How to Throw a Tailgate Party Without Spending Too Much

It is football season, which means tailgating. NerdWallet says hosting can get expensive, but a good party does not have to cost a lot. Planning ahead is the main idea. Set your menu early so you have time to hunt for sales. Amy Webb, an accredited financial counselor near Galveston, Texas, says planning also makes it easier to ask others to contribute. She suggests picking the games you want to go all out for, because hosting last minute or every Sunday is when it gets pricey. Marking a big rivalry game on the calendar gives you more time.

Here are four more ways to save.

Make a low-cost signature dish. Think of a popular treat in your region. Webb makes a Cincinnati-style chili with cinnamon and chocolate while cheering for the Cincinnati Bengals. It is cheap to make at home, she says, and it makes everyone feel like they are in Cincinnati. The writer's own go-to is a platter of ham-and-cheese sliders, which uses sweet buns, ham, cheese, butter and honey, and which is easy to bake in the oven and serve.

Shop grocery discounts. When you know what you are cooking, you can plan trips around sales. Katie Ubelhor, a counselor in Cincinnati, buys meat on Tuesdays, when her store marks it down 50% to 75%, then freezes it. A written shopping list helps too. Lynn McHann in Bozeman, Montana, suggests choosing one main event, like wings or burgers but not both, and filling in with cheaper sides. Use your store's loyalty account at checkout.

Hand out potluck assignments. Turning the tailgate into a potluck spreads the cost. Webb suggests an online sign-up sheet so guests know what to bring and you do not end up with too many desserts. Drinks can be "bring your own," with the host providing a cooler of ice. Amanda Christensen of Utah State University Extension says that shares the community feeling and the cost.

Borrow what you can. If friends cannot afford to buy items, they can bring what they already own, such as a canopy or a cooler. Some libraries even lend out equipment for gatherings.