CELEBRITY
Aussie Taylor Swift fan spends more than $30,000 on the singer and gets a special credit card to help pay for merch
Taylor Swift’s concerts in Melbourne have given the Australian economy a major boost – with spending up by 33 per cent on the weekend of her shows.
Some dedicated fans have gone as far as spending up to $10,000 to experience the tour.
Millie Porter went to all three Melbourne shows and set up a special credit card to help pay for expenses.
She estimated she had spent $7,000-$9,000 on the Australian leg of Swift’s Eras tour.
‘[That includes] outfits, friendship bracelets, all of that kind of stuff – to be conservative,’ Ms Porter told The Age.
At the Taylor Swift merchandise store – where items include $40 water bottles, $50 tote bags, $120 pullovers, $50 bracelets – she spent a total of $1400.
Ms Porter had zero regrets despite spending thousands on tickets, travel, merchandise, and more.
‘I have so much serotonin, so much joy right now,’ she said.
Milkins estimates she has splurged around $30,000 on their devotion to the singer since childhood.
This amount includes expenses for concert tickets, buying vinyl records and CDs, purchasing merchandise, covering travel costs, acquiring themed outfits, and Swift-inspired tattoos.
Some Swift fans were more careful with their cash.
One fan said, ‘I spent less than $80 on tickets and beads, and after getting merch, it’ll be $200! How are these people so rich?’
Another fan spent $1500 in total, while her friend spent “a bit over” $500.
During the weekend of Taylor’s concert, spending in metro Melbourne was up by an estimated $174 million (+33%) compared to the month prior, according to NAB data.
‘Taylor was certainly the cheer captain for businesses across the city. From sold-out hotels to bustling restaurants, the economic boost that follows is tangible,’ explained Julie Rynski, an executive with NAB.
The tour has attracted fans from across the world. And it’s not just about the event itself, but the entire experience – dining before a show, shopping for merchandise and exploring the city’s vibrant nightlife.
‘We know many Australians have pulled back on discretionary spending, but this is the perfect example of Aussies saving their hard-earned cash for the things that matter to them.”
Georgia Chiarella, owner of cookie shop The Confectionist, said her pop-up shop in Richmond was inundated with fans as they made their way to the MCG.
‘We have our factory in Altona North that caters for our online store, we decided to open a weekend pop-up shop near Richmond Station selling Eras Tour themed cookies. Each day was a sell-out.
‘There was an exciting vibe in the air all weekend, we’ve even seen people hang around the area hoping to catch a glimpse of the singer,’ Ms Chiarella said.