So you’re going with a bunch of friends. You might not have the same kind of budget as them, but IT’S OKAY! The trick is to have your own personal budget and not to #FOMO when your friend, Adam buys that overpriced lanyard of a band that he had just discovered a few weeks ago.
The reason behind bringing only cash to the festival, is not so that you can flash your ringgit-ringgit-bills to that girl in the tight crop-top, but it’s so that you don’t overspend on stuff you don’t need, like having your face painted when you know you’re gonna sweat like crazy. To help you save more, set a daily spending limit you are comfortable with, and divide it across each day.
Tickets, accommodation, transport, etc. are cheaper when booked early. The longer you wait, the more expensive it's going to be. If you are only getting your pay at a later date, try asking someone to help you out, but make sure you, DO NOT become a douchebag-Dave, and ghost them on payday.
Food containing carbs like rice, noodles, or bread will leave you hungry again after a short while, but if you get something meaty, or with veges or tofu, although it will be slightly expensive, it will keep you twerking, moshing or jumping for hours! Reminder: You came for the music, not the hipster-food-trucks.
An old, but gold tip. Always wait for the last day to buy merchandise. This way, you will know how much money you have to spend AND some vendors might also reduce their prices to finish up their sales, so you might get a better deal than Karen, who bought a festival bandana for RM60.