Buying food, decor and supplies for several people can add up to a few hundred dollars pretty fast! But a fun and successful tailgate party doesn't have to cost a lot of cash. Here, we've come up with tips to keep your party on a budget while you root for your favorite sports team. The trick is pre-planning!

HAVE GUESTS BRING AN ASSIGNED DISH OR SUPPLY

Assign everyone a dish, beverage or other supply so that the cost (and the work!) is split among the group. To make it fun, plan a menu based on the state of the team you’re rooting for such as Pittsburgh french-fry sandwiches, or even a color theme (black and gold cupcakes anyone?) If you're assigned the main course or appetizers, make it easy by getting a party platter from Jack's Grubb Shack (and use the coupon at left!) Be sure to plan the entire menu well in advance and create a master checklist to be sure everything is taken care of. E-mail out a reminder a few days before so no one forgets to bring their assignment!

BUY AND COOK YOUR TAILGATE MENU IN BULK, STICK TO CHEAPER MEATS

Once you’ve got your theme figured out, choose specific dishes that can easily be made in bulk. Choose side-dishes that can feed a crowd without a lot of ingredients. Items like chili and macaroni and cheese only require a few ingredients, and pasta is inexpensive! Buy your ingredients, especially any meats you’ll be grilling or items like corn chips, at warehouse clubs or look for bulk buys at the supermarket.

Instead of chicken breasts, try thighs or legs or even smoked turkey sausages - they are cheaper, tasty and perfect for grilling. Instead of steaks, try barbeque beef which can use cheaper meat that you slow-cook the day before, or even jambalaya which uses inexpensive smoked sausage and rice (bonus: no gameday preparation! just reheat!) Also, items like chili or sausage stuffing make expensive ingredients like meat go farther. Don't forget, people will fill up on appetizers and snacks too, so don't go crazy buying 20 pounds of meat worrying that you'll run out of food.

BAKE DESSERTS, DON’T BUY

Baking sweet treats to end the party, rather than buying them at a local bakery will save you lots of cash. Brownies are an easy, inexpensive dessert that can easily feed a crowd. Or if you prefer, bake a batch of cupcakes and pack them in an easy-to-carry container such as the Cupcake Courier. Use food coloring to tint frosting in your teams colors.

CHEAP AND EASY TAILGATE DECORATIONS

Forget pricey decorations - stock up for the year on decor and party basics like table coverings, napkins, plates and cups in solid colors at the local dollar, craft or party store. Balloons and streams offer a big pop of color and wow-factor for just a few dollars.

BORROW, DON'T BUY

If you don't have enough coolers or chairs, be sure to ask guests to bring theirs to the party.

MAKE YOUR OWN GAMES

Plans for popular pre-game activities like cornhole are readily available online. Don't spend a bundle on a new game if you have some scraps and materials around to make your own!