Money Smarts Blog

Hey there, football fans!

Pat Angerer here. Color commentator, former linebacker, and current connoisseur of parking lot hot dogs. As the leaves start to turn and the scent of grilled meat fills the air, you know what time it is: tailgate season. And listen, I love a good tailgate, probably more than I love most things that don’t involve tackling.

But you don’t need to blow your budget just to throw a winning party in the parking lot. I sat down (well, stood in the kitchen with a beer) and got some tips from my wife, Mary, who’s the real MVP of our tailgating crew. She’s got a spreadsheet, people.

So here we go – Team Angerer’s guide to tailgating like a champ – without fumbling your finances.

1. Embrace the potluck strategy

Pat: I used to think I could handle all the food myself. Then one year I tried to cook 60 brats while playing bags and watching the kids. Didn’t end well.

Mary says: “If you’re hosting, make a signup sheet so everyone brings something. You are not the brat king.”

She’s right. Let people help. More food. Less stress. Fewer charred sausages.

2. DIY drink station = Game changer

We used to load up on individual drinks, cans, bottles, you name it. Now we keep it simple with a cooler full of ice and a DIY drink bar:

• Gallon jugs of lemonade + tea (Mary’s secret: cheap mix + fresh lemon slices = fancy vibes)
• Reusable cups (save money AND the planet)
• Maybe a little something “extra” in the cooler for post-win celebrating… just sayin’.

3. Dollar store décor = Touchdown

Mary’s tip: “You don’t need Pinterest to have a good-looking table. Hit the dollar store and grab black and gold everything. Then call it a theme.”

She’s got plastic tablecloths, napkins, and even those little pom-poms. It’s festive, it’s cheap, and it makes her happy. That which means I get to keep my tailgate privileges.

4. Fancy snacks, cheap ingredients

Here’s the deal: You don’t need to be a Top Chef to impress at a tailgate.
Mary’s go-to’s:

• Walking tacos (open a snack-sized bag of chips, add taco meat + toppings. Boom. Done.)
• Buffalo chicken dip (I call it the MVP of every game)
• “Pigskin Cheese Ball” (it’s just a cheese ball shaped like a football, folks, but it works)

She lets me be in charge of the meat, and I take that role very seriously. Pro tip: Check grocery ads ahead of time. There’s always a deal on brats, wings, or ribs.

5. Don’t forget the comfort factor

Tailgating isn’t just about food, it’s about endurance.

• Bring a folding table (ours has been in the family longer than my lucky socks)
• Extra chairs (because someone always forgets theirs)
• Blankets for those chilly morning games (Mary calls it “being cozy,” I call it “not freezing my butt off”)

At the end of the day, tailgating’s not about spending a ton, it’s about food, fun, and football. Keep it simple, keep it smart, and maybe don’t let your husband handle all the cooking. (Direct quote from Mary.)

See you in the parking lot, friends. Oh, and Go Hawks!

Want more tips on saving (or maybe a solid brat recipe)? Swing by one of our branches. We’re always happy to talk football and finances.