The Anton Files... Don't fall in the money pit

It’s easy to forget the inflated prices in a ski resort. Mainly because, in most years, we’ve saved like lords to splash out on our annual blast on the slopes.

But when you’re living with it day-in day-out without a trust fund to fall back on, ingenious money-saving measures are required. 

Here’s what I’m dealing with (bar prices): 

• Diet Coke: €3.30

• Beer: €5
• 
Cocktail: €10
• 
Hamburger: €5
• 
Pizza: €10
• 
Cigarettes: €5

• Haloumi cheese: €3.90
• 
Return night bus trip: €7

Admittedly it’s not as pricey as some resorts (beer reportedly comes in at  €8 in Val D’Isere – and that’s with seasonnaire discount), but most of the staff here are considered wealthy if they’re making €100 a week. 

There are basic things you can do to make your cash go further. 

Some of them – like taking food/booze up the mountain and necking cheap wine at someone’s chalet before going out at midnight – are obvious. 

Others – like scouring the floor for money (someone found €100 in the street last week) – are not. 

Then there’s the trick of only taking €20 on a night out. When it’s gone, it’s gone.

And credit cards should remain locked up at home to prevent booze-fuelled bank account suicide. 

Some people with sought-after skills – waxing, photography, massage – are trying to make a buck on the side. 

But if you prefer things a little more legal, I have stumbled across a wicked night out in St Anton – and it costs flap all. 

Every Wednesday at 9pm, the Alpine World Ski Championships stadium overlooking the village hosts a Schneetreiben show. 

Billed as a multimedia extravaganza with open-air demonstrations, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but it was amazing. 

It’s basically a potted history of winter sports, in German and English, illustrated by footage on a big screen and the skills of local experts on a floodlit piste. 

There are piste bashers bedecked with fireworks, a huge kicker with pyrotechnics to accompany the demonstrations and bonkers music to jump up and down to. 

The hour-long show ends with fireworks and then everyone decamps to the pub. 

But the most remarkable thing is that it’s free. 

Take a hip flask filled with your weapon of choice and it’s an entertaining way to get the night started.

Just remember to leave your credit card at home. 

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