Coloradans Better Check the Budget For 4th Of July BBQs

Independence Day in Colorado often comes with the gathering of friends and family for a "good old fashioned" barbecue. For 2024, you may want to start looking at ways to cut corners.

We all love, burgers, hot dogs, beers, potato salad, baked beans, and America. What we don't love is having to shell out more and more to enjoy those items. You may not believe how much more it costs us now than it did in 2020.

Actually, the numbers show that to throw a BBQ in Colorado, the price has gone up every year, for four years straight. I guess that it's not very surprising, as prices seldom come down, but for 2024, celebrating the 4th is expensive.

Are you planning a 4th of July BBQ? How many people are you expecting? You may want to reach out, as soon as possible, to see what items they can bring to help you with the cost.

RELATED: Hotel Rooms Scarce in Colorado in July 2024

How Much Have BBQ Items Gone Up Since 2020?

According to data from the Department of Agriculture :

• BEEF: 20% increase since 2020.
• FRUITS/VEGETABLES: 21% increase since 2020.
• CHICKEN: 25% increase since 2020.
• BREAD: 28% increase since 2020.

Get our free mobile app

Grocery prices, over the last five years, have risen a whopping 25% overall (according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The cost of having a barbecue in Colorado is not exempt from that price hike.

Tips for Saving Money on Your 4th of July BBQ in Colorado

• Buy store brands instead of name brands. Sure, a bag of Lays looks good, but once you pour chips into a serving bow, nobody's going to care that they're Safeway's "Signature" chips.
• Prepare salads instead of buying pre-made. Potato salad is not terribly difficult to make, and can be very expensive when you buy them "by the pound" at the grocery store.
• Avoid buying craft beers. Though we love and respect our Colorado craft beers, domestics will do just fine for a barbecue.
• Buy liter bottles of soda, which are less expensive than getting cans.
• Hit up those cheaper grocery stores you don't normally frequent, like Esh's Market, in Loveland.