For many, music festivals are the highlight of the year, yet the financial reality often hits hard.
The cumulative cost of tickets, travel, and on-site expenses can quickly escalate, turning anticipation into anxiety.
As festival season kicks into full swing, the temptation to overspend is ever-present.
To help revellers navigate these financial pitfalls, Vix Leyton, a consumer finance expert at thinkmoney, has shared her essential advice for managing money wisely, ensuring the experience remains enjoyable without the burden of excessive spending.
Book a combined ticket and coach travel bundle
“Many people underestimate how expensive travelling to and from a festival will be, so it’s really important to check exactly where the festival campsite is in relation to the nearest public transport options,” advises Leyton.
“It’s definitely worth looking at the ticket and coach packages because they can help take the stress out of travelling and usually the prices are pretty competitive.”
See if you are eligible for a railcard
“If you are planning to get to a festival via a train, it’s worth looking at what railcards are available,” suggests Leyton. “If you are travelling with a friend to a festival, the two together railcard can be a great option.”
Consider car sharing
If you would rather drive to a festival, carpooling can be a great budget-friendly option.
“If you car share with people in your local community, you can split the cost of petrol with them,” says Leyton. “There are loads of online community groups and Facebook forums that can connect you with people in your area that might be going to the same festival as you.”
Bring your own food
Food stalls are renowned for being expensive at festivals, so stocking up at a supermarket beforehand will save you a lot of money.
“Most of the weekend festivals allow you to bring food in now, so bring what you can in terms of non-perishables,” recommends Leyton. “Lots of festivals also have supermarkets nearby so you can pick up most of your food and drink on your way there.”
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Borrow camping equipment
“Check with your family and friends to see if they have any camping gear that you can borrow,” suggests Leyton. “Many people give things like camping gear away for free because their camping days are over and now they just want to get it out of their house.”
Check all your camping kit before you go
Always do a test pitch at home before a trip.
“Check all your camping equipment before you go because if you have to replace any of it on site, you will be charged a massive premium,” says Leyton.
Look on resale sites
“Platforms like Freecycle or Vinted are great places to get some cheap camping equipment or festival clothes that you will only wear once,” says Leyton. “It’s also good for the environment.”
Set up a communal kitty with your friends
“If you are going to a festival with a big group of friends it might be worth considering getting a kitty together to use for rounds of drinks to prevent quibbling over who got what,” says Leyton.
Remember to pack all of the essentials
“Don’t forget to take your own toilet rolls and things like sun cream and blister plasters,” advises Leyton.
“Also, remember to bring a rain poncho in case the weather turns, because buying one on site will cost you a lot more money.”
Use apps to set up spending limits
“There are some brilliant accounts out there that let you separate your money into what you have got to spend and what you’ve got to keep for things like bills,” says Leyton.
“If you are somebody that needs a spending limit set, check your banking app because some of them will send you notifications if you hit your spending threshold.”
Say no to rounds
“Buying rounds of drinks can be really expensive and can catch a lot of people out, so if you’re not planning to drink at the same pace as everybody else, just say, ‘Leave me out the rounds, I’ll get my own drinks’,” recommends Leyton.
“This is probably one of the biggest savings you can make at a festival.”
Share multipacks with friends
“Getting multipacks of food and drinks and sharing them with friends is always a great way to split the cost,” recommends Leyton.
Shop around
“I’m an absolute devotee of shopping around,” says Leyton. “You don’t have to settle on £7 chips at the first food stall that you see, as you might be able to get them for much cheaper somewhere else.
“It’s always worth taking a little stroll around the campsite and having a look at what everybody else has got before committing to what food you want to spend your money on.”
