My 12 top tips to party hard without breaking the bank

If you are frequent clubber or just on student on a tight budget, you still want to party without going broke. You definitely need to know all these money-saving tips before you go out again. Here is our top 12 tips to save money on a night out.

1. Get a student card

Many club nights in Europe offer special entrance fee concessions for students, and it is very common to have student-only parties where drinks are extra cheap. If you are already a student, great, just don’t forget to bring your student ID anywhere you go. If you didn’t have had not the chance to be a student or you miss the former glory of the student living, no problem, you can apply for an international student card online, or even for a NUS card (UK only). You don’t even need to justify you are a student, you might just have to pay a small fee to access unlimited discount. Kerchin! Give it a go. It is not unheard of for some of us to enrol in a course, just to obtain a student card and take advantages of the discounts which come with it.

2. Pre-drink at home

Buying drinks from the corner shop is always super savvy and it will drastically reduce your monthly party budget. Also you can get in the mood with a group of friends before hitting the club. Read here if you fancy some pre-drinking games. As a rule of thumb, it is always better to get in the club about 3 hours before it closes, at this point the dance floor would be packed, you would have hit the that sweet spot where you know you should not drink more. The cover charge would be little pricier than coming earlier but you saved yourself some money pre-drinking. It is a win-win.

3. Wear as little as possible

If you live in a cold country, you can save some cash by dressing light and keep your jacket and scarf at home. It would only be a few bucks, but it adds up fast for the occasional clubber. Also you don’t want your mood to drop while you’re a queuing for the cloakroom, and it would be just another reason to make your beer jacket even thicker.

4. Take part to a bar crawl

If you are taking a trip abroad or backpacking through different continent, why not attend a pub crawl or a bar crawl. The concept usually consists of taking part in an event organised by a local company/guide taking you various bars and pub all night long and it usually ends in a night club. It can sometimes be free (based on tips) or charged usually between $10 and $25. It often includes drinks with free entry to bars and to the club. Bar crawls are also great ways to meet with the locals and meet fellow travellers especially if you have been city-hopping alone for a while.

Bar crawls in major capitals are usually worth the money as the club entry fee can be pricey just like the drinks. If you are visiting a country / a city where the cost of living is 10 times cheaper than in your own city, think twice about the bar crawl option as it might just be a tourist trap.

5. Book a VIP booth

Sometimes booking a VIP booth can be cheaper when you are a large group, if you really wish to get into a specific club, try to enquire with the reservation team for a booth, it might end up being cheaper than paying single entries and drinks for each one of you.

6. Look for promoters

Promoters can often be spotted on the streets near the club they advertise for or on the beach. Knowing where they operate can dramatically help you save a few bucks either with a free drink or even a free entry. Keep an eye out and always stay on the lookout.
Top tip: If you see an army of promoters handing out flyers and most of them discarded on the floor, maybe you should reconsider, it might not be the best night of the week.

7. Know the bouncer or someone from the staff

Knowing the bouncer is always helpful to either jump the queue and/or enter for free. It can be a good long term strategy to befriend the bouncer, as they are often hired from an agency. It won’t be uncommon to see the same bouncer at the door of different clubs. This means you could potentially get into different clubs for free. If you have a friend working there, or if you know the manager, it is always easier to get in for free to an event and get free drinks. Bingo!

8. Check the venue’s social media

If you like scrolling your Facebook or Instagram’s timelime, don’t forget to check clubs in your area for special promotions. Sometimes, it is as easy as writing your name on their wall or tag a few friends. At some point they might even celebrate their anniversary, or have a ladies night. Bottom line, it is always good to have a quick look and check before you head to town.

9. Use public transport or your own feet

You can save quite a bit of money by just walking to the club or getting there with the last/first bus or metro. Taxis or hailed rides can get pretty expensive. In some countries like the UK, the US, taking a taxi is pretty frequent but in other countries like France, Germany, Spain, or Italy, not that common. As a result, it is very expensive. Before you try getting into a Taxi, have a look at local prices.

It will save you from passing out when you see the bill

10. Keep debit/credit cards at home

Just use cash and take whatever money you think you need for the night. Use our website, you have an idea of how much the cover charge will be on a certain night as well as the drink prices. We want to help you save money while having a blast. If you run out of cash, you will have to use your charms to get free drinks, that’s another great way to save. The additional advantage of not going to a club with your debit/credit cards is that it reduces the risk of losing them or get them stolen. Also it will prevent you from spending extra ATM fees

11. Have a house party

The best way to save money is not to go to expensive clubs but just stay home. Just gather a group of friends and ask a friend to invite a plus one (if you got space). If you are looking for some cool house party theme, find out more on our blog ‘5 best house party theme’

12. Use My Party Bible

My Party Bible is a party website that is 100% FREE and focuses on helping party-goers find the party they love. Filter out the best clubs and bars in your area or at your destination according to your musical taste and budget. Search a city, discover the best clubs and bars in your area and decide if it matches your budget and start saving.