How to Save Money for Super Bowl Tickets (Without Sitting in the Cheap Seats)

We all know that the Super Bowl is a pretty big deal, but this year it's an even bigger deal for me. Why? Well, first of all, one of the teams is from a place I used to live and I love, love, love them. My sister-in-law still lives there and my brother-in-law is just a couple hours north. As such, I'll be cheering for the Pittsburgh Steelers (sorry Seattle Seahawk fans).

But to make it even bigger, the Super Bowl is in Detroit this year -- just a couple hours drive from my home. I'm not going, but many people here are and everyone is talking about it. Last night on TV I saw a spot on how to "go to the Super Bowl cheaply" and thought I'd add my own ideas. Basically, their suggestion was to go to all the pre-game festivities, activities, etc. which would give you a flavor of the game without forcing you to shell out $2,500 for a good ticket.

While that might be nice, I'm going to offer another option. Let's say you want to go to the game, you want to take a friend (after all, who wants to go alone?), and you need a ticket and some spending money. I'll allow you $3,000 -- $2,500 for the ticket (the friend needs to buy his own) and $500 for hotel, food, etc. But the question is: how do you get $3,000?

Well, if you don't have $3,000, I think you're out of luck. You can try the TV station's idea, but I think it's pretty lame.

But let's say you can scrounge up the $3,000, but you have to pay it back. How could you save $3,000 by the end of the year to pay for it? Here are my suggestions:

• Cut your own hair for the rest of the year. If you get it cut once every six weeks and pay $20 a pop, that would save you $160 this year.
• Sell some of your stuff. Hold a garage sale, sell it on eBay, or take a friend up on that item of yours he's always wanted to buy. (If these ideas don't work, check out the making money section of this blog -- it's sure to give you some ideas.) This should add $250 to your kitty.
• Stop eating out at lunch and start taking your lunch to work. If you eat out one less time per week, that will save you $10 a week or $490 during the rest of the year.
• Stop eating snacks/drinking pop at work (after all, those small costs can really add up). Let's say you waste $2 a day doing these things. Cutting them out will net $490.
• "Invest" your income tax return in the trip. The average refund is nearing $2,000 or so. Let's say you can persuade your better half to let you have $500 of it for the game.
• Cancel your cable. I know, we're getting drastic, but this is the SUPER BOWL. If you pay $30 per month and cut your cable now, you'll save $330.
• Do without something. You know that vacation you've wanted to go on with the guys? Well now it's going to be with one guy and it's to Detroit. Or say you've been meaning to buy a new lawn mower. Can't the old one last one more year? I think it can (mine's lasted an extra three years now). Let's say you stop from spending $350 using this idea.
• Don't entertain as much. People spend tons of money on eating out, movies, babysitting and so on. Make life simpler (and cheaper) by eating out less (and when you do eat out, eat breakfast or lunch, don't order dessert and drink water instead of soda), renting movies rather than seeing them in theaters, and trading babysitting chores with friends. Stay home more and have game nights rather than going out. Or select lower cost entertainment options. If you can save only $15 per week using these ideas, you will save $735...and you're on your way to Detroit with money to spare!!!!!!!!

If you don't like some (or all) of these ideas, check out the gazillion ideas I have in the money saving tips section of this blog. Surely there are 5-10 ideas you can implement that can save you $3,000.

Once you have your tips in hand, give the list to your wife, girlfriend, mom, dad, husband -- whoever won't believe you can pay back the money. Once you show them that you can (and will) pay it back, you're off to Detroit to party with the Steelers! (or Seahawks, if you prefer) Just be sure to send me a Terrible Towel as a thank you. ;-)

Comments

[PT from Prime Time Money]

Good money saving advice.