NFL Super Bowl XLIX
Date: Sunday, February 1
Time: 6:30 PM on NBC
Halftime Show Performer: Katy Perry
The Super Bowl is a time for greasy food, testosterone-amped men, and lots of beer. According to a Statista study, it is estimated that U.S. consumers will spend about $14.3 billion for Super Bowl purchases this year. In 2011 the total cost was about $10 billion, and in 2007 it was a little over $8.5 billion. While Super Bowl parties do revolve around the game, it is clear that now especially, the day revolves around the party. Being in college with a college-student budget doesn’t mean that you have to sacrifice the game or the celebration, and saving money in a world where our consumers are paying 6 billion dollars more than we did 8 years ago, for a football game, is unnecessary and hard to keep up with.
5 tips to save time and money for you this Super Bowl:
1. Dollar store dine. No one needs to eat off of plates signed by Brady. If paper napkins, paper plates, and plastic forks could handle every kid in your first grade class way back when, sugar-amped and all, they can still be trusted to cover the mess from the annoying die-hard Pats fan that insists on shot gunning his PBR. Amurica.
2. While you’re at the dollar store, look no further to pick up your decorations. Even if the Hemsworth brothers are coming, you don’t need to impress anyone with NFL sold merchandise for the team-themed décor. Streamers with the colors of the two rivals are a perfectly fine go-to.
3. Have people bring different snacks. Unfortunately, you aren’t home where your mom is cooking buffalo chicken dip and Bobby Flay recipes. Keep it low key. You aren’t Gatsby. Generic brands suddenly taste just as good when you realize that you can save $4 with a bag of generic name Cheetos.
4. Make it a BYOB event. Or, if your friend group has the cost-splitting formula to a science, estimate what the total alcohol cost would be, and have people pitch in some cash.
5. Ask for help. You’re supposed to put your closest friends to work to help decorate and set things up with you. Work, remind you, is a term I’m using loosely.
While balancing your money and your social life is hard in college, Sunday Fundays are supposed to be stress free and… fun. Doing something with your friends for the Super Bowl is a must—and keeping it cost conscious is helpful.
However, at the end of the day you would pay to see Kam Chancellor in football pants, any ways.