Something happens when our teenage kids become old enough to borrow their parents’ cars or worse, get their own cars. The cost to maintain them goes through the roof. I mean, you’re lucky to still have a roof over your head with all the high priced ticket items they insist can be handled by your credit card. When they go out, it costs as much as it does for mom and dad to go out.
The first time I had to buy my teenage daughter a concert ticket for a big name act playing at one of the large casinos in Las Vegas, I was floored. I don’t remember the name of the band because it was a name beyond my ability to comprehend. Something to do with rude things dogs do in back alleys.
In any case, I had no choice to pay full price for the ticket (over $100) since this was the highlight of the birthday party for her best friend. A few hours before the start of the concert several of the girls showed up at my house to get dressed and do their makeup. My daughter was driving them into the city in my car. They filled the house with shrieks and laughter as they got ready. The floor of the bathroom was strewn with their discarded clothing. For a while, it appeared my child had forgotten I existed even though I was footing the bill.
It didn’t take me long to wise up to the fact this was just the beginning. I asked around to the other parents. Many of them had found ways to save money on tickets for events by subscribing to online memberships.
I found on that worked for me. Think of two words – “score” and “big.” Now put them together and do an Internet search for cheap tickets. This organization provides tickets for every type of major entertainment, including sports events, music concerts and theatre. Sometimes you get really great deals that save as much as 50% of the retail ticket price. At other times the savings are not as good, but compared with buying the tickets directly from the event venue, the cost is lower.
It is important to me as a parent that my kids have a vast cultural experience, so I don’t mind giving them the chance to go to concerts. It helps that there are ways I can keep the cost down and not have to get a second mortgage on the house to finance their Saturday night activities.
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