised events where people pay as close attention to the commercial breaks as they do to the event itself, so don’t spend hours hanging extravagant decorations. The same can be said for food. While setting up a fondue station might sound like fun, it can also be a lot of work. If you want to avoid the headache, chips and salsa and other simple snacks are well-loved staples of watch parties that seldom miss.
When in doubt, potluck it out
A great option to help keep your costs down is to host a potluck and ask your fellow partygoers to contribute a dish to share. It ensures that everyone at the party will have a dish that they know they’ll enjoy, while also taking some of the financial burden off the host. Plus, it’s also a great way to try new dishes and show off a signature recipe.
Super Bowl parties are a fun reason to get together with friends and family to watch a sporting event, and with a little bit of planning and precision, you can throw a successful one that your bank account is sure to appreciate.
