Football Bash for Less | Family Economics

By Erin

As the biggest pigskin game of the year approaches, I’m trying to figure out the best way to entertain a group of friends, without adding extra money to our grocery budget. We love entertaining in our home, but it can be a drain on our budget if we aren’t careful. And not having enough money is never an excuse to avoid entertaining. Even if it means shouting from the couch at the referees while holding a bowl of microwavable noodles!  

But it doesn’t have to be microwavable noodles. If you do a good job of stockpiling pantry staples and keeping your freezer full of meats you got on sale or special, you can just pull from what you have and create a simple menu. I did just that – I’ve taken a look around the pantry and the freezer and came up with the following simple menu that will please our guests and won’t drain our grocery budget.  

•    Chili with a Kick
•    Popcorn with Taco Seasonings
•    Chips and Guacamole
•    Carrots and/or Fruit Slices
•    Brownies and Cookies

And don’t forget to check out a few of the recipes I shared last year for healthy snacks. (Yes, there actually are people who eat healthy foods while watching football…shocking, I know!)

And I’ve asked our friends to bring their favorite drinks to our shindig to share! While the food is important and we want to keep bellies full and happy, it’s the friendships and the memories created together that everyone will remember from the bash.

With the biggest football game of the year approaching, what football party food traditions or favorites do you serve?