Going to festivals feeds your soul and boosts your mood. Festivals offer us joy and that special feeling of belonging to the crowd. However, festivals often turn out to be quite expensive pleasures. Well, at least if you don't have us on your side. Today, we'll share some valuable tips for visiting festivals on a budget to help you enjoy and gather new exciting experiences.
Make a good choice of festival
Don't simply choose the most well-attended events at random. Instead, you should consider which festivals would provide the greatest bang for your buck and plan accordingly. Unless there is a particular headliner, you have your heart set on seeing, the price of the festival should be weighed less heavily than the quality of the music bill and other events. Another consideration is proximity since it will save you money on transportation costs if it is within easy driving distance.
Avoid spending a lot on clothes
It is not necessary to spend a fortune on festival attire. Every summer, stores like H&M and Forever 21 release festival-specific collections that are easy on the wallet. For an even better deal, check out your neighborhood thrift shop for some vintage treasures. Thrift shops are also great options for winter festivals - you'll avoid sky-rocket holiday prices. It's safe to say that festival attire of the retro kind has never been more at home.
Pack your clothes carefully
The biggest trick in the book is to pack your clothes properly so they will be ready for a great festival when you arrive. But it's not always easy - you can't bring huge suitcases when you travel in a big group. Professional movers, who have a great experience with packing and going long distances, say that it's crucial to bring only clothes you're sure you'll use and arrange them neatly in your luggage. This way, you'll make sure your outfit survives the long trip.
Share gas with your friends
Instead of everyone driving up individually and meeting at the venue, try to carpool if you and your pals are attending a festival together. You won't just save on petrol for the trip, but also on parking costs at the event site. Also, this will lower your total carbon footprint and help nature. Win-win, right?
Volunteering can bring you free tickets
Working as a volunteer is one of the most inexpensive ways to experience the festival season. In exchange for working a few shifts as a camp guard or recycling post attendant, you will be granted free entry to the festival for the duration of your service. In exchange for free admission and camping, missing out on one or two afternoons or nights of your weeklong adventure is a small price to pay, especially when visiting festivals on a budget.
There's not only one ticketing option
In the weeks leading up to the start of your preferred festival, check social media and some of the online bulletin and for-sale groups to see if you can get a cheaper ticket than the official store is selling. There will always be a subset of festivalgoers whose schedules shift, leaving them with little choice but to recoup some of their investment by selling discounted tickets.
Don't give in to the festival swag
After seeing "the greatest live concert of all time," the temptation to go over and purchase every piece of festival swag is understandable. However, spending like this on the spur of the moment may quickly spiral out of control, so it's best to take a step back and collect your thoughts. You can get it later on the internet for less money.
If you're dead bent on buying a souvenir, at least hold off until the festival's last day. That's when the vendors will want to change gears and lower their pricing to attract customers.
The food is costly at festivals, but...
The cost of food is usually relatively high during any kind of celebration. You can save a ton of cash if you consider it in advance. Bring your breakfast, snacks, and inebriated food to eat, and save a ton of money. There are a lot of great options, and we primarily advise dry, non-perishable meals such as:
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granola bars
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cereals
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peanut butter
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crackers
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crisps
It's probably apparent, but don't do anything that requires advanced planning. As the moment draws near, you cannot do much more than open a package. If you're hungry and at a festival, consider what's available before deciding. Keep an eye on other customers' purchases to see which shops have the most generous serving sizes.
Final thoughts
Attending all the festivals you want to attend can be expensive. But it doesn't have to be. Visiting festivals on a budget is possible. You don't have to follow all the tips above at once (if you can, kudos to you). Every little step can compensate a lot for your budget, and you can enjoy the stuff you came for. So, now that you know it's possible, what are you waiting for? Gather a crew and make some new festive memories together.
