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Super Bowl XLVII is just around the corner. Have you figured out where you’ll be watching the big game yet? If your plans are still up in the air, why not host a Super Bowl party of your own?  I know what you’re thinking, “Hosting a party is a lot of work and expensive.” Am I right? Truth is it can be pulled off with little work and a limited amount of money.

Still skeptical? Don’t be. When it comes to Super Bowl Sunday, you have some options. You can go to a bar/restaurant, where you’ll find you could have bought a six-pack for the price of one beer. If that’s not what you’re looking for, another option is to host/attend a house party. Still not satisfied? You can attend the game and spend thousands on tickets, airfare, food and lodging. As fun as it would be to head down to New Orleans to watch the Baltimore Ravens take on the San Francisco 49ers, we’re trying to save money, right?

Well, luckily for you, all it takes is a little finagling and you can host your own party on the cheap. Interested? Find out more below!

Decorations

A few years ago, I hosted a Super Bowl party. My girlfriend insisted that our apartment be decorated in football garb. Against my better judgment, I listened to her and went out and got football themed napkins and posters. Even though her friends appreciated the decorations more than mine, in the end I was glad I bought them because they added to the fun.

Food

When it comes to food, you have many options. For starters, you need to figure out the approximate number of people attending. If you prefer to make everything from scratch, here are some Super Bowl recipes that will come in handy. What’s great about the recipes is that they are inexpensive to make and feed a small group of people. Another option is to have everyone bring a dish to pass around. If everyone brings individual snacks (chips and salsa, chili, veggie tray) this will help cut down on your costs.

If you want to avoid the mini-hassle of making food and asking people to bring food, you have other options. Popular Super Bowl food options include pizza, subs, or chicken wings. Say you plan on having 10 people over for the game. If you ordered five large pizzas (50 slices), that’s enough for five slices per person. At approximately $10 per pizza, you’re only looking at $50. Throw in some small side snacks, and you can cover the food with $70.

Drinks

If you’re on a tight budget, this is where you implement BYOB when it comes to alcohol. If you’re providing all the food, is it really asking all that much for your guests to bring their beverage of choice? You could provide two-liters of pop and some bottled water, but anything else is the responsibility of your guests.

Ice

How else do you expect your guests to keep their drinks cold? You’re better off just going to the gas station and getting a couple large bags rather than constantly having to get up and refill the ice tray.

Paper plates, plastic silverware

Besides your favorite team losing, I can’t think of a bigger buzz kill than having to do dishes after the game. You can avoid dishes by buying paper plates and plastic silverware. While you’ll still probably have a few side dishes to take care of, those can be taken care of a lot easier than a sink full of dishes.

Dessert

Just because I’m not a sweets eater doesn’t mean other people don’t appreciate a piece of cake or a bowl of ice cream. When it comes to desert, just keep it simple. Head to your local bakery and pick up an ice cream cake so you’ve got the best of both worlds.

If you follow these steps, you can host your own party for less than $100. Do you have any other suggestions on hosting a Super Bowl Party on a budget? If so, let us know in the comments section below! Oh, and go Ravens!