College Football Kicks Off – Gear Up without Going Broke

Football Season Money Saving Tips

Grab Free Swag.

• You don’t need to spend your hard-earned cash to show your school spirit. During home games there are usually plenty of vendors offering free swag. Get there early for the first game to score the best swag for celebrating the season.

Get sports apparel online; not at the stadium.

• We all know shirts, hats, and basically everything else is way overpriced at the actual game. So save yourself some serious cash and buy your apparel online for the best deals. Besides, vintage is back in a big way, and anything ‘80s shows you’re a die-hard fan.
• You can also create your own sports attire. College football games are one of the few places where homemade clothes and costumes are acceptable. Some people don’t even bother wearing a shirt, so get creative. All you really need is a white tee, scissors, markers, and a little creativity.

Resist the urge to splurge on snacks.

• Included in the “basically everything” category above is food and drinks. Instead of paying $5 for a hot dog, buy a whole pack of hotdogs and buns and grill them up before the game. That doesn’t mean you should suffer in the stadium. The best buy for your money is a drink in a plastic bottle that you can refill at the water fountain if need be.

Carpool.

• This point applies to both home games and traveling to away games. With everyone pitching in, gas and parking costs will be a lot more manageable. Just work out a game plan for after the game in case you split up to celebrate.

Buying tickets.

• Always take advantage of your student tickets, but remember that rationing does happen at some schools for some games and you may have to find your own ticket from time to time. If you’re planning on attending every home game, season tickets may be the most affordable option. If you’re looking to buy tickets for a single game, there are a couple ways to score tickets.
• If it’s a big game, don’t try to buy from someone off the street if you don’t have to because they’ll be way over priced. For less competitive games you may actually get a steal of a deal buying a ticket the day of the game. The best move is to plan ahead and look for deals online. These sites offer an excellent starting point: