How much cash?

[Hercules]

Scarborough ATM fees also reminded me of the Capital One's medieval commercials where they're fleecing the town folks.

Personally I like to keep about $100 worth of gold dollars rolled up and discretely kept in my britches. 

[Breandan]

Just remember one very important fact- bludgeoning a would-be thief with a wallet with $300 dollars in bills in it tends to be ineffectual at best. Bludgeoning a would-be thief with a pouch containing $300 of gold dollar coins tends to result is a happy little trip to the ICU for the thief  

[Wolfden]

TRF is pretty out-of-the-way and there are not a lot of bank ATMs in the area so you may want to check your bank's website for the nearest ATM. It's a sickness I guess, but I refuse to pay the cash withdrawal fees charged by out of network ATMs. That said, I usually bring about $200 - 300 with me, but I usually go several times so if I see something I want and don't have the coin, I get it next time around. If you are only going once, you may want to bring more depending upon how much you are going to eat or drink. As for theft, follow the old traveller's advice and get yourself a belly band and keep most of your money, cards and ID there, it's almost impossible to lose or steal something tied around your waist under your clothes or garb. If you plan on using a credit card remember to bring a state issued ID with you as most vendors will check it to ward off fraud. Some people leave it in their car or campsite and have to walk all the way back to get it. There are still a significant number of shops that do not take credit so budget your cash accordingly.

[Just Randall]

Just something real quickly, if you bank with Woodforest National Bank, they DO open a window just inside the front gates. No fees for Woodforest clients.


I love my bank.

[Sir Martin]

Two of the different ATM machines at TRF that I went to get cash from had either a $5 fee or a $7 if I remember correctly. I was astounded.

That's why, not only to help budget, do I get cash out teh bank before I get to faire.

Yegads ... thanks for the warning, Eloquent!  I've never used the ATMs at TRF, and will try my best to avoid them.  

[Queen Bonnie]

 I have never used an ATM at faire- but I do TRF and Scarby very frugally. All I need at faire are my friends, my flask and  my wand! LOL!

[Hercules]

I have never used an ATM at faire- but I do TRF and Scarby very frugally. All I need at faire are my friends, my flask and  my wand! LOL!

I've tried being frugal...but I have a flask fetish (among others), which leads to needing flask holder(s), which leads to belts to hold the holder(s) to hold the flask(s). It's a viscious, cruel circle!!!!  

[Blue66669]

Well Herc, as long as you remember to bring enough money to buy me a drink and something shiny, then nothing else matters!



*just kidding by the way*

[Hercules]

Wish I could escape with just drinks and "sparklies". My coin purse has been emptied on occassion as I have transformed more then one lady from "tourist" to full blown rennie inclusive of jewelry (dern puzzle rings!!!)...I am too easily charmed. 'Specially when drunk and/or horny

[Blue66669]

Wish I could escape with just drinks and "sparklies". My coin purse has been emptied on occassion as I have transformed more then one lady from "tourist" to full blown rennie inclusive of jewelry (dern puzzle rings!!!)...I am too easily charmed. 'Specially when drunk and/or horny

*pulls out a non-descript bottle and offers it to Hercules, while flashing some major ankle*

Here you go honey

[Tipsy Gypsy]

How much cash? How much do you have?

[mpullen]

Yep, the gold dollar coins are great. They don't blow out of the tip baskets and you can toss them in from a distance. Last year, I made sure I flipped in the tip BEFORE the end of the performance, just to show the other audience folks that the basket was for tips and that tipping was good. Even got bows from the performers which I returned.

Plus, a sporran full of gold coins makes a happy sound and the bouncing is so...ooops ignore that.

Painful?

Laddie, your wearing your sporran in the wrong place.

[Laird Fraser of Lovatt]

Ach, no.  I wear it right where it needs to be!  I just don't be loading it down with coin!  That's what me belt pouch is for.

[midnightferret]

My recommendation on moneys:

When I was jailbai- I mean much younger, a bunch of fellow students and I would caravan to TRF from North Louisiana. Around $300 bucks got me fuel for my Volvo, some Spaghetti-O's to cook over the fire (in the free campgrounds where I slept in a rolled-up Southwestern blanket to keep the dew off my head in the mornings), tickets for the weekend, a couple of turkey legs, some fried sweet potatoes, water and soda, tips for the shows, and a souvenir necklace or piece of garb. Ah, to be young again and in the early 90s economy!

Nowadays, if you've already paid for the camping, and your tickets, nevermind that hopefully you have better camping gear than I did back then, then count on at LEAST $300 for food and drink and show tips for the weekend, and for small incidental (read: drunken) purchases (I totally NEED that TANKARD!). For a hard drinking guy, more around 4 if you like to buy drinks for beautiful ladies who gave you advice about money...  Large purchases are probably going to involve the Noble Cards, unless you've got plans to purchase something special and get the cash out in advance.

[Laird Fraser of Lovatt]

Back before i was REALLY into TRF, my friend & i each spent over $200 EACH on mainly beer... i think we ate something but the whole adventure is kinda fuzzy.