Merch madness

Taylor is priceless, but being a Swiftie isn’t

I don’t have Taylor Swift tickets. I didn’t survive Ticketmaster’s Great War and Mama Swift likely won’t pick me to watch from the VIP section.

None of this has stopped me from buying friendship bracelet-making supplies and multiple concert outfit options — and I’m not alone.

Since Taylor Swift embarked on her Eras Tour, her fans have brought shocking economic activity to each city she visits. Resale ticket prices are in the thousands, but participating in the Swiftdom extends far beyond a seat.

1 One for the money, two for the show Attending the Eras Tour is not a passive event: It’s an opportunity to embrace enthusiasm and spend hours crafting an outfit.

Small businesses have also found an opportunity in the mayhem. An “Eras Tour” search on Etsy shows pages of fan-made merchandise and specialty items.

“We are so thankful to our Swiftie customers — every time Taylor drops a new album, single or music video, we see the love from her fans,” Kristin Cassel, owner of the Dot Dot Goose Etsy shop, said in an email.

Cassel, who sells Swiftie-related keychains, said her sales have increased 55% since the start of the tour in March.

2 Make the friendship bracelets...and buy a shirt Friendship bracelets are another expense. Some fans are purchasing them pre-made, while others are buying supplies and assembling them.

Small businesses are piggybacking on the tour’s momentum. Pre-parties, themed cocktails, pop-up shops and makeup experiences pave the way to the concert itself.

Those dollars are spent before Swifties get to the show. Once they’re there, there’s food, drinks and the almighty prize: merchandise.

With the median price of Eras Tour merchandise at $50, it’s easy to spend hundreds on just a few pieces.

3 You don’t have to get a job at the yogurt shop If you’re Taylor Swiftly spending all your money, here are a few ways to cut corners. Ticketmaster is doing last-minute drops before shows that offer face-value tickets, and responsible resellers, such as @ErasTourResell, say they're doing their best to keep resale tickets at their original price. In a worst-case scenario, you can watch on TikTok, where lots of content creators are livestreaming the show each weekend.

As for the add-ons, consider whether you need the limited-edition vinyls and new sweatshirts.

This article was provided to The Associated Press by the personal finance website NerdWallet. Want to suggest a personal finance topic that Quick Fix can address? Email apmoney@ap.org