Are you getting excited for all the fun events that are coming up in 2023? Whether you’re looking to party on the slopes, wine and dine by the beach, or mine some crypto, there are so many cool festivals, concerts and conferences coming up. It can be very hard to choose, and more importantly, it can be really hard to afford. Even once you’ve gotten tickets to a festival, you still need to get there, get around, feed yourself, and find a way to enjoy yourself without breaking the bank. So what can you do now to make space in your budget for some fun adventures in 2023? We have some ideas.

Psst–before you do any of these things, make sure you know where your money goes! Budgeting tips only work if you already have a budget. You can use an app like Mint or, if you’re a spreadsheet nerd, import all your credit card charges and bills into a spreadsheet and get to sorting. Even though getting to see Wilco in Iceland can feel essential, you’ve got to make sure you’ve got your main bills–rent, food, car, etc.–accounted for first. 

Many small tickets or one big event ticket?

Money for traveling to events and festivals probably comes out of some sort of “fun stuff” or “entertainment” category in your budget, so think about how you want to spend that money. For example, you could spend your fun stuff money in small amounts over time–let’s say several small concerts close to home–OR you could buy a weekend pass to a festival like Rolling Loud where you can see lots of your favorite artists in one go. 

Split travel costs with friends

Any event you want to go to will be even more enjoyable if you share it with your friends. You’ll also then be able to share things like: hotel rooms, taxi rides, meals, and more. If you get enough of a crowd together, you might even be able to investigate group rates (or, if you book through Crewfare, you can skip that step since they’ve already found the best group rates for any event you’re attending).

Economize now to spend later

It can be hard in the moment to decide whether or not any one individual purchase–a night out with friends, a third latte, a new jacket–is worth your money. But if you do your math ahead of time, you’ll be surprised how much money you can move out of one budget category into another. Propose a potluck night at home with friends instead of a dinner out at a fancy restaurant. If you skip your daily latte for a whole month, you’ll find yourself close to enough money for a plane ticket at the end of that month. Remind yourself that an outfit you already own (or one you’ve thrifted!) will look just as cute as a new one in the photos you take at Dreamville. 

Become a travel-hacker

Travel hacking is a way of smartly taking advantage of hotel, airline, and credit card rewards programs to “earn” upgrades and freebies when you are traveling. Definitely check in on your own finances before you get started (i.e. if you have a lot of credit card debt you’re already dealing with, this probably isn’t your best bet for you). Here’s a beginners guide to travel hacking, if you think this might be a good fit for you.

Fund your event travel with a side hustle

Side hustles aren’t for everyone, but if there’s a skill that you have, a craft you enjoy, or an activity you’re known for doing, see if you can convert that into a few paying gigs. Love dogs? See if there are any pet-sitting opportunities near you. Knit hats? See if there are any buyers on Etsy. Take good photos? See if there are any couples or families looking to do a photo shoot. Put all your proceeds into your travel fund and you don’t have to feel bad about any of your spending on event expenses.