Summer festival season is here! These events are such a great way to build memories with our families. If you don’t watch your wallet, they can be super expensive. Here are a few tips to help you save money.
1. Eat Before You Go: Now, I will be the last to advise you to forgo festival food completely. But, you can still enjoy it by sharing a signature dish with your family or choosing one item to indulge in.
For example, RibFest is coming up June 27th. Pretty clear this event is ALL about the food. I could never torture my husband to walk around this festival and not get some sort of BBQ. We will eat a snack before we go then we can share a plate of food there (probably while watching the fireworks).
2. Budget and Take Cash: First, it’s just too easy to take out your card and pay for something. But also if you spending a little time researching the event beforehand you can find what is free and what you will have to pay for. Is there an admission fee? How much is parking? What activities are free, any we have to pay for? You will quickly find out what money you will have to spend to just to attend what you have a choice to spend your money on: like food, entertainment, and souvenirs. *Take precautions to secure your cash.3. Find Free/ Discount Days: Check the festival dates with your schedule to match up the cheapest day to go. Let’s look at the Indiana State Fair: Admission is $12/person. If you buy online before the fair begins it is only $8/person. For a family of 4 that’s $16 saved already! The fair also has many admission discounts offered ranging from $2 off per/ticket to $20 for an entire vehicle (up to 10 people, a great carpool day!). Planning ahead can definitely save you some moolah!
Our Hendricks County Fair has $5/ car admission (one of the MANY reasons why I love it). You can still find discounted days like ‘Wristband Night’ to experience all the rides for one price.
4. Take Water Bottles: Drinks are super expensive at events. Any that we have attended allow you to take your own water. When I think about a drink being between $3- $6, I would rather spend that on an experience. Water bottles are easily refillable and well, it’s summer- you are bound to need it.
5. Bring a Backpack: You’ll need to check the rules of the festival, but if you are allowed a backpack fill it with snacks for you and the kids, sunscreen, bug repellant and anything else you may need. The price of these items get marked up dramatically because they become ‘must-have’s’ if you are stuck without them.
6. Prep Kids Before You Go: Bright lights, crowds of people, games, and just an overall atmosphere of FUN; our kids are bound to get excited (and want everything in site). Take a few minutes to talk and prepare them with spending expectations before you go.
For example, we are going to Plainfield’s 4th of July festival. I’ll tell my 4 year old she will get ONE dessert item only (probably ice cream, the girl can’t resist ice cream). For kids that have their own money, discuss who is responsible for each cost and how much they are allowed to take. Maybe you will buy their food but they have to pay for rides and games. Helping them budget on one small event will get them started on lifelong money lessons.
No matter what your budget, these festivals can provide a great time for your family. Our calendar will be give you all the great details of events in Hendricks County. Do you have a money saving tip to share with the Macaroni Kid family? Share them in comments below.
