Festivals MSE stylee! :D

theadz01

Have been to Glastonbury 4 times and V a few times, have a festival free year this year though to save money.

My top tips, especially for Glastonbury are:

Take your own wellies - when it rains (and it always does) the shops start selling wellies for £15+ and they sell out.

Cheap value bin liners. To put your rubbish in, but to sit on when it's muddy and put all your clothes in to keep them dry.

Cheap wet wipes to keep clean and a mug to hold the water while you brush your teeth, saves you queing up for the water taps.

Take your own beer, and get a small little bag that you can wear on your back, that doesn't annoy you too much. That way, you have a constant/cheap supply of beer.

If you buy Pear cider, buy the 2 litre bottles, I'm sure it is cheaper than buying them in pints.

If you don't want to take you're own food, shop around. You can get some good food that isn't too overpriced. Look out for Square Pie, a little on the pricier side, but you get get a really nice pie, loads of mash and peas/beans which will keep you filled up all day, so worth the extra money. The vegetarian places were good as well, not too expensive and again, filled you up all day, especially musili and yoghurt for breakfast. Avoid the burger vans etc near the main stages, very expensive!!

Hope you all have a good time if you're going, I'll be enviously watching on TV at home

ChrisDuckyCampbell

having not been fortunate to gat a ticket for 2005 and 2007 i went to glastonbury for nothing, disguised as a 12 year old..

if you look youthful its worth a bash

bectoria_2

Ok I've only ever been to V so I'm not sure if these tricks will work elsewhere but we've always managed to get plenty of drink into the arena.

I've never camped so I cant help with that bit.

Parking - at Staffs there is a layby about a mile from the park which is just out of the tow away area. Its worth the walk to save on the parking fees and you avoid the queues to get out at the end of the night.

Its already been mentioned but a box of wine taken out of the box and hidden at the bottom of a rucksack will go unnoticed. And its makes a great pillow when the wine is finished.

Empty ginger ale bottles (1lt plastic bottles are allowed in) and replace with cider. Fruit shoot bottles are good for hiding spirits. Ribena bottles for pimms and just take 1lt bottles of lemonade to mix.

Another good hiding spot is in the middle of one of those blankets with the plastic back.

At V last year they offered 10p for every cup returned. If you can be bothered (most people cant and still just throw them down) go around collecting them to earn some money.

Finally go to the Virgin stand. They give you a pack with a free sim card. Use this sim card and text off the code (it will advertised on the boards) you will get a code for a free bottle of lager. There is always a queue to get it and dont forget to pick up another pack when you collect the lager.

TraceyB79_2

Hi guys,

I'm going to Guilfest for the first time this year (my OH's way of easing me into the festival scene!) and as a complete festival novice and dirt phobe!, has anyone any advice? - especially from the girlies about taking a bag etc??

Many thanks!

Heva2015

This won't be relevant to everyone but most of the major festivals will allow a disabled person to take a carer along with them for free.

PandaPants_2

Im in the middle of my own little festival. It's me in my garden with ipod and a bottle of gin in the sunshine. I get to sleep in my own bed and have a shower... :rotfl: :rotfl:

stefejb

There are lots of free festivals in london if you are in or around the area - probably the one with the biggest names is rise http://www.londonisfree.com/

Tesco are just starting to sell their camping gear in stores -might be able to bag a bargain.
Tiger balm under your nose takes some of the smell away from the loos - I like the bandana idea though - i have a pot that has lasted five years now.
look out for bogofs on babywipes and hand sanitiser
If you are taking a stove then try to snaffle some extra packets of sugar, sauces etc. If you are doing a lot of camping then a Trangia is brilliant - very light and all folds up into itself - pricey though so a long term investment. With a trangia you can use greenheat fuel which while more expensive is safer and greener than gas cansiters or liquid fuel. I take a plastic bag with porridge oats, rasins and milk powder in it so that at least breakfast is wholesome. Supernoodles, pasta n' saueces - all light and cheap and whilst not brilliantly nutritious probably no worse than festival food

8mm_memories

Hello! I'm a newbie to the forum (not the site though...) and I think this topic is fantastic.

As an avid festival and gig-goer I have some (hopefully) top tips that make things cheaper for the festies - some years I've managed to do it on skint bare bones and some years I splash out.

So here goes:

1. Beer (is this the most important? lol)
At the Reading and Leeds festivals (I go to both - not at the same time, obviously, but alternate years!) they have a Carling Cold Beer Amnesty. This is the best.thing.ever. Basically the premise is the bar/tent setup here (the Amnesty) in the camping village/campsites will exchange any can of unopened beer for a nice frosty can of Carling. Yes, you can buy cheap and nasty Tesco Value (or equivalent) larger and swap it for (semi-decent) Carlings! - This has saved me sooo much money at fests and I can't recommend it enough.
However, downside to this is that Reading and Leeds fests are no longer the "Carling Weekend" (which I personally am happy about) although it may mean that the Amnesty has also gone this year. In previous years the Amnesty has been advertised on the festival websites, so have a check before you go and buy some rancid cheap beer. Don't say I didn't warn you!

Beer #2 - or rather, wine. Yes, if you go to Aldi or Sainsburys you can buy wine in plastic bottles which you CAN take onto the campsites (at least I know this to be true for Download, Reading, Leeds and Latitude Festivals) - often vino in plastic isn't too great, but hey, let's be fair - it'll be warm anyway and you'll be having too much fun round your campfire at night to care. Plus no glass to a) get confiscated or b) cause injury to unsuspecting people.

Food! - Often the most costly thing at fests. In fact, ALWAYS the most costly thing. I combat the sky high prices by:
a) Taking a packed of nutri-grain or cereal bars with me in a rucksack during the day. Get hungry.. eat one. Simple. Cheap and sometimes kinda tasty.
b) Taking UHT milk, museli and honey to the campsite - now normally the milk goes a bit manky after day two, but at least you're guaranteed two really nice decent breakfasts out of it - again, quite cheap, healthy (bonus to make up for all the booze you'll probably drink!) and very filling. Shove a big bowl of this in your belly before heading into the arena on a morning and you'll be well set til lunch. The doughnut stand will never tempt you!
c) Muffins. Oh god, at a festival muffins are a life saver. I always keep a pack in my tent, and shove one in my rucksack during the day. Hey, they're not the healthiest of things but they're yummy and the sugar will keep you going when you start to flag (if you're like me) at around 9pm before the headliners come on. Have one of those, and stretch to a cheap coffee if you can find one (often stalls tucked away have coffee for 50p - which isn't bad at a fest) and you'll be bouncing around the arena like a looooon for the main acts!
Also muffins are great for hangovers... well, I think so.
d) First night - BBQ! Go to wilcos and buy a disposable BBQ for a couple of quid. Get some reet nice burgers or whatever from your lovely local butcher and have a proper festie barbie on the first night (before it all goes off) - cheaper than going to a stall!
e) The shuttle bus.... now I know that the REading and Leeds sites have a shuttle bus that goes to the local supermarket (tesco) which costs around £5 return. This can save money on food if there is two or more of you... the deal is at lunchtime or tea time each day, take an hours chill time and take it in turns (or bribe each other...) to go to Tesco, divvy up the bus fair between you and one of you can go on your own (be brave!)... pick up some cheap sarnies or maybe some of that ready cooked chicken lark... and bus back to the arena... the security always let you take it through et voila.. you have food that hasn't gone off in the sunshine, a fraction of festival prices and it doesn't even take as long to get to and from tesco as it does to get to and from your tent to the arena (well, I camped in Brown camping last year.. so that'll explain a lot to those Leeds goers!). Chow down and then go enjoy what it's all about!

Drink...
Not alcohol this time. WATER... now the conning people at the festies often charge upwards of £2.50 for a small bottle. During the day it can get so hot you need to keep drinking so make sure you take one unopened bottle with you first thing through the gates into the arena and then just top it up during the day from the taps near the toilets. Sounds so simple but it amazes me how many people don't do this and fall victim to £10+ per day wasted on bottled water.

General:
Many people have said this already but the key really is go prepared. Take:
loo rolls
bin liners (also good for sitting on)
socks (spares!)
pants (same!)
wellies
hat
suncream
antibacterial hand gel (can get cheap from superdrug)
a scarf (for your nose when you have you use the loo!)
small torch
batteries
a charged up phone - and only turn it on when you need to (really, why do people need them on constantly at festivals? surely it's missing the point somewhere?)
small hand towel / & face cloth
toothbrush
toothpaste
deoderant (shower-in-a-can)
shower gel/soap
hair bobbles (if you need em)
hair band (for those of us without well behaved straight hair - it's a lifesaver for me and my freaky locks)
That's it. Except for the clothes on your back, your tent & sleeping bag (and air bed if, like me, you're old!)..that's really all you'll need!

If you remember everything you won't fall foul of the helpful, but very overpriced "supermarket" on campsites.

Also, don't don't don't pay for those flipping laminated programmes and running times. They are such a rip off (and if you want one as a souvenier, keep an eye open on the last day as people are always just dropping them on the floor when they don't need them anymore, or even then sometimes people flog them on ebay for less than £1 after the fest!). Most of the festival websites give you running times the day before it starts so just note down. If this info isn't available...do the smart thing.. take a pen and bit of paper, find some lovely lad/lass who has parted with their cash for a guide, chat to them for a bit and ask them if they'll let you take the times down from their laminate. In years of going, no one has ever said no to me yet - plus I've got talking to some really amazing people this way!

And that's it I guess. The biggest money saving tool at a festival is willpower I suppose - as it's always hard to say no to a beer, or to stay clear of the really nice noodles (which probably aren't that nice!) cooking and being sold for £6 a carton... but stick to it, and think of it how I do... every penny saved is a penny towards next years ticket. Plus, it's all about the music... and once you're in, that doesn't cost anything!

I hope everyone has an amazing time at the fests this year!

(have noticed one no-one else mentioned yet and that's The Secret Garden Party - in Huntingdon... sounds amazing!)

xx

8mm_memories

Sorry - just thought of something else.
Travel to the fests... many festival websites have links to Lift share schemes set up especially for the festivals. Using this is not only money saving/cost effective but it's a bit more environmentally friendly. Happy days. :-)

sellingmysoul666

this looks like a good festival type thing for kids

http://www.sudeleycastle.co.uk/events.php?id=57#top

for those who can not afford or dont like download anymore

http://www.bloodstock.uk.com/
its been great for the past two years you can hear (sometimes see) the main stage from your car as its only seperated from the stages by a (moveable ) fence - you can go and sit in the car when it rains!!

i dont camp but stay at a nearby university accomidation/travelodge/ express by holiday inn ect

i always take
cheap sunglasses
lip balm
small sachet of suncream - boots do some good ones marketed towards kids
handy packs of tissues (hayfever)
earplugs (im getting on a bit old for such loud music)
maltloaf
small packets of raisins/nuts
sandwiches made at the hotel - lots of jam & peanut butter involved
small packets of sweets/mints for all the singing
bottles of water (if you know you are going to be searched you can hide anything up your sleave - no one has ever patted down my arms)
camera
bin bag to sit on or wear if it rains
long sleave top - it will get cold when the sun goes down also useful if you are fair skinned as stops you getting sunburn

look out for free stuff at stalls pens badges earpluggs cds ect
go to any signings you see (if i was that was inclined i could sell what i had got signed on ebay)

always check out the forum of the festival you are going to - people may
have good insider tips parking, nearby shops ect

look on the floor esp near the beer tent (drunks are careless with their money)

i try not to buy stuff from the stalls but i set myself a budget & grab any bargins
i got 3 skirts for a pound each at last years radio 1 big weekend

for a cheapish legal high have a go at the oxygen machines

look out for any extra free activities (we got on a music video last year)

dont forget megabus for cheep travel

http://www.megabus.co.uk/uk/