All the fun of the festival
As soon as the temperature rises and the summer sun makes an appearance, you know it’s time to dig out the trusty tent and head off to a music festival.
As well as packing all the usual essentials, consider taking a prepaid currency card with you too. It’s an easy and safe way to carry your spending money, without the worry of watching your wallet.
Research by Tappit in 2021 found almost three-quarters (73%) of those attending festivals preferred to go cashless because of the speed and security of the transactions. And, as more and more of us opt for convenient ways to pay, that proportion’s likely to grow.
Here we’ll look at why using a prepaid currency card could be a great option for you, whether you’re heading to a festival in the UK or abroad.
A different way to pay at music festivals
Constantly checking your wallet or purse, or pockets full of loose change are no longer a worry if you use a card for payments at festivals.
The advantage of a prepaid card over a regular debit or credit card is you can store several currencies on it at any one time. Ideal if you’re planning on extending the festival season to overseas gigs.
The Post Office Travel Money Card, for instance, holds up to 22 currencies. It can be used to pay in euros in popular destinations like Spain, Portugal and Croatia, or in local currencies in places such as Norway and Sweden, which it also supports.
Some prepaid currency cards also offer the convenience of contactless payments. You can even add the Post Office Travel Money Card to Apple Pay and Google Pay™ – perfect if you’re budgeting through third party payment platforms. And, depending on your card provider, you may also be able to top up your card on the go online or through a mobile app.
Benefits of using prepaid currency cards at music festivals
So, how could a prepaid currency card help you at festivals this year?
- Budgeting: a prepaid card can be loaded up with a specific amount of money, which can help you stick to a budget during the festival. Especially useful if you're trying to avoid overspending or only have a limited amount of cash.
- Security: using a card can be safer than carrying cash, especially when the festival is crowded. Some cards aren’t linked to your bank account or credit line (though some are, so choose carefully). And some enable you to block them easily if they’re lost or stolen – reassuring when you’re in a foreign country. You can then transfer any remaining balance to a new card and carry on spending.
- Flexibility: if you’d rather not take the physical card, many prepaid currency cards can now be added to your mobile device so that you can use them to make contactless payments. You’ll still benefit from the security of not carrying cash and have the safety net of the budget you’ve set when you preloaded your card.
Using a prepaid currency card at overseas festivals
Taking a prepaid currency card to music festivals abroad can offer a host of added benefits.
- Currency flexibility: with a prepaid currency card, you can load different currencies onto the same card. This means you can use the card in multiple countries if you're attending festivals in different locations. You can also move funds between currencies, ideal if you’re hopping between different festivals in different countries.
- Practicality: a prepaid currency card allows you to make purchases in the local currency without having to worry about exchanging cash. This can save time and hassle, as you won't need to look for currency exchange offices or cashpoints.
- Cost-effective: if you choose your card carefully and only pay with it in countries whose currencies it supports, you can avoid foreign transaction fees you might face using a debit or credit card. But check the fees upfront, as some prepaid cards can work out more expensive. Being card smart may help you save on those festival buys.
