It is about 400 days to go before the kick-off to the 2010 World Cup. This will be an experience to remember forever.
The good news is that you have time to start saving towards your 2010 budget. By budgeting effectively you will be free to enjoy the spectacle without creating undue financial stress.
The Teacher has put together a budget guide for a family of four. It is important to consider all the expenses you will incur, not just the ticket price. It is usually those extras that we don’t budget for that hurt our pocket the most.
These are examples of what you could spend. You can adjust it to fit your own budget — you may want to go to only one game or you may want to go to the finals. Whatever you decide, use this guideline to work out your total cost.
Budget for two matches for a family of four:
Total ticket cost: R2 660
Only South Africans are able to apply for Category 4 tickets, which are behind the goals. These are the most inexpensive seats, making it affordable to take your kids along.
Four tickets for a group match at R140 a ticket = R560
Four tickets for a quarterfinal match at R525 a ticket = R2 100
Other expenses:
Transport: R160
Taxi fare at R20 per person = R80 a match
Refreshments: R400
Four MacDonald’s family meals
with drinks at R50 = R200 a match
Souvenirs: R960
Four 2010 caps/T-shirt at R200 = R800
Four vuvuzelas at R40 = R160
Grand total: R4 180
The savings plan:
You will need to save R300 a month. Although this may sound like a lot, when you break it down to a daily cost it is far more manageable.
If you start saving today, you will need to put R10 every day until the start of the World Cup -— that is less than a packet of cigarettes or a litre of coke. That relatively small daily sacrifice will save you far more in the long term. If you do not save upfront and rather choose to put the costs on your credit card, after interest costs, it will take you a year to repay at a rate of R400 a month.
And the worst part is that you will be paying it off for much longer than the thrill of the game will last.