This fan has spent tens of thousands following England around the World Cup

Sebastian Reader is among the thousands of England fans who have crossed the Atlantic to support their team during the World Cup — no matter the cost. “It’s always obviously been a dream to go watch England in a major tournament, specifically the World Cup,” Reader, who arrived in the U.S. in June with a £30,000 ($40,000) budget, tells Reuters from Dallas. “(It’s) the biggest tournament on the planet,” he says.

A year ago, the 28-year-old says he had about £10,000 ($13,223) in savings from his job working in data sales in London, where he has taken a three-month sabbatical. Since then, he has saved another £20,000 ($26,446), driven by commissions and a decision to move back home for six months to save on rent, as well as other money-conscious habits. “That was obviously a big sacrifice,” he says.

The costs have added up quickly. World Cup tickets alone cost more than $12,000, including a semi-final. He also plans to spend around $10,000 on accommodation and more than $4,000 on travel between now and August. The scale of the spending is not lost on Reader, who says that he and his long-term girlfriend could have put the money toward a house deposit. Still, he’s hopeful he can rebuild his savings: “Money will always come back.”

For now, his World Cup plans are tied to England’s journey. Reader doesn’t have a World Cup final ticket, but he has a big financial decision to make if England gets there. The most he’s willing to spend on one is about $6,000.

“This is definitely going to be the biggest trip of my life,” he says. “In my mind, it’s a great investment.”

FIFA’s record-high base prices, new dynamic pricing and uncapped resale rules have driven the cost of World Cup tickets higher and drawn regulatory scrutiny.

Lawrence Pon, a certified financial planner and Principal with Pon & Associates, says spending tens of thousands from savings is acceptable “if it does not negatively impact your financial goals, such as living expenses, savings reserve, (and) retirement.”

It becomes a problem when a person goes into debt for the experience, he says. The question to ask is whether the trip can be done in a less expensive way.

In this case, following your favorite team at the World Cup can be tricky. You have no idea where they are going to play or how far they are going to go in the tournament. While the earlier rounds tend to be less expensive, ticket prices can skyrocket as teams get closer to the knockout phases.

“I can see this young person blowing past (tens of thousands of dollars) easily if their team makes it far,” Pon says. “Is it worth it? Many justify it because it is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

Costly experiences are only affordable if they don’t undermine core financial goals. A World Cup trip — or any other major expense — may be manageable if it does not affect living expenses, emergency savings, retirement, debt obligations, or family priorities.

Do not fund once-in-a-lifetime experiences with debt. Pon warns that the trip becomes financially irresponsible if it means carrying credit card debt or sacrificing essential financial needs.

Plan carefully before committing. Comparing dates, prices, routes, or cheaper alternatives can significantly reduce the cost of a dream experience.

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