by Susan Klatz Beal

Created on: August 28, 2010   Last Updated: September 06, 2010

The college football season is upon us, and that naturally means that the tailgaters will be out in force. For many die hard college football fans, tailgating is as important as the game itself. Everyone is having to be a little more cautious about how they spend their money, so by arming yourself with some practical no nonsense information, you can have fabulous tailgate parties all season long without having to break the bank to do so.

Here are some tips to help anyone save money on tailgating.

*Potluck -

If you regularly have tailgate parties at which many people attend, one way to save yourself money is to ask the people you invite to bring some sort of side dish or dessert. When other people are contributing, you will be relieved of a good burden - both financially and in terms of the amount of work you'd need to do.

*Plan your menus out thoroughly -

Plan your menus very carefully by paying attention to what is on sale and when the sales are. If you can stock up on things because of a sale, do that whenever possible. Don't be shy about asking the meat department or counter manager if you can buy a large quantity of something that is on sale. You may be surprised to discover that you can get a better deal than the sale price.

*Shop at discount or warehouse stores -

When it comes to buying stuff like paper plates, plastic silverware and other stuff, you'd be better off buying in bulk. You can get things like this at much cheaper prices if you shop at warehouse stores like Costco and Sam's Club. You will also be able to buy larger quantities of condiments, but unless you have space in your refrigerator to house them, that may not be the greatest idea. You can buy mustard and ketchup that are packed with two bottles and that will be cheaper.

You can buy your meat in bulk, too. You may even want to buy a large amount - especially if you have the extra freezer space to freeze it, if you can get a cheaper price than the sale price for buying a large amount of meat. You can then freeze it in smaller amounts so that you can use the meat as you need it.

*Buy grilling supplies at the end of the season -

Toward the end of the season, stores will want to get their grilling supplies sold so that they don't have to store them until the beginning of the next season. They will also be eager to use that space for holiday stuff. If you need things like charcoal, another grill, lighter fluid and so forth, this is the perfect time to buy it.

*Buy drinks in large quantities- 

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