Warm up those voices. We predict cheering and screaming are in your immediate future.
The loosening of COVID restrictions nationwide has allowed many concerts, Broadway shows and festivals to reconvene safely after a lengthy interruption. And now everyone is itching to get out there and experience crowd surfing, er, life again.
Our eyes may be bigger than our wallets in a time like this, so we have to bring ourselves back down to earth and take financial precautions. Luckily Rebecca Gramuglia, everyone's trusty consumer expert at TopCashback.com, is up to the task. She shares with us five ways we can save on live entertainment and keep our money goals in check.
1. Comparison shop.
Attending an in-person event can be pricey, especially if you’re traveling out of town. Make use of a cash back site, like TopCashback.com, to save on tickets from Ticketmaster or Stubhub. You can also save on travel and lodging from sites like Expedia.com, Hotels.com and more.
2. Shop early.
The demand for entertainment is higher than ever so you’ll want to score tickets as early as you can to avoid expensive resellers. There are lots of options when it comes to presales. Codes for early access can be found in a variety of places like social media, on the artist’s website and via email. Whether you’re a loyal listener, on the website’s email list or a registered “Verified Fan,” pre-sales tend to offer reasonable prices.
3. Use the right credit card.
Certain venues and websites offer pre-sales for specific credit card holders, and sometimes it pays to have that card if you’re an active concert-goer, sports fanatic or theatre enthusiast and want the best possible seats. Score cash back and points on purchases, plus you can get your tickets early. It’s a win-win.
4. Budget yourself.
Food and concessions at events can be expensive, so you may want to research the venue to see what you can bring inside. If you plan on buying merchandise, give yourself a generous budget in case prices are higher than expected. Pro-tip: Don’t be afraid to say no if it’s too expensive. You can always buy merchandise on sites like Fanatics and from eBay resales.
5. Get to know the local area.
Whether you stay close to home or travel far, it’s important to know the venue’s local amenities. Not only is this a good safety measure, but it can also help you plan out your entire day surrounding the event. You can save on dining with discount gift cards from sites like Raise, or even on activities and experiences from sites like Groupon.
Drop a comment below if these tips align with your own. We'd love to hear from you.
by Diana Oliveira
Diana Oliveira is the senior copywriter at TopCashback.com. After beginning her copywriting career at a paper company, where she harnessed her creative chops writing about…paper, this self-described “bargain shopper” has felt at home talking about our many stores, deals and money-saving tips the last few years.
