It’s safe to say 2020 will be quite the year for sports fans around the world. With the Olympics and Paralympics in Tokyo, Euro 2020 football, the Ryder Cup, and of course the annual Wimbledon, London Marathon and Grand National events are around many sporting events to choose from.
But how can you enjoy it all while you’re trying to manage your finances?
Buy online
Avoid paying a premium for tickets by checking online auction who resell tickets, but make sure you buy from a reputable seller. Many sports teams sell tickets at a premium through their direct site, however, many soccer teams have a variety of membership options that offer tickets at a lower price.
Perfect if you’re a regular and want to save money during the season.
Sit on the top level
Whether you’re watching football, rugby or boxing, one thing’s for sure: the higher you sit, the cheaper the tickets. While you may not be face-to-face with all the action, you’ll still be swept up in the atmosphere, not to mention that large screens often display far more than you can actually see if you’re seated lower down.
Pre-book the trip
If you’ve already got tickets to your sporting event, the earlier you arrange travel, the better. Whether you book train tickets in advance, reserve car park in advance, or secure cheap flights to Europe to watch England in the semifinals (maybe!), the earlier you do it, the more you’ll save.
Save while you’re there
It’s easy to get swept up in the heat of the moment at a great sporting event – and be tempted to buy ALL the merchandise, but be realistic. When you are on a limited budget, it is important to only make the necessary purchases. Are you going to wear those foam fingers again? Do you really need to buy a match program?
Plus, food is often expensive in places, so if possible, eat before you get there, and if you’re allowed to, bring your own drinks and snacks – but always check the rules of the venue to make sure you can bring your own drinks in. in.
Go to the pubs
When in doubt, grab your friends and go to your local. The atmosphere is often lively when major sporting events are shown in the pub. If the weather is nice, find a pub that has big screens outside so you can sit in the sun too – and try to grab some cash. Once it’s gone, you won’t be able to spend any more money – unless you have good friends!
If you had a burning desire to see your team in person this year, and you have consider all available financing options for you – maybe it’s a once-in-a-lifetime event (like England in the football final?!), or you have a family member who is an Olympian; there are times”sport is one of life’s basic pleasures”, and should be enjoyed.
