This is how to keep the festival season cheaper than ever
Festivals: the most fun there is, but sometimes also a hefty blow to your wallet. Especially if you want to be at a different party every weekend and pay for your friends' drinks. No stress if your bank account is almost empty, I have the tips for a cheaper festival season.
Free tickets via Appic
Okay okay, a bit of a matter of luck, but if you win, you get something. Who doesn't want to go to a festival for free? It almost sounds too good to be true, but did you know that you can win tickets for (smaller) festivals via the Appic app regularly? It is indeed a matter of having some luck, but believe me: a friend of mine recently scored a gem. How does it work? You sign up for promotions in the app, participate in giveaways, and who knows, you might be the lucky winner. Tip for friend groups: not everyone wins all the time, but you can easily agree to share the costs for tickets that aren't free, and then everyone can participate in the giveaway. #teamwork
Buy your ticket on the day itself: risks and rewards
This one is for the spontaneous types. Often there are people who need to sell their ticket at the last minute because they can't or don't want to go after all. Especially on the day itself, prices often drop significantly because no one wants to leave their ticket ‘for nothing’. Of course, it's a bit of a gamble: you run the risk that the festival is already sold out. But if you have a bit of patience and just the right timing, you can surprisingly often get in for a bargain. Keep ticketswap an eye on it.
Earlybirds: the anticipation and the discount
Are you already too late? Being early always pays off. Almost all festivals sell ‘earlybird tickets’ – which are just a bit cheaper than the regular tickets. Okay okay, maybe this is a better tip for next year's festivals, but hey, it belongs in the list of tips.
Set a limit and stick to it
Let's be honest: as soon as you've had those first six beers, it becomes difficult to be responsible for your bank account. Been there, done that. That's why it's smart to make a budget plan for your festival expenses in advance. Tip: put a certain amount on a separate account or payment card that you use during the festival. This way, you can never accidentally spend too much. Have you run out of your beer budget? Chill, free water from the tap is also nice (and you'll feel much better the next day). Don't set your budget TOO low, before you find yourself without money and sober....
Save on your festival outfit: vinted is your best friend
We get it: you want to look top-notch festival-proof. But if everyone is walking around in the same Zara trends and you're afraid of ending up on TikTok with the tune ‘Where is the cap... the cap of ket...’, then it's time to get creative. Skip a visit to the city this year and you'll save at least 100 euros on your festival outfit. At second-hand shops, you often score unique, original items that no one else has — and you save a lot of money with it.
Try a different, smaller festival
Of course, the big festivals like Pinkpop and Lowlands are great, but the prices can sometimes be really absurd. Weekend tickets for such a party easily cost €250 or more. Smaller festivals are often just as fun and have pretty good line-ups too. And believe me, the atmosphere is often even more intimate and thus: cozier. Check festival fans or Instagram for the best hidden gems (tip: sometimes there's a free festival among them).
Bring a water bag or bottle
Beers, cocktails, soft drinks... it's all fantastic, but also ridiculously expensive at festivals. For half a liter of beer, you easily pay seven euros and a gin and tonic can sometimes cost three and a half tokens. Ouch. Therefore, bring your own water bottle or even better: a water bag. Don't forget the cap. This way, you can refill your bottle endlessly at the free water points that almost every festival has. No idea how to survive a sober festival season? check this article.
Let's summarize all 7 tips
- Win free tickets via the Appic app
- Wait for last-minute tickets on the day itself
- Score earlybird tickets via the festival websites
- Stick to your budget
- Shop your festival outfit vintage or reuse last year's
- Discover smaller festivals with surprising coziness
- Bring your own water bottle or bag to avoid expensive drinks
Image: Instagram|guusjewm
