You spent $400 to go to Coachella, so how do you save money once you're there? (2024)

You did it. Maybe you shouldn't have but this is a once-in-a-lifetime experience and you splurged for a $400 ticket to the Coachella Music and Arts Festival.

You spent $400 to go to Coachella, so how do you save money once you're there? (1)

You just asked Siri how much money you have left in your bank account, she responded in an inappropriately cheery computer voice "You don't want to know."

I'm here to help. Here are a few tips to save a little cash at Coachella. Some simple tricks I've learned over the years to minimize costs, while still maximizing your time.

Bring a water bottle

This is the easiest one, and basically a must. According to festival rules, you are allowed to bring an empty, plastic, reusable, non-metal, non-glass water bottle of 40-ounces or less. Do it. This will prevent you from having to be multiple $2 bottles of water. You can fill your bottle at several water-filling stations. If you do forget, at the very least, after you buy your first bottle of water, keep it and re-use it.

READ MORE: Getting to Coachella like a local

Eat before you arrive

A simple way to save a few bucks is to only buy one (or zero) meals on the festival grounds. Have a nice big breakfast or lunch before you arrive. It will help you sustain energy levels throughout the day. You could even somewhere local in Indio, Coachella or La Quinta before hitting the polo grounds. Then, while at the event, simply grab a slice of pizza or an arepas — South American-style sandwich — both will be less than $10. If you really want to take to an expert money-saving level, you could pack some food in a cooler in your car. You want be able to bring it into the festival, but you could go out to your car to eat it and come back in. A medium hassle, true, but doable. Also, having something to munch on when you get to your car at the end of night isn't a bad idea, either. You saved by only having a slice of pizza from 2 p.m. to midnight, howgreat is that 12:30 a.m. peanut butter and jelly going to taste while you wait in the exiting traffic?

You spent $400 to go to Coachella, so how do you save money once you're there? (3)

Use cash

The smartest use of cash since the "cash me outside" girl is to bring cash and only use cash at Coachella. Take a credit card for emergencies only, but that's it. Bring an amount you can afford and stick to it. This is also has the added benefit of not having to use the ATM machines at the festival and pay that additional surcharge.

READ MORE:Here's where you and Lady Gaga can grab a beer in the desert during Coachella

Travel smart

Whether you are a local or staying at a nearby hotel, if you can walk or ride a bike or carpool to the festival, definitely do it. Having a friend drop you off near the festival, obviously accomplishes the same result. I've become a fan of the shuttle. A shuttle pass costs $60, but you can almost always find someone selling it for $30 or $40 online. That's because after regular general admission tickets have sold out online, people are forced to by the general admission-plus shuttle tickets for a little more. The result is a bunch of people coming to town with a shuttle pass they're not using. So, if you find one on Craigslist for, let's say $40, that's six rides for about $7.50 each and all the hassle of trying to park is alleviated. All these things are way cheaper than six Uber or Lyft rides.

Find freebies

There are a handful of promotional tents around the grounds. Take advantage of them. Some may be giving away free popsiclesor other snackableitems to help youstretch your food dollar. Others may be dishing out free chapstick or suntan lotion or water misters or other useful sundries. Hey, every little bit helps.

READ MORE:New Coachella changes include Antarctic dome, punk rock tent and neighborhood eateries

Gear and merch

You definitely don't have to pay top dollar for "festival-specific" clothes from major retailers as you construct your three Coachella outfits. A well-constructed "thrift store" ensemble will be just as effective and you'll get creativity points for not looking exactly the same as everyone else. Also, and this a tough onebecause there is something kind of sentimentalabout buying a T-shirt at an event, but if you can hold off, you could save a few bucks. You can generally find festival T-shirts and other merch online a couple weeks or months after the event. If you can hold out, buy your 2017 Coachella gear online after the fact, and then just tell people you bought it at the festival. It will be our little secret.

You spent $400 to go to Coachella, so how do you save money once you're there? (4)

Be prepared for all weather

Bring your own sunglasses, sunscreen,hat to be ready for the heat;Bandana for the wind; and light sweatshirt for when it gets cold. The goal is nottohave to buy those items on site. If you remember on the way to the grounds that you forgot one of those, stop at a convenience store and scoop them up before you get there.