The ticket feels like the big expense. But by the end of the weekend, travel, food and all the little things have often cost just as much. Make a simple budget before you go and you’ll avoid the nasty surprise on your bank statement.
The costs to plan for
- Ticket – and sometimes a separate camping ticket or parking.
- Travel – fuel, ferry, train or flights. Sharing a car makes it much cheaper per person.
- Accommodation – a tent is cheapest, but factor in gear if you don’t have your own.
- Food and drink on site – usually the cost that runs away the most.
- Shopping beforehand – breakfast, snacks and drinks for the campsite.
- Merch – decide in advance whether it’s one shirt or three.
- A buffer – something always breaks or gets forgotten.
Set a daily budget
Work out what you have left once the ticket and travel are paid for, and divide it by the number of days. Then you know what you can spend on food and drink each day – and you can treat yourself one day if you cut back on another.
Split costs without arguments
Whoever buys for the whole crew shouldn’t have to chase money for weeks afterwards. In Festivalmate you add shared expenses as they happen, and the app works out who owes whom when the weekend is over.