With school back in session and the cool winds inching in it can only mean one thing: football season. This season is beloved by so many in the country, but can be a pretty hefty burden on a fan’s budget if you aren’t careful how you spend during this exciting season. There are numerous things to take part in when the season makes it’s first kick off, so don’t be caught off guard. With a few simple trips you can be ready to take on the football season without having to drain your budget for unexpected expenses. Now, you can cheer for your favorite team, no matter the league, while also celebrating your amazing ability to keep your budget in check. This season will certainly be on your radar for years to come!
1. Tailgating
You may or may not have experienced the fun of tailgating during the football season, but chances are this activity seems appealing to you. Most fan try to do it at least or twice during the season if they are near a stadium. Some fans will even try to do so for every game, which can end up costing you a whole lot of money if you don’t know how to spend on this event. One of the major things needed for tailgating is a trailer to use as your small headquarters. This helps you cool down or warm up when the weather isn’t cooperative and will store your food and possibly a bathroom. If you can avoid renting a trailer you really should. The best thing to do is ask to borrow a friend’s or go tailgating with a friend who already owns a trailer. It is also important to ask people to come along! When you invite people along make them responsible for bringing an item. If you can get enough people to chip in then you’ll spend very little! You should also consider bringing cheap games, like a football or deck of cards, for the down time, especially if you bring kids along.
2. Fan Gear
We’ve all spent a ton of money on fan gear that we didn’t actually need. Sometimes we think we have to have the latest team jersey. This isn’t the case though, so step away from the merchandise and you’ll save a whole lot of money. Jerseys are the biggest expenditure and this is largely because people want to blend in with the crowd at games. To remedy this problem simply throw on a shirt or jacket that boast the teams colors. You won’t stand out when the camera passes over you and people will see you’re a fan. If you really want a shirt with your teams name on it then buy a paint pen and draw out the team’s name or logo. If you do have to have a jersey then try to buy one without a name. This will cut down on the price and ensure you can wear for many seasons to come. If you need an item to have autographed then pick up a cheap football that you wouldn’t mind displaying. Anything else you might possibly want can be put aside until it is on sale, typically at the end of the season, or put in a clearance bin.
3. Tickets
You might find tickets to be the most expensive part of the season because they’ve gone up in price substantially over the years. If you’re looking to catch a professional game then try to sit tight and refrain from buying until a day or two before the game. This will help get you the best price as ticket sellers will want to sell out their stock. You might end up missing a few games because of this, but you won’t spend a fortune on the games you do go to. Some people like to visit as many games as possible. For the people you might consider getting a season pass and sharing it with another family. This will allow you to split the cost while ensuring you will see a lot of games. Make sure you work out all of the fine details prior to purchasing though. Of course, if you’d really like to skip out on the big prices then check out a college game instead.
4. At the Game
Although tickets are expensive, everything inside of the stadium will be too. Try to avoid snacking during the game because concession stand prices are usually over the top. You’re not allowed to bring in outside food either. If your stomach just can’t wait any longer than pick something that can be shared amongst the family. Grab the largest soda, as it is usually only slightly more expensive than the smallest, and a snack like popcorn or a pretzels that can be split in half. You might also want to invest in your own seat cushion. Some places rent them out for a less than convenient price, while other places sell them at an expensive rate. You’ll want a cushion after the first hour of the game, so if you don’t want to buy a cushion pack a extra sweatshirt to sit on.
5. Transportation
Getting to and from the stadium can be a bit challenging as it is almost always crowded. You might end up sitting in traffic for hours as you watch your full gas tank slowly dwindle away to nothing. So, if you’re planning on driving to the stadium you might consider carpooling with others. This will allow everyone to chip in on gas and parking without forcing you to be burdened by all of the cost alone. When it comes to finding a parking spot try to keep as far away from the stadium as you can stand to walk. A free parking place will give you more money to spend at the game and won’t make you feel as guilty as spending up to $20 on a parking space at the game. You might also consider showing up very early or a little late, while leaving the game a bit early too. This will help avoid the mess of traffic, but will also mean you’ll miss out on some of the game. If your city has a good public transportation system then this might be your best bet. Typically buses have a stop right next to the stadium so you won’t have a big walk ahead of you.
6. Watch From Home
Sometimes there is nothing greater than enjoying a football game from home. After all, there’s no crowds, you get a better view and you don’t have to fork a lot of money for something as cheap as a hot dog. So, if you really want to lose a whole lot less this season try watching as many games as you can from the comfort of your own couch. This is usually the best way to save, especially if you love your local team. The best thing about staying home is you can have friends who love the sport come over and enjoy the sport with you as you catch up with one another, take some time during the break to throw around a football, and enjoy snacks that won’t make you gain five pounds instantly.
7. Snacks
Snacks are one of the priciest items on the list for people who choose to watch the game from home. There are so many ways to avoid overspending on snacks though, so don’t fret about your budget just yet. You should never have to go all out for a football party. In fact, football food is generally the cheapest food on the market! When you head to the store try to pick out items for sandwiches and hot dogs as they’re filling, easy to make, and always a crowd pleaser. Make sure you avoid pre-made items like salads and dips though. Of course, bigger games might call for more elaborate food, but this can easily be remedied by inviting everyone over to a potluck will save money and allow everyone to have something they love. You might even find some awesome recipes to help utilize the leftovers you have in the refrigerator. For instance, you might try to make a buffalo wing inspired casserole with leftover chicken.
8. Decorations
Whether you’re planning on going out to the game or staying in you probably want to decorate to show off how big of a fan you are. Premade signs and other items can be more than pricey, so when it comes to decorating you should always pull out the creativity card. You can always make signs to take the game, for the lawn, or to put in the home with paper or posterboard. You might even want to bring the kids into the project to help them bond with you and learn more about the sport you love. You can also create streamers with your teams colors. One of the more common projects is to cut out football helmets in your team’s colors for the door. This can be fun for the kids as it will allow them to create their own helmet to show off to guest.
9. Skip the Pass
Many people believe that they have to subscribe to a Season’s Pass through their cable company in order to enjoy all of the games they want. This is never the case though, so don’t be fooled when you are offered this cable package. Sure, the season pass will provide you with games from across the country whenever you want to watch them, but most people tend to stick to their own teams. There are numerous sites online that will actually stream games for free on the computer, tablet or phone so you can enjoy a game wherever you are. If you are a huge fan of the local teams then you don’t really have a lot to worry about when it comes to missing your team play anyway. You can usually catch the local games on you basic cable and can catch a lot of games from other teams on extended cable. With so many options there is really no reason to throw away money on games that you probably won’t end up watching or can get for free elsewhere.
10. Big Ticket Events
There comes a time in every season where you’re going to end up missing a game because it is a big ticket event. Usually, these games cost a fortune to see live and generally sell out anyway. They also somehow end up getting excluded from the local line up. So, chances are you’re going to end up renting an event or two from your cable provider during the season. Since this is the case then you might as well transform the cable company’s Big Event into a party for you can your friends. You can charge a $1 cover cost to help pay for the program so everyone can have fun and enjoy the game without spending a whole lot of money. You might also make a deal with friends to take turns renting the events so no one person ends up stuck with the tab at the end of the season. Of course, you should always ask around before you rent as one of your friends might be privy to the game through a different cable company.
Football season is a time to bond with friends and family while making memories together. The cool weather and games are a recipe for fun that shouldn’t force you to lose out on your budget. With these easy tips you can follow your favorite teams without having to stress out about the money you’re spending. So enjoy the season from the stadium or the couch and make sure to rejoice in the savings, after all the holiday spending season is right around the corner.
Author: Chelsey McQuitty
