Do-It-Yourself and Deep Discount Pizza

Football season is quickly encroaching (at least that's how I see it) and the universal meal for your watching party is always the pizza pie. If you order on game day, expect to wait 45-90 min. for delivery. And have you actually looked at what your meal looks like before folding it in half and stuffing it down your gullet? The big chains skimp on sauce, cheese, and toppings. Rather than continue this busted tradition, do something different for much cheaper.

Most pizzas cost $15-20 each, perhaps less with a special. But you can easily serve better stuff for far less--whether you're willing to make your own dough or not.

• Find a decent store-brand cheese pizza for about $3.50 a piece or even less from Costco or Sam's. Get your own toppings--fresh spinach ($1.50), canned pineapple ($1), pepperoni ($2.50), Canadian bacon, olives, canned mushrooms--and let your guests or family members picked their own. Each pizza will cost 1/4 to 1/2 of a regular delivery pie.
• Buy a premade crust and add all toppings to it before baking. Boboli makes a fantastic, thick crust. Add spiced tomato sauce, ample mozzarella, and the toppings listed above for a tasty creation much tastier than the delivery boy's.
• Make your own from bare scratch! While it isn't reserved for the chef elite, you need to read The Ridiculously Thorough Guide to Making your own Pizza before tossing your dough in the air and shouting random Italian phrases. The king of BAM! Emeril Lagasse has a rocking recipe on the Food Network. Being Frugal is Fabulous has another solid guide for homemade pizza.

If you must resort to a phone in order, at least use a current promotion to save some cash. While the delivery option is not my first choice, sometimes we hit a time crunch and need to order out. These are national chain coupons, but don't overlook your local pizzeria for unique flavor.

• Pizza Hut
  Deals vary by location but my search yielded 3 medium 1-topping Pizza Mia pies for just $5 a piece, two large pizzas for $21.99, 20% off first-time online orders, and a few others. Definitely splurge on deep dish for big taste. Papa John's
  My husband swears by them, but I'm not a fan of something sweet they put in the sauce. If Papa John's floats your boat, order online to get a large for just $10.99 or a large 1-topping for just $.99 when you order a large specialty pizza at menu price.
• Domino's
  The franchise has really branched out--Domino's offers pasta, oven baked sandwiches, chocolate cake, and breadsticks in addition to their traditional staples. My area is promoting 3 large 1-topping pizzas for $7 each, 2 medium 1-topping pizzas for $13.99, 2 oven baked sandwiches and a large 1-topping pizza for $19.99, and one free chocolate lava crunch cake with every order of BreadBowl Pasta purchased at regular price.