Convention Survival Tips

Tip #6: Budgeting money

You need to figure out how much money you're going to bring with you. Stuff at the dealers room/alley tends to be pricey so bring around £/$/€100-130 or depending on your maximum spending. Plus have some side money for travel fare and for food if you're there for the day or you're somewhat far from your hotel.

I recommend putting some money each week or month to the side (like a piggy bank or separate savings account, depending on your choosing) weeks before the con. And be a little bit frugal. Believe me, you can't simply go to a con with a 20 or 50 in your wallet. Having that amount in your wallet would be gone within seconds just from buying probably 2 - 3 items tops. Depending on what you picked up.

That amount would only last if you're at a pound store, thrift shop, a very cheap shop or Primark (a really cheap clothes store. Imagine a cheaper version of Macy's). Not a con. It's like trying to spend £20 for 6 to 10 items at Harrods or House of Fraser and you ended up seeing the damage on the receipt. It can be a very scary thought if you're a bit stingy (or frugal) with your money, a college student, on welfare or in a low paying job.

I HIGHLY recommend to bring cash than your debt/credit card because there's a very good chance that the seller won't accept card payments or they don't have the machinery, maybe the nearest ATM is a good 10 or so minutes/several miles away and it's more likely that your card may get stolen. So keep your cards at home or the hotel room's safe (if they have one).

Keep your money on you closely at all times, because you may get pick pocketed while looking through the stalls or something else.

Take a good look around at the stalls to get a good scope on what's there. Some stalls may have the same item that's maybe cheaper than the other stalls. Sundays are a good day to find deals on the items, but that depends if the convention is 2-4 days long. If it only last for one day, try to haggle to get a slightly cheaper price.