10 Ways to Save Money at the Fair
September 26, 2008 by Karen Weideman
Filed under Top 10 lists, entertainment, frugal friday, money saving idea
The air is getting crisp and things just seem a little more pleasant. Well, in my opinion anyway. You know what this means. The county and state fairs are coming!!!!
I don’t know about you, but when I hear the words county fair I think of nauseating rides, weird smelling food, and money. Of course, the reason I think of money is because you can really spend a lot of money at the fair.
Here are some ways to help you keep from spending so much money at the fair:
1. Set a budget and stick to it. There’s nothing wrong with having fun, but there needs to be a limit. Whether it be $20 or $75, you need to have a set amount that you won’t go over. You don’t want to get wrapped up into spending more than you planned on some food that’s going to make you feel queasy anyway.
2. Check to see if the fair has a free day or a time that’s free to get in. When we lived in Virginia, the entry to the fair was free. It was great because I only wanted to walk around anyway. Some fairs offer free admission before a certain time. It’s worth looking into, especially if you have a large family or are on a tight budget.
3. Eat a meal before you go. Then you’ll only need to buy that funnel cake you’ve been craving.
4. Check to see if you can purchase advance tickets at a local grocery store, bank, or at the fair’s website. Sometimes you can save several dollars per ticket.
5. Maximize the cost of your admission by staying the entire day. Get there early and leave late.
6. Take a backpack with you. We always carry a thermos of water with us or some bottled water. It’s ok to buy some treats at the fair, but if you’ll be there for long, you’ll need to keep hydrated. Drinks at the fair can cost a lot of money.
7. Research different transportation options. Some fairgrounds charge $10 or more for parking. See if they offer a free lot to park in. You’ll probably have to walk a little farther though.
8. While at the fair, scope out different food booths and then decide where you want to eat. Otherwise, you might be disappointed with the choice you’ve made and you’ll find yourself buying from another booth. This has happened to me before.
9. Preplan your day. Look at the schedule of events for that day. Choose the activities you want to see and plan your route. Better yet, check out the events for the week and choose the best day. Get the most bang for your buck. You can probably find the activities listed on the fair’s website.
10. Look for freebies. Most fairs have an exhibit hall where vendors can promote their products and many times you can find lots of freebies.
I know there are more ways to save money at the fair. What ways can you recommend?
Not sure where you live, but all the county fairs out my way are LONG over. They start in July and finish before Labor Day.
One way we save $ is by entering items into the fair exhibits (photography, crafts, vegetables, etc). Not only can you win money at the fair, but at our fair, you get an exhibitor’s pass which gets you into all the days of the fair for free. Also, you can win money and ribbons for your entries. This year, my husband and I managed to make money on the fair!
Mandie: I live in North Carolina and have also lived in Virginia. Fall fairs and festivals are common around here.
When I was younger, I used to enter things as exhibits. It was such a treat to walk away with $15 or so. That was a lot of money to me back then. lol
Thanks for dropping by!