It's summer, which means it's festival season — and whether you're headed to a big event like Lollapalooza or something smaller, the same advice on staying safe and saving money applies.

So, before you go, check out our list of vital festival DOs and DON'Ts to ensure you have as much fun as possible out on the field.

DO: Bring your own food

One of the best things about a festival, in my opinion, are all the food trucks dotted about — but dining on curries, burgers and fancy salads gets very pricey, very quickly.

You don't need to deprive yourself of festival food altogether — that would be needlessly cruel — but it's worth packing things like cereal bars for the morning and some snacks for when you get peckish between meals.

DON'T: Bring cheese

Following on from the above point, it's important to stress that cheese is not something you should bring with you to a festival. This might be obvious advice to some, but my friend made this exact mistake at Glastonbury last year — and after a couple of hours in a hot tent, his packet of cheddar was little more than slime and cheese sweat.

DO: Pack your own toilet paper

You'd be foolish to expect a festival with thousands of peeing and pooping attendees not to run out of toilet paper eventually — and a few days in, when the toilets are at their most horrendous, you'll be glad you've got enough with you to cover the seats, too.

^{[Image credit: neal whitehouse piper/Creative Commons]}

DO: Bring wet wipes

Not all festivals offer the luxury of showers, and even when they do, the queues are often exceedingly long (unless you go in the middle of the night, but that's when all the fun's happening). So, unless you enjoy feeling like a dusty, sweaty troll for days on end, wipes are a must — and if you want to be nice to the planet, make them biodegradable.

DON'T: Over-plan your days

We're obviously all going to see our favorite artists play, but it's worth setting aside some time to explore everything else the festival has to offer, too. There are likely to be all sorts of cool, weird, fun stuff that you'll miss out on stumbling upon if you stick to a rigid itinerary.

DO: Be prepared for bad weather

Yes, it's summer, but that doesn't mean constant sunshine is guaranteed (especially if you're in the UK). Make sure you're equipped for a potential downpour — that means rain boots (wellies, if you're British), a waterproof jacket and a camping chair to save you from any wet, swampy ground.

DO: Take care of yourself (and others)

Lots of things fall under this umbrella, like wearing sun cream, staying hydrated (effervescent electrolyte tablets are good for this) and bringing a cap or hat to protect that precious head of yours from the heat.

Realistically, many people will also be taking drugs at a festival, and it's important to be as sensible as possible about that too. Test them (some festivals even offer this service), pace yourself and keep an eye out for your friends. A safe time is a good time.

Think I've missed a top tip? Let me know in the comments.

[Image credit: neal whitehouse piper/Creative Commons]