Is it possible to go to a music festival on a tight budget while still saving money? Yes, it is! Although you may not have a lot of money, you can still have a fantastic time at a festival if you know where to look. Spending less money at a festival simply means you’ll have more money for another ticket later in the year – so it’s really a win-win!
I like to just enjoy the experience and not worry so much about money when I’m at festivals where I may never have another chance to go. However, I’m not a large spender, and I despise losing money or wasting it at any event! Here are a few ideas to assist you with saving money throughout the festival season!
Bring your own beverages to the event
Why not take advantage of the fact that many festivals allow you to bring your own alcohol into the camping site? Bring your own alcoholic beverages, wine, cider, or spirits for a cheap alternative to buying expensive drinks from the festival. I find that when it comes to spending money, I spend the most on food and drinks.
However, keep in mind that certain festivals have a limit on the quantity of alcohol that each ticket holder is permitted to bring with them. It’s always a good idea to consult the festival’s FAQ page to see what kinds of limitations they have.
Certain festivals, owing to the fact that all of the campsites and stages are in one area, allow you to bring your own booze up to the stages! I saved A TON OF MONEY by bringing my own drinks to Glastonbury, probably spending a total of $80 on food and drink all weekend with the addition of even giving in to some Merch!
Make use of a reusable water bottle.
Not only is it a method to be more environmentally friendly at a music festival, but bringing your own water bottle will save you money by avoiding the need to purchase excessively overpriced bottled water from a vendor/bar. All of the festivals I’ve ever gone to had water fountains or taps in the campsite where you could get water.
Prepare your own food at the campsite
Taking your own food and even preparing it at a festival may seem like a lot of work, but it is a fantastic method to save money while attending one. This isn’t an issue for every event, as certain festivals ban the usage of gas cookers or barbecues. However, it’s perfectly fine for others; simply check their FAQ page for their rules and limitations. I have a small, screw-on gasoline burner that screws into a tiny gas cylinder. I use it to boil water before going out into the arena at night or even making myself some oatmeal in the mornings.
Take some food that you can eat uncooked to keep costs down if cooking meals isn’t practical for you. I always make myself some homemade vegan energy balls and granola bars, even if other food items are on my “going to a music festival” Check list. I also take extra food with me, such as nuts, crisps, fruit, croissants, and dried fruit.
That being said, I am not suggesting that you never buy food at a festival! Some festivals are known for having outstanding cuisine! To keep food expenses down, prepare one or two meals or snacks on a small cooker or BBQ in the campsite.
Make your own caffeinated beverages
This is another way to make yourself a cup of tea or coffee in the mornings, which complements the previous statement. At a festival, prepared hot drinks like tea, coffee, and hot chocolate are highly overpriced, so making your own allows you to wake up and make yourself a cup without waiting or traveling miles to locate your favorite morning beverage!
Keep an eye out for festival coins or cashless wristbands.
Cryptocurrency and cashless events are becoming increasingly more popular. Some of me loves it since it cuts down on fussing with money, and it’s simple to budget for a festival because you may add exactly what you want to spend. The cashless system also irritates the other side of me. Tokens and cashless wristbands are pre-purchased or topped up in advance, so it’s easy to lose track of how much money you spend throughout the festival or see how much money you have left.
If you must pre-purchase real tokens for a festival, I recommend that you get the smallest number feasible since most festivals prohibit refunds once the tokens are purchased. This prevents individuals from selling tokens to others at the event they find or take from others.
If the festival is using a cashless wristband system, any money left on it at the end of the event is typically refundable (minus a little administration fee).Check the festival’s FAQ page for details on how to refund your money and whether you can get a refund if you don’t use all of it.
Some festivals may even have their own money – This was true for Tomorrowland, which created ‘Pearls’ (Ƥ) as a festival currency to buy meals, drinks, and goods. 1 Pearl is worth approximately $1.94, making things more difficult. So those midnight noodles you planned to buy, which were advertised as costing just 9 Pearls, actually cost you over $17.46 after conversion. Make sure you’re aware of the exchange rates between the event’s currency and your own local currency!
Know what’s available when it comes to food and drinks.
It’s easy to pass by a burger wagon or a falafel cart and think, “Yep, I’ll have those,” but believe me: there will be another burger stand or falafel cart elsewhere in the event that may be superior! I usually do a walk-about to inspect my alternatives and then select. I also prefer the one with the most people in line. This may appear unusual or counterintuitive, but if there is a long line at a certain vendor, I assume it must be excellent (I suppose so anyhow).
Not only that, but knowing your alternatives will allow you to select and purchase the food stand you really want to support. You might have gone for a noodle dish since it was the first thing you saw, but wander a little further and you may discover a fantastic vegan sushi restaurant that you would’ve liked better!
Beware of festival “crap”
It’s all too easy to get caught up in the moment and believe you truly need that festival hat, sequin jacket, feather headdress, or pack of neon face paints — but you probably don’t! Don’t get me wrong, I’ve done it before. I’ve bought some excellent festi-goods that I’ve used many times and enjoy to bits. I’ve also purchased a lot of useless garbage that has sat in a drawer and gone to waste.
festival money saving schemes
I’ve been to a few festivals where you could get free booze or even free grub if you assisted out/did something to earn it!
Latitude had a cup deposit plan. To encourage you to return or reuse your plastic cup, you paid an extra $2 for it! Of course, a lot of drinkers get wasted and leave them strewn about the floor or don’t bother to return them, or they just leave them on a table. If you pick them up and return them, collect a couple, and you’ve essentially earned yourself a complimentary drink!
Latitude also had a program for children. Children could pick up a garbage bag and a litter collector from the information station or the main bar, and they got free soft drinks as gratitude! It not only kept them occupied, but it also made the event location considerably cleaner and encouraged children to be more environmentally conscious at a festival, both of which are excellent lessons for youngsters!
The ends of your festival wristband were tokens at another Festival! With a pair of scissors, staff would just snip off a portion at the end – one side gave you a free drink at the bar and the other a free hog roast on Saturday.
friends of mine volunteered for a food vendor one night during burning man (a major bucket list event for me) so they could see an act they liked and explore, and in return, they got a free dinner! Why not join in and get a freebie! It’s great fun, you meet new people, and you receive a complimentary dinner; it’s wonderful!
Prioritize your spending
The most important thing is to make sure you spend your money wisely, so that you may enjoy your festival without feeling guilty for over-spending or the dread of living on beans on toast for a month when you return home! Festivals are a fantastic location to discover new foods, drink, and acquire some wonderful festival goods – but just make sure you only buy what you truly want. If you really want the festival cap, vegan sushi, cocktail, glitzy top or bandana, go for it. But if you must have them, make a sacrifice somewhere else and don’t buy a coffee the next day or another drink at the bar.
These are the most helpful Festival Season On A Budget ideas I’ve ever written! I hope you enjoyed this blog and learned something new from it! Remember to have fun and be careful out there.
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