The dawn of a new year brings resolutions, taking down holiday decorations, and back to school time. For many families, like my own, it also means the countdown to Super Bowl Sunday! We are a football family and spend much of our time between September and January either watching or playing football. For us Super Bowl Sunday is a can’t-miss-it event. This year we have a classic East Coast vs. West Coast battle with the Baltimore Ravens facing off against the San Francisco 49ers in New Orleans on February 3. This game is truly a family affair because for the first time the Super Bowl will have two brothers as the opposing head coaches. It should make for an exciting game to watch, even if your (or my) favorite team didn’t make the cut. No matter who is playing in the big game, we are sure to honor the occasion with festivities the whole family will get a kick out of.
Planning a Super Bowl party doesn’t have to be expensive or exclusive to adults. There are some great ways to save money and include your entire family. Once you have your guest list complete, ask your guests for input. Allow your kids to help by making homemade decorations and fan signs for their favorite team. Your guests are sure to appreciate the effort. You can also visit the local dollar stores where you will find solid color tablecloths, streamers, cups, plates and other party decorations. The party will come to life with team colors and footballs made from brown construction paper. You can decorate a party for a fraction of the cost you would spend on team-specific décor that isn’t as easy to reuse.
The biggest expense for any party is the food. To save money and time, you can make it a potluck and do many of the things yourself. Asking guests to bring their favorite football snack gets them involved in the party and an opportunity to share some of their favorite game day recipes. Ask them to bring a dish and provide the recipe for everyone to take home. You can also save by doing things yourself. Instead of purchasing pre-made relish trays at the local store, cut up the veggies yourself, and ask a friend to bring their favorite dip. Another great idea for food is to have a personal pizza bar. You can prebake the premade pizza dough ahead of time, set up the toppings bar with bowls of ham, pepperoni slices, shredded cheese, and your guests can create their favorites. (This works great for kids too). Once the pizzas are topped, it is a quick bake in the oven just long enough to melt the cheese. Food can take a huge chunk of your party budget so don’t be afraid to supply the main dish and ask guests to bring a side or dessert.
When setting up parties where most of the adults will be sitting or jumping up and down in front of the television, it is a good idea to make sure the kids are covered. Since we are all football fans, we like to incorporate fun activities for the kids. The most important thing you can do is make sure the kids have some fun of their own. If you have a second television, set it up ahead of time. There may come a time where they want to change the channel, watch a movie, or play the Wii or Xbox. Having this already set up will allow you and the other parents to relax and not feel like they have to get home before the game is over. Another idea is for kids to have special activities just for them. You can get a football piñata; fill it with stickers, trading cards, erasers, and other goodies so they have their own brand of half-time entertainment. If you have a basement or large room, let the kids play their own version of the big game. Use masking or painters tape to make yard markers and be sure to have them use a foam football in the house.
The Super Bowl is played once a year and provides us with a chance to celebrate a champion and say goodbye to another NFL season. It gives us an opportunity to gather with family and friends and celebrate with sports, food, and fun. You don’t have to break the bank to have a fantastic party. Make it a team effort, getting your family, and friends involved in the preparation and the food.
Whether you are rooting for Colin Kaepernick, the San Francisco rookie, or Ray Lewis, the veteran playing his last game for the Ravens or bouncing your allegiance between the Harbaugh brothers, the Super Bowl is going to be one big party. Join in the fun!
Thank you to the following experts who shared some of their wonderful tips for this post:
Andrea Woroch is a nationally-recognized consumer and money-saving expert who helps consumers live on less without radically changing their lifestyles. From smart spending tips to personal finance advice, Andrea transforms everyday consumers into savvy shoppers. She has been featured among top news outlets such as Good Morning America, NBC’s Today, MSNBC, New York Times, Kiplinger Personal Finance, CNNMoney and many more. You can follow her on Twitter for daily savings advice and tips.
Robert Nickell (a.k.a. Daddy Nickell), father of 7, offers his “5 cents” worth of advice to expectant and new parents. Daddy Nickell is the founder of Daddyscrubs.com,delivery room duds, gifts and apparel for dads, and the Daddyscrubs.com blog where he covers topics about parenting and the latest baby and kids gear, all from a Dad’s perspective.
Kamy Moss, Family Living Contributor & Central Florida Family and Travel Contributing Columnist
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Great tips! Love the pinata idea – the kids would love that.