Summer is when the UK comes alive. The sun shines, the temperature is warm and the festival scene enters full swing.
But we all know festivals can be very expensive. Tickets can be extortionate and eating or drinking can require a second mortgage.
Are there ways to spend less at a festival?
You are a captive audience once you’re inside the festival but there are a few ways you can still have an amazing time without breaking the bank.
Here’s how.
Sign up to newsletters
Sign up to newsletters and mailing lists and you’ll be notified first of festival tickets, deals, special offers and perhaps incentives if they are offered.
I suggest setting up a specific email account for this kind of thing and use it for all festivals, insurance and anywhere that offers a deal in return for your email address.
That way your main inbox remains refreshingly uncluttered.
Take your own food and drink
Not many festivals will let you take your own food or drink, but that shouldn’t stop you.
There’s nothing stopping you sneaking in your own food wrapped up in a sleeping bag or with your underwear if you’re camping or secreting it in a coat or spare clothes.
Keep it small and simple though, otherwise the gate staff will spot it.
Take bottle lids
Having a couple of bottle lids in your pocket when you enter a festival can save you a lot of money. Did you notice how you rarely get a lid for a bottle when you buy one?
That’s to prevent you making it last all day and not buying more. It’s a cynical move to make more money but it’s incredibly effective.
You can work around that by taking a few bottle lids of different sizes to keep your drinks safe. They can work as currency if you end up not using them too!
Only wear old clothes to spend less at a festival
Some places you go to be seen and wear your best gear. A festival isn’t one of those places.
There’s no point wearing good stuff as it will be ruined, filthy, lost or stolen.
Wear something comfortable, something you can wrap around and keep with you or that you don’t mind losing.
Most people don’t care what they look like at a festival so wearing your clubbing gear or designer clothes is a real waste.
Look out for free phone charging
Some festivals charge for charging, which is very mean. Other festivals will have free charging or an area where you can cycle to generate your own power to charge.
Have a good look around the festival to see what your options are before paying to charge your phone.
Recycle for cash
With sustainability being firmly on the agenda, many festivals offer a recycling scheme where you get a free drink or snack in return for recycling a certain number of bottles or glasses.
Check your festival to see if there’s such a scheme and spend a little time clearing up. It helps the festival, helps festivalgoers and gets you something free in return.
Go in a group
Going to festivals in a group is part of the experience and can save you money. Some festivals offer a discount for a certain number of people.
If you’re planning to go as a group, see if you can make up the numbers and share the saving between you all.
Volunteer at the festival
Volunteering at festivals is huge and for good reason. You can get in free, get preferential camping spots, some training and meet new people.
It’s a competitive field but one that covers many festivals across the country. You get to save money while doing a little good at the same time.
Book travel early to spend less at a festival
If you’re leaving the car at home, and you really should to avoid the queues, book your travel long in advance.
If you cannot convince friends or family to give you a lift, book your coach, bus or train tickets as early as you can. Preferably as soon as your tickets have been confirmed.
You’ll save a lot of money booking travel early so it can be a big win.
Use willpower to avoid onsite concessions
Most festivals will have stalls, concessions, shops or whatever. All will do everything they can to part you with your money and convince you that £10 for a pair of shoelaces is perfectly reasonable.
Avoid them wherever possible. Don’t buy random stuff on a whim as you’ll probably lose it anyway.
Keep your money safe
Cash is still king at most larger festivals so I recommend taking some and keeping it safe. The same for phones, car keys and anything you could lose or have stolen.
Invest in a bumbag, money belt or something else that can keep your valuables with you at all times without getting in the way.
Having cash with you also avoids having to use an ATM. They charge and are often monitored by those who aren’t there for the right reasons.
Don’t buy new camping stuff
If you’re at a weekender or multi-day event, don’t buy a new tent, new sleeping bag or camping gear for it. If you have old stuff, use that.
If you do need to buy new, buy cheap.
The campsite is seen as fair game when you’re off dancing and while there is often security, they can’t be everywhere at once.
Plus, drunk people can make a surprising mess of a brand new tent as they stumble around trying to find their own!
