AW: NTTCALR Advice Needed

MrsKush1014

A little background beforehand: we recently bought a new house and are now low on funds.

We've been planning on going to a Garth Brooks concert this Saturday with some friends we met earlier this year. They invited us and bought the tickets. We spoke last weekend about plans and they let us know that they are also meeting up with two other couples for the concert. Ok, sounds like fun, more the merrier!

We looked up the price of the tickets and the site shows the with taxes and fees they are $70.50/each. I asked how much we owe our friends and they said $75/each.

Then they tell us that one of the other couples suggested a particular all-you-can-eat Brazilian steakhouse for dinner (DH has eaten there, $55/person, not including drinks). Immediately DH was like 'whoa, that place is spendy'! So I know that he doesn't want to go there. Our friends started talking about how the 4 of us could go somewhere else for dinner and meet back up with the others, but I feel bad about that too.

So do I ignore the fact that they are inflating the ticket price slightly? My gut says yes, but I know that DH may feel differently so I want some outside opinions.

And is it ok to tell them to go ahead and go to the spendy restaurant with their other friends. and we'll meet up with them afterwards? Or should we take them up on their offer of going somewhere else. (DH is completely against the Brazilian steakhouse option, so just sucking it up and going with it isn't an option).

Also, is it even worth mentioning the difference in price that they mentioned?

Sorry if this all seems petty, we've been bleeding money lately and while we want to have a fun night out, we don't want to go overboard.

MrsG80inTN

I am budget crazy so I get where you are coming from.. I'd probably ignore the ticket price (could be higher due to fees and taxes?) and let them go to dinner and just meet up at the concert... You can use the house as an excuse bc you don't want to eat out... Have fun at the concert though!

meredithcarole

MrsG80inTN said:

I am budget crazy so I get where you are coming from.. I'd probably ignore the ticket price (could be higher due to fees and taxes?) and let them go to dinner and just meet up at the concert...

Agreed.

MrsKush1014

Thanks ladies, I'm glad to hear that others think that skipping the dinner is fine. DH has been really worried about the cost of everything. We had also planned on staying downtown and now we're going to taxi it instead.

It just feels like we had a certain night planned and now it has all changed. And the 'new' night planned isn't in the budget. :-(

Km380

MrsG80inTN said:

I am budget crazy so I get where you are coming from.. I'd probably ignore the ticket price (could be higher due to fees and taxes?) and let them go to dinner and just meet up at the concert... You can use the house as an excuse bc you don't want to eat out... Have fun at the concert though!

Ditto. I hope you can enjoy the night out!

uromys

MrsKush1014 said:

Thanks ladies, I'm glad to hear that others think that skipping the dinner is fine. DH has been really worried about the cost of everything. We had also planned on staying downtown and now we're going to taxi it instead. It just feels like we had a certain night planned and now it has all changed. And the 'new' night planned isn't in the budget. :-(

I agree with the other ladies. I wouldn't say anything about the ticket inflation, but we would definitely forgo the dinner. Most of our friends don't own houses and aren't on the budget that MH & I are. They seem to understand when we choose to just meet up with them later.

rslh10

Ok my first thought was "Whhhhat?? Garth Brooks is still around?" :P

But I definitely agree with the pp's. Everyone has been in a position where a $120+ dinner just isn't feasible! Enjoy the concert and don't worry about dinner or making new plans for a different dinner.

alm288

I agree with the other ladies - I wouldn't mention the ticket prices. I bought some online last week and there taxes and service charges. You should not feel guilty if you don't go to dinner. You can still go to the concert and have a great time.

BTW - I went to a Garth Brooks concert years ago and had a blast. He put on such a good show. Hope you have a great time

MrsKush1014

Thank you all for the advice! It turned out to be a non issue because they didn't even really want to hang out with their other friends anyway! Our friends met us for dinner, then we met up with the others for a drink (they were all smashed already) and then we left to walk to the concert. The others didn't get there until after it started and weren't even seated near us. I blew everything way out of proportion I guess!

flyoffeve

@MrsKush1014 Glad it worked out! How was the concert? Did you have a great time?

buggirl72

I'm glad you had a great time! I agree with everyone about not bringing up the different ticket price to your friends.  Chalk it up to a live and learn - next time, don't let them purchase the tickets.

Nikolie93

Glad to hear it! I usually blow stuff out of proportion too. Hope you had a great time

MrsKush1014

flyoffeve said:

@MrsKush1014 Glad it worked out! How was the concert? Did you have a great time?

Had a great time! You could definitely tell that it was the last concert in an 11-concert stand. Garth was noticeably tired, but still put on a great show! And it was so great to hang out with our friends again. They live three hours away, so we don't see them nearly as often as we'd like.