8 Tips for a Cheap BBQ on 4th of July

It’s almost the 4^th of July. This means you are probably making plans to get together with family and friends to celebrate America’s birthday. Perhaps, you have plans to go to a party at someone else’s house. Better yet, you may have decided to host your own party at your house on Independence Day. In that case, you probably have an estimated budget in mind and do not want to spend a fortune on food, alcohol and decorations. Even if you do not have a budget, there’s no need to worry. Cape Cod’s #1 Barbeque Grill Store, Breakaway, is here to help you with some tips on how to throw an amazing, but cheap BBQ on July 4^th:

8 Tips for a Cheap BBQ on 4th of July:

1. No expensive meats.

You don’t need expensive meats like steak or fish. If you supply hamburgers, cheeseburgers, or hot dogs, people will be thrilled. If you can supplement the main meat you serve with some cheap veggies or sides, your guests won’t care if there’s not enough for that 3^rd or 4^th hot dog, or another option altogether.

2. Don’t provide alcohol for everyone.

The same goes for drinks and alcohol. Most people would never expect anything fancy at a BBQ. If you supply some light beer or wine, that’d be going above and beyond for most barbeques. You can also have iced tea, lemonade, bottled water, or maybe some soda on hand for non-alcoholic drinkers and kids. If you purchase alcohol for everyone, you can kiss the idea of a cheap BBQ goodbye.

3. Ask guests to bring food and their own alcohol.

One of the biggest keys to pulling off a cheap BBQ on the 4th of July is to not be shy to ask your guests to contribute. It’s customary and sometimes expected to bring a side dish, beverage, or dessert to a BBQ, cookout, or family party. You could tell people to bring their own alcoholic beverages too. Today, BYOB is not all that uncommon and in some cases, the default expectation. A lot of people like to bring their own alcohol due to fear of the party host not keeping your favorite drink in stock. Just be sure to communicate the party’s alcohol policy to your guests, so no one goes thirsty! If anyone objects to the fact that you didn’t supply them with an endless supply of beer, you don’t need them at your party anyway!

4. No expensive side dishes. Again, guests should contribute!

Don’t go and buy all kinds of expensive, pre-made sides at the grocery store. You can easily buy the ingredients and make these from scratch yourself for some delicious, homemade side dishes. Potato salad, cheese or buffalo chicken dip are some tasty choices that immediately come to mind. Or, refer back to tip #3 here about guests contributing food. You can supply the meat, while others supply the rolls and buns, desserts, and other side dishes. The key here is to communicate with everyone in advance to ensure you don’t have too much (or little) of anything.

Want to Learn A New Grill Recipe? Try Grilled Pizza!

5. Go easy on decorations.

Don’t worry about decorations, fancy potted plants, or things of that nature. Yeah, it might be fun to put up all kinds of décor that reminds you and your guests that it’s the 4^th of July, but did you really need to spend all of that money on all of those U.S. flag themed items? Sure, it would be fun and look festive, but decorations usually get tossed, so don’t spend a chunk of your budget on them. If you really want these things, check out a local dollar store for really inexpensive 4^th of July themed decorations.

6. Check your supplies before party shopping.

Make sure you know what you have in your cabinets and refrigerator before you shop at the store for the event. How many times have you forgotten to do this? Don’t make this mistake for your BBQ. You don’t want to spend extra on bulk food items because it’s a waste of money. If you have purchased something like hot dog or hamburger rolls, when you already have them in stock at home, chances are you won’t be able to use the extras after the party before they spoil.

7. Low-cost kids’ games.

Forget renting that bouncy house or other high cost entertainment rental. You can keep the kids busy with low-cost games, like whiffle ball, water balloons, squirt guns and other lawn games. Kids love to be outdoors during the summer, so if you have a nice green space for them to play, you can probably keep them occupied.

8. Other entertainment doesn’t need to be expensive either.

For a summer cookout, most adults just want a place to sit and chat with friends and family, to catch up on recent life events while watching the kids play in the yard. For an adult yard game, get one of your guests to bring corn hole to the party. This is a popular game, so even if you don’t own it yourself, one of your friends or family members definitely will. Refer to tips #3 and #4 and get your guests to help you contribute here.

The key to a cheap BBQ is to plan ahead, prepare, and save. The main point of a cookout or BBQ is to have a great time with your family and friends. Make sure that during your party, you are not worrying about what you have spent. By following these tips, we’re confident that you’ll be able to have a fun but cheap BBQ on the 4^th of July.

Cape Cod’s #1 Grill & Patio Superstore: Breakaway

If you’re hosting a 4^th of July party and you don’t yet have a grill, you’ve got a serious problem! An outdoor grill is an essential part of any summer BBQ or cookout, and even more so on Independence Day. If you need to buy a new grill for July 4^th, Breakaway has all types of options for you. Choose from gas grills, charcoal grills, pellet grills, electric grills, or portable grills. We carry all of the major grill brands, including Weber, MHP, Napoleon, CharBroil, Big Green Egg, and many more.

Breakaway also carries a large selection of grill parts and grill accessories. From grill covers to spare parts to propane tanks, Breakaway has everything you need for the grilling experience. Grill not working anymore? Then you need to take advantage of Breakaway’s grill repair services. No need to try to bring your grill to one of our store locations. Instead, we will visit you at your home and fix your grill right then and there. Regardless of your situation, Breakaway has what you need to step up your grilling experience. Call us at 508-398-3831, visit us in-store at either our South Dennis or Mashpee store locations, or contact us today for more information.