Home or away, personal finance expert shares 5 tips on how to support the England team on a budget during Euro 2024.

  

The 2024 UEFA European Football Championship – more commonly known as the Euros – is set to kick off in Munich on Friday June 14.

With England scheduled to play their first match against Serbia on Sunday June 16, the nation will once again be on the edge of their seats wondering if this time football really will be coming home.

Given England’s performance in the 2021 competition, this is an undeniably exciting time for the Lions and their loyal fans.

 

1. The away end

‘If you’ve been lucky enough to get your hands on tickets to watch the team in Germany, there are a number of ways to cut the cost of your trip. When searching for accommodation, consider staying outside of the main cities, where prices may be cheaper. Of course, before you commit to a lower-cost location, work out how cost-effective the switch will be by weighing up how much you’ll spend on transport to and from the stadium.

‘Hopping in taxis between the airport and your chosen accommodation can be the quickest, most hassle-free way to travel, but it might not be the cheapest. Much of Germany is well-serviced by public transport, with many of the major cities operating trains to and from the centre and nearby airports. Favouring trains and buses over taxis could save you a significant amount of money.

‘England’s first game against Serbia will be played at the Veltins-Arena in Gelsenkirchen. If you’re travelling to the game via Dortmund airport, taking the train will cost you between €7-30. On the other hand, using a taxi for the same journey could set you back up to €120.’

2. On home turf

‘You can still soak up the atmosphere without paying an arm and a leg for matchday tickets and a trip to Germany. Many pubs are likely to be showing the matches, and sometimes places like leisure and community centres also put on a big screen. Often, community viewings are free to attend, although this varies, and some may operate a ticket system at a small cost. Check out your local community social media pages for events in your area.

‘Based on previous years, Football Villages and Fan Zones could pop up in various locations across the UK, with Sheffield already rumoured to play host to one in 2024.

‘If you’re attending a ticketless community showing, pack a picnic to avoid the temptation of forking out on food for a fabulously free day out.’

3. Buffet on a budget

‘Sometimes, even the most anti-football of us can’t help but get swept along in the Euros mania, especially if England surprise us with a few cheeky wins! Watching the match at the pub or Fan Zones has its money-saving perks, but it could also be potentially detrimental to our spending. It can be easy to get carried away and spend more money than we’d intended, whether that be on food, drink, or a taxi after missing the last train home.

‘Win or lose, why not celebrate the beautiful game with a big night in instead? Invite friends and family round and ask each of them to bring a snack to spread the cost of food. You could really go with the Euros theme by tasking each guest to bring a dish to represent a country playing in the competition. For example, fresh croissants for France, a tasty homemade paella for Spain, and pizza for Italy.’

4. Deals in the back of the net

‘Inspired by our night-in ideas? It’s worth keeping an eye out for foodie coupons and deals. Both supermarkets and food delivery services may run promotional offers during the tournament, increasing your chances of bagging a bargain ahead of the party.

A £29.99 Big Match Bundle from Papa John’s will get you two large pizzas, two classic sides, and a large drink. During the 2022 World Cup, Just Eat offered 40% off across select brands on both England and Wales’s match days.’

5. Kitted out

‘The official 2024 England shirt is currently on sale for an eye-watering £84.99*, but you don’t need to fork out on brand new to look the part. Have a browse through sites such as Vinted and eBay for second-hand alternatives at more affordable prices. Second-hand sites can be real treasure troves when it comes to retro football shirts. While live marketplace listings and prices change daily, during our time of research in April 2024, we found a vintage, never-worn-still-with-tags 2003 men’s England football shirt for just £19.99*.

Another option is to simply show your support by donning the good ol’ shades of red and white. Primark is good a low-cost go-to for cheap t-shirts and vests.’

  

-ENDS- 

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Website: https://vivamoney.co.uk/ 

   
Dan Whittaker - Personal Finance Expert at Viva Money    

   

Dan has worked in the consumer finance sector for over a decade in a number of roles, including developing and maintaining commercial partnerships, marketing, and digital development.    

    

Dan has strong market and product knowledge across a range of consumer finance products including, but not limited to, credit cards, savings, loans, and mortgages.

*Prices correct as of April 4, 2024.