12 Ways To Save Money On Festivals

Festival kicks in so soon and I couldn’t be more excited. Back in the late 00’s and 2010’s I would go to up to seven festivals a year as I was very lucky to get some press work through my music journalism ‘career’. Nowadays it’s more like two or three but this suits me just fine. Festivals can be very expensive and prices go up every year, so finding ways to save money on festivals is so important.

There are so many different types of festivals from big music festivals to foodie and cultural festivals. Here are some tips on how to save money on festivals from access through to trimming expenses.

Save money on festivals with early-bird tickets

Many festivals (especially the larger ones) will have early-bird tickets at a lower price to regular. There are always a limited number of these tickets as the organisers want to encourage ticket sales as early as possible. And some festivals even offer group discount deals if you buy a bundle of tickets.

For example I always buy my Slamdunk Festival ticket as soon as they’re announced and mine was about £25 cheaper than the tickets on sale now. So if you know you want to go to a festival grab an early-bird ticket to save a few pounds.

Save money on festivals with re-sale tickets

This is a riskier strategy as there’s no guarantee re-sale tickets will be available, especially for popular events. And even if they are you might not save any money. But if you’re flexible and willing to take a chance you can keep your eyes open.

Twickets is a great platform that doesn’t allow sales over face-value and is the largest face-to-face ticket resale site. Although it’s worth checking the organisers policy on resale etickets to ensure you use a recommended and safe platform.

Consider volunteering

I’ve never volunteered at a festival myself but know loads of people who have over the years. Volunteering can be a great alternative to paying full price for a ticket as you get to attend for free in exchange for some work. Work ranges from campsite wardens and wristband staff to litter picking and bar work. And shifts range across the different days (including before and after the actual festival) and times.

There are volunteering opportunities through charities like Oxfam or you can go directly to the festival themselves.

Save money on festivals with cashback

Certain ticket platforms, like Ticketmaster, provide cashback opportunities. At the moment Quidco have 0.75% cashback on Ticketmaster which admittedly isn’t much it could make you a few quid on a big festival ticket.

Before buying check all of the rates for different platforms across different cashback providers.

Save money on travel

There are so many extra costs to going to a festival after your physical ticket, and travel can eat up some of your budget.

Be savvy and plan your travel plans far in advance. You might find it cheaper/ easier to buy a combined coach and ticket package from the festival (especially if you’re close to a coach pick up spot).

If you’re travelling by train you can get group tickets for 3-9 adults where you get a a third discount on off-peak tickets. Travelling off-peak will save you a lot of money, and make sure you check out split-fare tickets when changing trains. It might work out cheaper to buy two singles rather than one direct with a change.

Bring refillable water bottles

Drinks at festivals are so expensive, even for something as simple as water. And if you’re out in the sunshine all day you’ll need to drink a lot. A simple (and eco-friendly) way to save money is to bring your own refillable water bottle.

Most festivals offer free water points where you can refill your bottles for free. Although plan when you’re going to fill up as queues can be quite long. If you want to keep your water cool for longer then use an insulated bottle for a refreshing drink.

Save money on festivals by bringing your own food and drink

Some of the fun of festivals is the food on offer, but it can end up costing you more than your ticket price to eat for a four to five day festival. Most festivals allow you to bring your own food into your camping area, and many will allow certain types of stoves so you may be able to cook.

Plenty of food stalls will offer boiling water for cup noodles/ soups at a low cost. So doing this for even one meal a day can save you a lot of money.

Pack non-perishable items that can survive such as cereal bars, crisps and snacks to keep you going. Tinned fruits with a ring pull can give you some essential nutrients that you otherwise might not get at a festival.

Some festivals (like 2000 trees) will also allow you to bring alcohol all around the festival site and it’s one of the things I love about the festival. If you’re bringing your own alcohol make sure to check the festival’s policy and don’t exceed the permitted limits.

Other ways to save money on festivals

• Purchase second-hand outfits on a budget. You don’t need new everything so check out charity shops and resale sites like Vinted and Depop.
• Rent your camping equipment. If you don’t own everything you need for a festival it might be cheaper to pay for pre-pitched or rented gear. This is especially useful if you’re not planning on camping a lot or attending a lot of festivals.
• Bring portable chargers as opposed to paying for mobile charging stations at festivals. We usually take a few fully charged packs with us to last over a whole festival.
• Collect cups to make some extra money. Most festivals have cup deposit schemes in place so by returning used cups you can make some money. This isn’t for everyone but I’ve seen people make back their festival ticket price just in cups.
• Set a daily budget to manage your spending. It’s important to know how much you want to spend and try to stick to it. It can be so easy to just tap a card but it all adds up.

These are just some of the tips you can implement to save money on festivals and have an awesome summer.