With festival season in full swing up and down the country and across the globe it certainly is one of the most exciting times of the year for music lovers!
Festivals can be so much fun and are a great way to make memories that will last a lifetime. However, unfortunately, festivals can come coupled with an array of expenses.
So if you are hoping to spend your summer soaking up all that festivals have to offer, whilst wanting to save some cash, read on for our top money-saving tips.
Sign Up for Early Bird Tickets
Pretty much every festival sets tiered pricing for their tickets, and the best way to secure the lowest price is to buy your tickets at the early bird price.
If you know the festivals that you are interested in, start by signing up for their notifications on when their early release tickets go on sale. These are usually quite limited, so you will have to be quick! You may even find tickets available on sites like Ticket Master.
Some festivals even release super early-bird tickets, which are tickets released before any of the acts are even announced. This might seem like a crazy way to purchase tickets, however, if you know it’s a festival you really want to experience, that caters for your music taste, take the risk and secure the cheapest price and look forward to the line-up announcements!
Try a Local Festival
One of the highest costs when going to a festival is travel! There are festivals all over the country, all with various different things on offer. This year, with the cost of living and petrol prices sky high, it may be time to consider the festival closest to you.
Not only will you save money on the cost of petrol, if you choose a local festival, you may also be able to save money on accommodation, by travelling back home at the end of the night. If you’re jumping on a train make sure you book your ticket early for the best prices through Trainline. Let's be honest, after a full day of partying in a field, nothing sounds more appealing than a shower and getting to sleep in your own comfy bed!
Book Travel & Accommodation in Advance
If you do have to travel this year for the festival you’re attending, be savvy when booking travel and accommodation.
If you leave it until the last minute, you’re more than likely to be hit with a premium price. As more places get booked up, the cost of what’s left will inevitably rise too! Check out Premier Inn for affordable rooms for you and your friends. Although it may feel like your pocket is taking a big hit, it’s more cost-effective to book your travel and accommodation as soon as your tickets are secured, because the money you’ll save in the long run will definitely be worth it!
Take Your Own Food & Drinks
It’s a well-known fact that food and drink at festivals are extortionate. Vendors will capitalise on knowing that festival go-ers will pay above the odds for something quick and convenient.
If you don’t want to be victim to their prices, choose to take your own food and drink in. Individually packed snacks from the PoundShop and non-perishables are the safest bet when taking food in in-case you don’t have access to a cooler. Be sure to check the rules of your festival before packing a bag of goodies though, as not all festivals allow you to bring food and drink in.
Cook a Big Breakfast
Festivals are busy, bustling places with lots to do and lots going on. The best way to set you up for a full day of exploring is to cook a big breakfast beforehand, and fill up so you’re not tempted by the first food vendor you see!
It's also a great way to line your stomach and fuel you through the day, whilst saving money on your first meal.
Camp Out
As appealing as a hotel may be when you think of camping in a tent after a long day of partying, camping is almost definitely the most cost-efficient way.
Nearby hotels will skyrocket their prices once the dates for a festival are announced as they know the demand will be high. Bypass these prices and choose to pitch a tent from Go Outdoors and make sure you have your sleeping bags, or even bring along a camper van if you have one. Not only will you save money on the hotel prices, but you will also save on travel costs as you won’t be forking out every day on travel to and from the festival site.
Wear Something You Already Have
As tempting as it may be to splurge on a new fit for your festival frolicking, this is definitely an area where you can save some money. In reality, festivals can be pretty muddy places, leading to a few ruined outfits.
Don’t run the risk of destroying a brand new purchase, and wear something already in your wardrobe. You could even choose to jazz up your outfit with gems or glitter, to make it fit with the festival theme. If you really are after a new ensemble, have a browse in a charity shop or a second hand marketplace such as eBay, where you’re more likely to find an outfit which is more budget-friendly and unique.
Sign Up to Volunteer
Life doesn’t have to be all work and no play, and that certainly applies when it comes to festivals! If you’re keen to see how a festival works behind the scenes, with the perks of enjoying the music and arts, signing up to be a volunteer is a great idea.
Often when volunteering at a festival, in return for some of your hours helping out, they will more than likely ‘pay’ you with a free ticket to the rest of the festival. This might not suit everyone’s idea of attending a festival, but it's definitely a way to do it on a budget, whilst also getting some work experience!
Give Yourself a Daily Budget
Failing to prepare is often known as preparing to fail. If you go to a festival with no plans on how much to spend, you’re more than likely to spend way more than you are happy with, especially when you get carried away if there’s alcohol involved!
Beforehand, decide how much money you’d like to spend, and choose to take the amount in cash (remember to keep it somewhere safe!) or even see if your bank allows you to set a budget which will alert you if you’re overspending, such as Monzo Bank. Remember the reason you’re there, which is to soak up the atmosphere of the festival, not to break the bank!
Take Your Own Portable Phone Charger
Having a charged-up phone is vital at a festival, whether it be to capture snaps of you and your pals, check the festival programme, or make sure you get home safely at night.
The only way you can do these things is by making sure you have access to a charger. Some festivals have charging points located across the fields, however, these tend to be coupled with a relatively hefty charge! To save money on charging, take your own portable charger which you can pick up online at Amazon for example. Not only will it mean you can charge any place any time, whilst not missing your favourite act, you’ll also be able to use it year on year, or even when travelling.
Keep Your Money Safe
Festivals are notorious events for personal belongings going missing, whether it be them being dropped, or stolen from a tent. As unfortunate as this is, it’s easy to keep your things safe if you plan in advance.
Investing in a bumbag from a store such as JD Sports is a great way to keep all your valuables on you at all times. Even if you aren’t bringing cash to keep safe, you don’t want to lose your phone or keys, as this will only cost you more money when you get home.
