Attention Football Fans!. With Brits facing a £320 million bill if England wins the World Cup, being a sports fan can get costly. Katy Ward offers eight money saving tips for sports fanatics.
According to the Virgin Money Football Fans' Inflation Index, football fans could spend £319 million (£6399 each) attending matches in South Africa if England makes the World Cup final in July.
Football isn't the only expensive sport. At the moment, rugby fans are travelling across Europe to support England in the RBS 6 Nations tournament.
And even if you don't attend live events, sports TV packages, gym memberships and insurance don't come cheap.
Here are eight ways sports fanatics can enjoy their obsession without breaking the bank.
1. Don't get into debt to follow your passion
For footie fanatics, season tickets can be one of the biggest sport-related expenses. In fact, the average cost of a mid-priced season ticket for a Premier League club is a staggering £590.
Rather than go into hock, why not spread the cost with a 0% purchase credit card? As part of an introductory offer, these cards waive interest on new purchases.
Bear in mind, you will need to clear the balance before the introductory offer expires and the interest kicks in. Furthermore, you should check your credit rating before you apply as most of these cards require customers to have a good score.
2. Sign up for a sports credit card
If you want to do all you can to support your beloved team, you could sign up for a sports credit card.
The Liverpool FC Rewards Credit Card, for example, offers customers 0% balance transfers for 12 months. Sports fanatics, however, might be more interested in the football-related reward points scheme.
Every pound you spend on the card earns you a reward point. Once you have enough points, you can redeem them for club merchandise. You could even use your points for the chance to meet a Reds legend with the Ultimate Anfield Experience.
If you're not a Liverpool supporter, teams such as Manchester United and Chelsea also offer cards.
3. Keep travel costs down
Parking at a stadium normally costs around £10 so you might want to consider leaving your car elsewhere and using public transport to get to the venue. If you're travelling to a different city, it's a good idea to research parking options before you leave.
Alternatively, it may well be cheaper to travel by train. If you book your journey in advance through a website such as thetrainline.com, you could bag a great deal. Likewise, using a young person's or a family railcard could help you cut costs and companies such as South West Trains offer some great deals for adults travelling alone.
4. Watch what you eat …..
Amidst the excitement of a live sports event, it might be tempting to blow your budget on booze and junk food at the stadium. That's why you should think ahead about how you can keep costs down on match day.
We all know how expensive (and disgusting!) stadium food can be. Rather than spend half an hour queuing for an undercooked burger, why not eat before the match? If you fancy a beer afterwards, you could always wait till you get home or find a reasonably-priced pub.
5. Become an armchair supporter
If your budget won't cover the cost of live events, you could always watch from the comfort of your own home (I know it's not the same!).
The Winter Olympics is currently showing on BBC2 but you may need to invest in a digital television package if you want to watch your favourite sport on TV these days.
If you do go down this route, it's crucial you think carefully about the channels you actually want or you could end up paying for channels you never watch. Otherwise, you could always visit a pub that shows matches on a big screen.
With some sporting events shown exclusively online, it's also worth shopping around for a competitively priced broadband deal.
6. Find the right insurance
Participating in potentially dangerous sports such as bungee jumping or scuba diving can cause travel and life insurance premiums to rocket.
Whether you're a sport fan or not, it's make sense to shop around for a policy that's right for you. One of the easiest ways to do this is by using an online price comparison site.
7. Keep an eye open for bargain equipment
Playing sport can also be pretty pricey. Tennis rackets and skis can set you back hundreds of pounds so it makes sense to shop around for cheaper alternatives.
Trawling through Ebay could be a great way to find cheap second hand equipment. Remember, you should always check used equipment meets safety requirements.
8. Join a gym for less
For many fitness fanatics, gym membership is an essential expense but private gym memberships can be extremely expensive.
Luckily many local councils also run facilities that are a fraction of the price.
If you're a Virgin Credit Card customer, remember you can qualify for reduced gym membership at Virgin gyms.
As soon as your sports-related expenses are under control, sit back, relax and keep your fingers crossed for the World Cup. ( mailcompare.mailonline.co.uk )
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