Everyone knows the Super Bowl is better if you watch it while surrounded by friends (bonus points if there's a friendly rivalry involved). Heading to a sports bar can get expensive fast though and if you want to stick with your budget, you'd do better having people over for a Super Bowl party.

Of course, if you go too far in stocking your house with tons of beer and all the types of Super Bowl party food you think people might want, you can easily spend more than you would have at a bar. People aren't too picky when it comes to Super Bowl food – they want something to munch on, something to drink, and beyond that they just want to watch the game.

A little creativity and a few cheap party food ideas can help you keep your guests satisfied, without costing you more than you want to spend.

1) A baked potato bar

Potatoes are one of those great foods that are cheap and filling, especially when you load them up with things like sour cream and cheese. You can grab all the traditional baked potato toppings, along with a few other affordable sides like homemade salsa and black beans, all without spending much at all.

2) An ingredient potluck

A potluck tends to be the go-to idea for throwing a Super Bowl party that doesn't cost too much, but you always end up with way more food than gets eaten. Why not boil the idea down to only what's really needed? Instead of having everyone bring a full dish, figure out a few dishes that will satisfy everyone and ask people to contribute specific ingredients. The extra planning will mean everyone spends less and you come closer to the amount of food you actually need. 

3) Stick to appetizers

I tend to think appetizers are usually tastier than the main course anyway and know there are some people out there who are with me on this. If you collect a few tasty (and relatively filling) appetizers for people to munch on throughout the game, you can probably keep everyone satisfied without having to invest in more expensive main dishes. Our $100 barbecue post has a handy roundup of good, cheap appetizers to consider.

4) Make chili instead of burgers

A burger for every guest will likely end up costing a lot more than if you make a big batch of something like chili or beans. Break away from some of the more traditional, obvious Super Bowl party foods and go for one of the cheap party food options that are still tasty, filling, and good for feeding a group.

5) Use coupons

Don't go to the grocery store until after you've scoured the mail, newspaper, and web for this week's coupons. Couponing can end up saving you big bucks, especially anytime you're heading to the store with a long shopping list.

You can still have a fun Super Bowl party without spending more than you can afford. Unless your team loses: we don't really have any tips to help with that.