The Fringe is here! With no less that 2,542 shows to choose from, the prospect of sifting through the crud to find the things worth seeing can be pretty daunting, especially when your hard earned cash is at stake. But fear not; as always, The Wee Review is here with some top tips for making the most of the fest with zero impact on your wallet.

Other than picking through the Fringe catalogue with a fine tooth comb, there’s plenty of free show guides out there – take Forest Fringe or Laughing Horse Comedy as a couple of examples. As the big name funders behind the bulk of the Fringe freebies, PBH’s Free Fringe offers the most comprehensive guide, with a seemingly endless list covering everything from comedy to magic. In fact there’s a whopping total of 607 free shows in total meaning that, with something for everyone, there’s no excuse not to make the most of this unique opportunity.

Apart from the obvious freebies, there are other ways you can nab tickets that you’d otherwise have to pay for. Keep your eyes out for promoters trying to get bums on seats in the hour before their show. They can usually be found loitering around outside their venue and might put up a bit of a haggling war, but tell them you’re just on your way to see one of the free shows and those tickets could well be yours. Some of the gems (and trash) of the Fringe can be seen this way, so it’s worth being cheeky and giving it a shot.

Don’t forget that there’s a lot of fun to be had amongst the street acts on and around the Royal Mile. While you won’t get to see a whole show, there’s plenty of entertainment and no two days are the same. This is a great way to see snippets before handing over your hard-earned cash, and there might even be a few ticket deals to be had.

Don’t be put off by shows being free. Yes, there’ll be some shockingly awful stuff out there, but that goes for the paid things as well. Bear in mind that the acts set their own ticket prices, so a high charge doesn’t necessarily indicate quality. As with any festival, it’s always a bit hit and miss. At least with freebies you’ve got nothing to lose but an hour of your time, and it’s a brilliant opportunity to experiment and try new things.