Money at festivals

[Over The Hill]

Daughter (age 16) is off to Reading Festival for 4 days with a group of friends.

In that time, as she cannot take much in with her, she has to live off the food and drink from the catering on site.

Two things (as I don't really do festivals)-

How much money do you need per day to get along?
How do you/can you arrange the money? Just take it all along as cash? What is the best way to keep it secure?

She is quite sensible and asked me the above points but really I have no idea so hope you will have the answers.

 

[StuAff]

It's no problem bringing in food from outside (as long as bottles are plastic, sealed and under 500ml if they want to take them into the arena).....well, apart from the queuing in Sainsbury's........

 

[Cheddar George]

Been 20 + years since i went to the Reading Festival, the small amount of money i had was kept on me at all times. You could walk into Reading though so replenishment from cash machines would be available.

 

[ianrauk]

Have you checked to see if the festival has onsite ATM's?

 

[swee'pea99]

Festivals generally do have on-site ATMs, but they're charging ones (of course) and they tend to be busy, so best avoided. 'Er indores & I took in £20/head/day and came out with change. Just kept it in our wallets, as you would anywhere. Worked out fine. (Adjust up/down based on booze - so if, at 16, she's off the juice, she could probably get away with less.)

 

[CopperBrompton]

Depends how much she's likely to spend on booze and drugs ...

 

[Sods_Laur]

There will be cashpoints. And lots of ways to waste money at a festival. If she drinks, buying a crate of something at a supermarket before they go into site will save her a lot of cash. Food will tend towards the expensive, but she will be able to hunt out cheaper options. And living on chips for a weekend won't do her any harm.

Tell her not to leave any valuables in her tent. And when she goes to sleep put those same valuables in the sleeping bag with her. Some vile people do buy tickets to get onto site and spend the time systematically robbing the drunk and/or sleeping, particularly on the first night.

 

[ScotiaLass]

Get a small travel bum bag to keep money in.
I have one which is slash resistant and worn round the waist, under clothing

 

[tyred]

Casting my mind back to being a teenager - add up the cost of 2 x 2L bottles of White Lightning, 1/2 bottle of Vodka, 20 Benson & Hedges, a little cannabis and a Big Mac and Chips. Factor in a £30 pound fine for being drunk and disorderly and the laundry costs for cleaning your clothes after you've been sick on them and you should have a rough idea.

 

[ufkacbln]

I am too old for all this modern festival malarkey.

The mud is no longer of the same quality, the sound systems actually work and they are too big!

But back on the subject of money

I think the same as I suggest for all travelling - divide it up

I have a wallet, but also have a small belt wallet that flips inside the waist band, and a small container on a neck strap that contains an emergency £40

That way if you are the victim of a pick pocket you still have a fall back position.

 

[Sods_Laur]

It's vanishingly unlikely she will get mugged at a festival. Far too many coppers and security around. People digging around in tents at night attract far less attention.

 

[Pro Tour Punditry]

I have one which is slash resistant

For the incontinent festival goer.