A Super Bowl Party is great fun for everyone. Two great teams slug it out on the football field. You and your friends get to visit and enjoy each other. And don’t forget the great commercials; sometimes, I think they’re the best part of the whole show.

What isn’t so great about hosting a Super Bowl party, however, is the cost. If you go crazy, you could spend a small fortune. Do you really have to break the bank to have a good time? No you do not! Remember the point of the party is to enjoy the game and hang out with your friends. Anything else is just gravy.



There are lots of ways to keep a tight rein on the cost of your Super Bowl party. Try these suggestions as you plan your big bash:

Serve Basic Snack Foods.
Does your family really expect mini-quiches and crudités while they watch a football game? Of course, they don’t. Simple appetizers are more than adequate fare for a Super Bowl party. Pour bags of chips into large bowls. Pop up some popcorn. Even health-conscientious party hosts can find favor by providing veggie trays filled with celery strips, carrots, and ranch dip. Stock up on hot dogs and burgers and do a cookout for the big game. Check your weekly grocery store ads to see what snack foods are on sale and make those a part of your game plan.

Provide one or two types of beverages.
Don’t try to bring something for everyone; you’ll drive yourself insane trying to think of everyone’s drink tastes. Instead, provide one type of soda and one type of beer. (Don’t forget to shop the sales.) Tell all of your guests ahead of time what you’ll be serving; if they want something else to drink, they can always bring it themselves.



Divvy up food and drink responsibilities.
While providing drinks and food for everyone may be burdensome for one person, the task is easy if all of the partygoers share the responsibility. Ask one or two friends to bring drinks. Ask others to bring snacks. By going potluck, you can all enjoy the party without enduring any stress over the cost. We usually just focus on one main dish that we will provide (this year it will be grilled hot dogs) and we ask our guests to bring other dishes to share such as potato salad, nachos, chips and dip, etc.

Skip decorations.
None of your friends are expecting fancy decorations or place settings for a Super Bowl party. They just want to watch the game with you. Focus on having plenty of available seating around the television and plenty of snacks. That’s all you need.