From takeaway-fuelled living room viewings to packed-out pubs and impromptu Wembley pilgrimages, group plans often lead to one financial problem—who pays for what?

HyperJar solves that with its shared jars: smart, transparent, pre-paid budgets that friends can pay into and spend from together. No IOUs, no awkward follow-ups, and no spreadsheet stress.

Let’s break down three classic ways to enjoy the Crystal Palace vs. Man City match day with friends and how HyperJar can help you all spend smarter.

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1. Watching the FA Cup final at home: party on a budget

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How to watch:

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The kick off is this Saturday 17th of May at 17:30 BST time when Crystal Palace will face Manchester City at Wembley. The FA Cup Final is free to air in the UK, typically broadcast live on BBC One and ITV1, with streaming available on BBC iPlayer and ITVX. You don’t need a subscription—just a TV licence.

Why this option works:

Watching from home is affordable, flexible, and allows you to turn the match into a social event that’s tailored to suit you. You can invite friends over, make food, decorate, and control the vibe (and the volume). It’s also great if you have kids or want a more relaxed experience.

Common shared expenses:

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• Groceries for drinks, snacks, and shared meals (estimate: £20–£60)
  
  
• Pizza or takeaway if cooking’s off the table (estimate: £12–£18 per person)
  
  
• Party extras: paper cups, flags, face paint, or plastic pint glasses
  
  
• Cleaning supplies for the aftermath
  
  

Using HyperJar:

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Set up a shared jar for the day, name it something like "FA Cup Watch Party", and invite your friends in. Everyone can pay in advance - say £15 each, although it’s easy to top up if you need more funds.

EIf they don’t have a HyperJar account already, you can simply share the jar’s QR code with them and they can make a direct payment into it from their bank. If they’re already HyperJar customers, they can simply send you money from their account to the shared jar.

Once everyone has paid in, you can spend directly from the jar. You can also control who is able to spend from the jar using their HyperJar card.

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Benefits include:

• Full transparency: Everyone sees what’s been paid in, spent and where
  
  
• Real-time notifications: Track payments and balance as you go
  
  
• Direct payments from the jar: One person buys the snacks, another orders the pizza — no back-calculating
  
  
• Permission control: You can decide who gets to spend from the jar and how much (and who can only see the balance)

More ways to save:

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• Check where you can get cashback in the HyperJar app. You will be able to find cashback and discount options on snacks, drinks, and takeaways
  
  
• Go to Morrisons.com for party food, pay with your HyperJar card and get up to 15% back if you spend £80 or more
  
  
• Make it a BYOB night and use the jar just for shared costs

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2. Watching in a pub: party atmosphere with a pint

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Why this option works:

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Watching a footy final in a pub is a rite of passage in this country. It brings all the buzz of the stadium without the ticket price and painful commute home. It’s perfect for fans who want big-screen action, surround-sound chants, and instant community. Many pubs put on special menus or screen the match outdoors.

Expected group expenses:

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• Multiple rounds of drinks (3–4 pints at £5.50–£7 each = £20–£30)
  
  
• Shared food (burger + chips, sharing platters = £10–£15 per person)
  
  
• Travel to and from the pub
  
  

Depending on your group’s habits, this could mean £25–£50 per person, especially in London or bigger cities.

Using HyperJar:

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Create a jar called something like "Pub Matchday Fund" and agree what you’re all putting in before the big day.HyperJar benefits in the pub include:

• Spending limits: Got a big spender in the group? You can set a cap so one person doesn’t burn through the jar too fast
  
  
• Simplicity: No need for one person to foot the bill—just use the jar
  
  
• Insights: See where your matchday money really went, from drinks to taxis
  
  

How to reduce costs:

• Use HyperJar cashback deals at partner bars and venues. From 10% at O’Neill’s to 10.5% at Ember Inns and Vintage Inns, check out the Food and Drink section in the cashback tab of the HyperJar app.
  
  
• Share a few main dishes or order platters to avoid everyone buying separately
  
  
• Choose a pub near someone’s home to skip Uber fares on the way back. If you do use an Uber, buy a HyperJar Uber cashback voucher to save on the cost.

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3. Soaking Up the Wembley Atmosphere Without a Ticket

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Why this option works:

Even if you can’t get into the stadium, being near Wembley on matchday can be an amazing experience. Thousands of fans gather in the surrounding area, with local pubs and bars screening the game, and the pre- and post-match buzz is electric. 

Brent, the local council surrounding Wembley, has split the pubs into Crystal Palace and Manchester City fan zones.

Crystal Palace have been allocated pubs on the West side of the stadium. To see Crystal Palace pubs, head to the Crystal Palace website.

Manchester City pubs on the East side of the stadium are listed on the Football Supporters Association website.

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Shared expenses to plan for:

• Transport (Oyster/travel card, or train—expect £8–£15 total for Zones 1–5)
  
  
• Group food buys from food trucks or shops near the stadium (£10–£20)
  
  
• Fan gear like scarves, hats, shirts, or flags (£10–£40)
  
  
• Optional: coffees, beers, or last-minute extras from nearby shops
  
  
• Potential group taxis or Ubers if staying out late
  
  

This option typically runs around £30–£60 per person, depending on travel and spending habits.

Using HyperJar:

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Set up a shared jar called "Wembley 2025" a few days ahead. Ask each person to contribute £30–£40. You can then use it to:

• Pay for group train tickets or top up travel cards
  
  
• Buy fan gear or food from a single pot
  
  
• Track what’s been spent on what, in real-time
  
  

You can even create smaller jars - for example Wembley food, Wembley travel, and Wembley merch.

Smart spending ideas:

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• Buy official gear online before the day to avoid inflated street prices
  
  
• Pack snacks and drinks for the train journey
  
  
• Use discount vouchers from HyperJar merchants
  
  
• Check for group travel deals or use a 16–25 Railcard if eligible
  
  

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