Although a weekend at a British music festival tends to be cheaper than a holiday or staycation, costs can add up - particularly if you leave preparation until the last minute. Whether you’re a first-timer or a Glastonbury veteran, it’s always important to budget and plan ahead to make sure that you don’t overspend.
To help Brits save money ahead of the festival season, CashLady.com has partnered with thrifty festivalgoer, Alex Fisher, to share her top savings tips. Alex is a seasoned festivalgoer from Manchester, having attended more than 20 festivals and counting at the age of 27. Her seven tips aim to help first-time festival attendees or those simply looking to cut costs on their trip, and could help you save up to £186, she reckons.
Alex said: “British festivals are the best part of the summer for me. I started going regularly as a student, so I’m more than used to planning my trip on a budget. Once you’ve bought the festival ticket, it can be daunting when you realise the additional costs that come with it, from travel to camping essentials.
"However, there are ways to keep your spending to a minimum. These tips could help you to save around £180 on festival preparation - enough money to cover a good chunk of a festival ticket in the UK."
Share a tent with a big group
Alex said: “Borrow a tent from a family member or friend to avoid paying for one entirely. If this is not an option, go down the budget route when buying. In my experience, cheap tents always do the job and can last for years, particularly if you’ll mostly be using them for festivals.
“Share your tent with a group of friends and get them to chip in towards the cost. At Argos right now, the cheapest two-man tent costs £25 - which is the same cost as a four-person tent on the same website. By sharing with three friends rather than sleeping solo, you can save £18.75, paying just £6.25 each.”
Estimated saving: £18.75
Travel by coach
Alex said: “Opt for a coach over a train when booking public transport to a festival. Trains will usually be more expensive anyway, but there’s also the hidden cost of paying for a taxi or bus to take you from the station to the festival entrance when you arrive.
“A return trip on a coach from Manchester to Glastonbury Festival, for example, costs £70.90 whereas the cheapest train costs £85.79 with a 26-30 Railcard, or a whopping £147.17 without one. Coaches may seem like the less luxurious option, but they will save you a good chunk of money and take you straight to where you need to be. This option also means you can avoid the hassle of lugging your bags on and off connecting trains and taxis - it’s a win-win.”
Estimated saving: £76.27 with a Railcard (£14.89 without a Railcard)
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Bring food and drinks
Alex said: “It’s no secret that food and drink prices at most British festivals are extortionate. Many first-time festivalgoers make the mistake of over or under-packing food and drink, so I would recommend budgeting and planning for one meal bought at the festival per day.
“On the first day, scout out all of the food vendors and work out which option is the best value for money to make sure you’re getting the most bang for your buck – noodles are usually a winner for me. The rest of the time you can live off breakfast bars, Pot Noodles, bananas, crisps, and nuts, all of which should be bought ahead of time. It's hardly a balanced diet, but it'll keep your stomach and your wallet full throughout the day.”
Estimated saving: £20
Avoid new clothes
Alex said: “Resist buying unnecessary new clothes ahead of a festival. Don’t overestimate how many outfits you need; given the British weather, the likelihood is you’ll spend most of the time in a jumper and wellies, so buying a new outfit for each day may end up redundant anyway.
“Why not rework some old pieces from your wardrobe, and if you do need some new clothes, try and buy as much as you can from charity shops. It’s cheap, environmentally-friendly, and you’ll have a unique outfit that you can almost guarantee you won’t see on someone else.”
Estimated saving: £40
Preparation
Alex said: “The trick to not overspending while at a festival is preparation. The more you buy before and take with you, the less you’ll spend when you’re there where the same items probably cost double the amount.
“Do some research and create a checklist of everything you need, then hunt for the best deal. Often, it will be items such as camping chairs that newbies may not account for and will need to source once at the campsite. You can get a cheap chair for £6 on Argos at the moment, whereas at a festival it could cost upwards of £15. This may seem like a minor saving, but these costs add up.”
Estimated saving: £9
Merch
Alex said: “Avoid buying merch at a festival. You may be tempted to snap up a memento of your trip while you’re there, but there will be the option to buy similar items online once you’re home. That way, you have more time to consider your purchase and shop around for better deals.”
Estimated saving: £15
Glitter
Alex said: “No festival outfit is complete without a face full of glitter. There will be multiple stalls dotted around any festival with people who can glitter you up to a professional level. Though this can be incredibly enticing, if you’re looking to save, you’re best off doing your own.
“You can usually get a tub of glitter for around a pound, so stock up, head to Pinterest and get practising. You’ll get a similar outcome for a fraction of the price.”
Estimated saving: £7
Overall saving: £186.02
CashLady.com’s personal finance expert, Dan Whittaker, said: “Festivals are a great alternative to a staycation for music lovers in the UK, typically seen as a cheap and cheerful trip. However, with festival prices rising and the cost of living crisis impacting most of the UK, it is still important to cut costs where possible.
“Alex’s tips are testament to the fact that research and small changes to your festival preparation can go a long way in terms of savings. These tried and tested savings hacks are particularly useful for those attending a festival for the first time, where it can be easy to get carried away with spending or making uninformed decisions on purchases.”
