By David Castillo
San Antonio has been celebrating the heroes of the battles of the Alamo and San Jacinto since 1891. Every April the city gathers around to celebrate the holiday with food, drinks, and festivities.
But in order to celebrate properly, you should be able to properly afford what’s on the menu. Good times require good planning. And you don’t want to be planning after a few too many Smirnoff Preparadas have clouded your judgment. So welcome to your official fiesta finance survival guide, starting with the most popular events.
Affording a Night in Old San Antonio Starts with the VIA.
First, the basics. And a little math.
- General entrance fee for NIOSA: $12.
- Parking in a private downtown lot: $20. And chances are, you’ll still be walking a few blocks in those nice shoes of yours.
- Food and drinks: $25.
- Real drinks: $25 (ish).
- How can you make sure at least some of that approximate $82 isn’t being wasted?
You can cut $15 from parking by using the VIA Park-and-Ride. Not only are you charged a small fee of up to $5, but using the VIA offers you a coupon for one free soda or bottled water at the Oyster Bake (which are $6 each).
That extra cash is more than enough to inhale Maria’s Tortillas at the Haymarket, or the often recommended chicken-on-a-stick in China Town.
Afford Your Oysters With This Tip About Cash Back at the Checkout
It’s already April, which means you missed your window to buy a $20 pre-sale ticket for Oyster Bake at your local HEB or the Fiesta San Antonio Commission Office. But fear not!
That $20 price tag is just for a one day ticket. And you’re probably not interested in eating those delicious oysters and listening to Eddie Money (yes, that Eddie Money) for just one day. Between now and April 22, you can buy a two day pre-sale ticket at your local HEB or Fiesta Commission Office for just $35 (the same price of a late payment on a credit card).
Meanwhile,a bucket of baked oysters will run you $18 on Friday ($14 on Saturday). How to start saving now so that you can afford a tub of everyone’s favorite baked bivalves?
One of the temptations offered at Fiesta is an ATM machine. Treat ATM machines the same way you treat mosquitoes.
You are paying almost $5 everytime you go to the ATM thanks to ATM fees. This “small” charge is part of what allowed America’s three biggest banks to rake in $6.5 billion last year.
Banks don’t charge you at the point of sale so make yourself a ‘Death to the ATM’ piggybank. Whether at the gas station, or in the mall, start taking advantage of the cash back option. There’s a good chance you’ve used an ATM two or three times for the calendar year thus far. That money squandered could have payed for the following per Fiesta’s website: a Battle of the Flowers Parade Ticket ($15), two Brisket Tacos at Oyster Bake ($8 each), and three Beef Empanadas ($4 each).
Fiesta offers plenty of fun. Whether you’re a foodie, and want to spend $12 on Taste of New Orleans. Or an art student, and want to spend $15 at the Fiesta Arts Fair. Whoever you are, the best way to survive Fiesta is to make sure you have enough money to explore.
For Free Credit Repair Evaluation to afford enough oysters to challenge your blood brain barrier, Give Us a Call at 210-520-0444 or visit us at 6989 Alamo Downs Pkwy, San Antonio, TX 78238
