the cost of all is going up…Food. Grills. Beer coolers. Games. Water (Water?!). And of course, gasoline.

So with the average price of a gallon of gas at $3.93 (US), the things needed for a successful tailgate party. You just can’t win.

But you can fight back, starting by following closely.

When the going gets tough, the hard to do it themselvesSo, with apologies to a certain auto insurance company, here are 5 DIY ideas that are so easy even a caveman can do it:

1. Turn your grill into a smoker
   If you tend to throw big tailgate parties and smoke a lot of meats, nothing short of a genuine smoker will do. But if it’s the kind of thing you do only occasionally and for a small group of people, then why spend $300 or more when you can just use some wood chips and pans?

All you have to do is:

• Soak the wood chips well for several hours so they don’t burn while cooking.
• For charcoal grills, simply place the chips on top of the briquettes. (Note: This will only work if your grill has a cover.) For gas grills, you can put the fries in a pan over the burner or simply wrap them in foil (drill holes for ventilation).
• Divide the grill into two parts: 1 for the coals and the fries, 1 for the meat and the pans. Why? Because the meat should always be placed away from the heat source with the pans underneath to catch the juices (to prevent flare-ups).
• Using grill vents, maintain temperature between 280-320°F. You can direct the smoke towards the food by placing the lid vent over it.
2. Frozen drinks in an instant
   Replace that high-tech, space-age refrigerator that’s “on sale” for just $80 with a trash can (empty, of course). In fact. Through the miracle of chemistry and science, all you need to quickly bring your beers to incredible temperatures is salt, water, and of course, ice. Simply place your drink in a container filled with ice, water and salt and in 2-3 minutes it will be as cold or colder than if you had kept it in the fridge overnight. If a couple of minutes isn’t quick enough, you can cut the time in half by stirring the ice and water (with the drink container inside). If you drink a lot or have large parties that last for hours, then buy a cheap Styrofoam cooler just to store the ice.
3. Brew your own beer
   Homebrew kits are cheaper in the long run than store-bought and produce better-tasting beer. They’re also more environmentally friendly (and even cheaper) if you use reusable bottles and lids.
4. Build your own cornhole game
   Cornhole is one of the most popular tailgating games, but an authentic full-size cornhole set will set you back well over $100, even more if you want it customized. With a few common items that most people have lying around (such as scissors, glue, needle and thread, paint), plus tools for cutting wood, boards, duck cloth, and dry corn feed, you can build your own set of cornhole. . This will take some time and effort, maybe a few hours or an entire afternoon at worst, but you’ll end up saving $50-$100.
5. upgrade your steak
   In fact, you can transform an ordinary cut of meat into a masterpiece like the one served at some of the best steakhouses using just salt. Salt breaks down protein which tends to make beef tough and meaty. Just cover your steaks with kosher or sea salt for about an hour, then rinse and pat dry before grilling, that’s it!