Totally Unmustachian Dad Move, but worth it

[ephillipsme]

So I am frugal, or as my family states cheap.  I have three daughters and they are pretty used to me saying no to Extra or Special things,  Sure they don't go without but I hear grumblings somethings like "My friend has Blah...." and the such.  When my two younger daughters last Saturday came down with a plan to convince their father to purchase concert tickets to Maroon 5 in Boston.  They had all the usual arguments, Wash the car, organize your sock draw, etc.  They were ready for the fight, arguments at the ready. I think they had my 16 yer old in on it too, but this begin a Saturday morning we wouldn't see her for a while.  So the argument began, and I looked at my wife who had a puzzled smile as she let me know what was about to occur. I didn't even let them get through the opening argument, I grabbed the laptop and purchased 5 tickets.  Yes way out of my normal behavior, no argument, no convincing pleas from the girls, and dad frivolously spending. My daughters just stood there jaws on the ground, in disbelief of what just happened.  So why did I break from Mr Frugal,  Maybe I though this year I will be teaching my oldest daughter to drive, and it seems like only yesterday we were teaching her to walk.  So sometimes you just need to live in the moment, because it is a fleeting moment.   

[guitar_stitch]

A stark contrast to my situation.  Heh.

My Dad loves to spend stupid amounts of money on even more stupid things.  Case in point, he was about ready to buy two Jacksonville Jaguars tickets to the game next weekend for himself and me for my birthday.  I was okay with this little bit of pampering until I realized that the cheapest seats were going for an asinine $117/each.  At that point I had to act fast to dissuade him from spending almost $250 (not including parking, food, drink, etc) to get crammed into tiny seats with people sitting way too close for comfort, get sunburnt, and watch a team that will invariable lose the game.  Never mind the fact that he's drowning in debt, is facing possible foreclosure, etc.

[GuitarStv]

That's all well and good . . . but is Maroon 5 really the moment you want to be living in?

[Bob W]

Frugal means you spend money and time on things that are important to you because you have it,  because you didn't piss it away on unimportant useless shit.   

So you did good Dad!   

Hope everyone enjoys the concert.   Just make sure you park for free 3 miles away and pack your own drinks in.   If you're feeling especially rich,  you might treat everyone to an "order whatever you want off the dollar menu"  for dinner.  (2 dollar limits of course)  lol

Be sure to take lots of pictures,  because those concert memories will last at least 30 years.

[Elderwood17]

I agree, dad, you have to sometimes just go for it.

I confess, though, I had to google Maroon 5.

[ephillipsme]

No Maroon 5 was not the band that i would have chosen

[pdxbator]

Take me too! Adam Levine is a dream.

[Terrestrial]

Good for you!  If you're going to spend money on something, it may as well be experiences with your kids.

Growing up my parents were frugal, but not to the point of being over the top/not spending money on anything.   What always struck me once I was grown and what I try to remember with my own kids now is:

I have almost zero recollection of any frivilous toy/gadget/etc that was bought for me, that seemed SUPER important at the time, but now in my 30's I don't recall in the slightest.

I have VERY good/vivid memories of childhood experiences with my parents and sister...some of the places we went, special events, etc.  Experiences are the memories that last, not material goods. 

Your girls will have long forgotten which friend got the new iphone when they didn't, but will probably be talking about the  time 'cheap' old dad took them to the concert 20 years from now!

[trailrated]

I think it shows you have done a pretty great job at being a parent teaching them how to work for what they want (offering to do chores etc, to be able to go). Even beyond that by not having this be a regular occurrence (a yes to everything they want to do all the time) I am sure they will enjoy the experience so much more than a lot of people there. Kudos to you.

[Louis the Cat]

This is brilliant! Among other things, it's important to keep the kiddos on their toes!

I have twin 3 year olds and we are in the early stages of teaching them that things outside of walks, bike rides and meals at home are treats and to be done occasionally.  Over the summer, we accidentally got into the habit of eating ice cream (from the freezer) after dinner most nights and had one of them have a fit the other night when we said no. That got an immediate ban on ice cream for the kiddos for the foreseeable future. Ice cream had become a habit and needed to get back to being a treat. We're intending to lay the groundwork for concerts and whatnot in the future.

[tracylayton]

You are an awesome Dad, and you'll all remember this for a long time to come.

[RetiredAt63]

Agreed, awesome.

I still remember my aunt taking me to see Gordon Lightfoot in concert at Place des Arts - must have been in the late 60's.  Just Gord and his 2 backup musicians.  So great. 

She also took my sister and me to The Nutcracker, and going to that has become a Christmas tradition for DD and me.

[Kansas Beachbum]

Frugal means you spend money and time on things that are important to you because you have it,  because you didn't piss it away on unimportant useless shit.   
Be sure to take lots of pictures,  because those concert memories will last at least 30 years.

+1

Spending on experiences and memories is not splurging if everything else is in order financially, which it most definitely sounds like it is for you.  But dude...Maroon 5?  LOL...just kidding!

[cavewoman]

After the slack jaws, what was their reaction? I love this story, you sound like a great dad.

And Maroon 5 is not the worst band to go see.  They have been around for a decade at least, it's not the most teeny-bopper concert to go to.

[Allen]

"And it's a hard pill for you to swallow,



yeah"

[Sarita]

Love this--- totally agree with other poster that said they will be talking about this for a long time.  And Maroon 5 is a fine choice :)
I still remember when my mom was given a pair of Grateful Dead tickets at work. I was a teenager.  I have no idea how they came to her, and, well, as a woman of the prairies who doesn't like loud music, there's no way she would ever go.  So my eagle scout totally square dad took me.  Memories: priceless.

[bluecheeze]

A stark contrast to my situation.  Heh.

My Dad loves to spend stupid amounts of money on even more stupid things.  Case in point, he was about ready to buy two Jacksonville Jaguars tickets to the game next weekend for himself and me for my birthday.  I was okay with this little bit of pampering until I realized that the cheapest seats were going for an asinine $117/each.  At that point I had to act fast to dissuade him from spending almost $250 (not including parking, food, drink, etc) to get crammed into tiny seats with people sitting way too close for comfort, get sunburnt, and watch a team that will invariable lose the game.  Never mind the fact that he's drowning in debt, is facing possible foreclosure, etc.

Things must have changed in the past few years! I remember going to Jags games and getting tickets for $20 with a beer included :-)
Seats were bad but it didn't matter if you just hung out in the Bud Chill Zone.

[guitar_stitch]

Things must have changed in the past few years! I remember going to Jags games and getting tickets for $20 with a beer included :-)
Seats were bad but it didn't matter if you just hung out in the Bud Chill Zone.

I haven't looked at prices in a long time, but I can only surmise that it has to do with Shahid Khan's push to have the biggest screens in the NFL plus the addition of swimming pools at the stadium.  Gotta pay for that crap somehow!

[Chranstronaut]

It's all about balancing what you love with your money.  I think this is a very sweet story... I need to call my dad...

Take me too! Adam Levine is a dream.

This thread is cracking me up!

[hdatontodo]

Travel and events give memories. Things wear out and get tossed.

I was able to sell my 2012 Mustang to a man who was buying it for his new stepdaughter who is almost driving age. Good for her. Good for me. Brownie points/bene's from his new Mrs.

I'm doing fine with money in the bank between that and my new-to-me Corolla.

[DollarBill]

So the argument began, and I looked at my wife who had a puzzled smile as she let me know what was about to occur. I didn't even let them get through the opening argument, I grabbed the laptop and purchased 5 tickets.  Yes way out of my normal behavior, no argument, no convincing pleas from the girls, and dad frivolously spending. My daughters just stood there jaws on the ground, in disbelief of what just happened.

I totally picture it...cool story! Was your Wife in on it or did you surprise her too?

[Meggslynn]

Awesome story. Love it.

The going from teaching her to walk to teaching her to drive hit it home for me.

[falcondisruptor]

I loved this story. 
I can definitely remember the times when my parents treated us to something where I just kept thinking: how can we afford this?  I'm sure it was worth every penny for them!

[dragoncar]

It's all about balancing what you love with your money.  I

In other words,

It's not always rainbows and butterflies
It's compromise that moves us along, yeah

[rockstache]

It's all about balancing what you love with your money.  I

In other words,

It's not always rainbows and butterflies
It's compromise that moves us along, yeah

HA! When I'm bored at work I literally just scroll threads looking for dragoncar comments like this one for a laugh.

[Kaspian]

Great story!  My mom was always frugal going up--I heard "no" so often it's what I always expected.  When I was 17, I casually asked at the dinner table, "Can I go to New York City with the art class?"  She replied, "Sure!"  I almost fainted!  (We live in Northern Ontario, Canada.)  She added, "I think everyone should get out there and see some of the world.  New York is a big one."  Holy smokes!  My mom said, "yes"?!!  WTF?!  I'd asked just as a joke.  ...It was a great trip.  And I think I enjoyed all the more because I wasn't used to being spoiled and having my way.

[MandalayVA]

As someone who recently laid out an ungodly amount of money for tickets to go see the Steelers and Penguins play in Pittsburgh ... sometimes you just gotta go for it.  I'm planning on enjoying every second of the games.

[nyold]

I don't think it's all that unmustachian.... Usually I just set up a budget ($3k a year, but I'm single) for frivolous spending of things I want but I don't need. So yeah no I'm not super frugal, but I just feel like by setting a "play" budget like that to myself I end up being happier and being able to save more in general.

Sometimes there's a new toy / gadget / concert / clothes that I really want but don't need, I draw it without guilt from that 3k a year that I set aside (and keep a running balance in my spreadsheet). To tell you the truth, I haven't really exhausted that budget every year. My average annual expense in this budget category is only 1500-2000, so the rest will just accumulate (and invested, of course).

[sky_northern]

Awesome! Glad cheap old dad could surprise the kids! You'll have some great memories!

I will never forget my first big arena concert, the parents took me to see the Rolling Stones when I was 12. It was awesome.  Actually, I remember every concert I've been to but I love that I have the memory that my first concert was the Rolling stones with the parents.

[Kimchi Bleu]

What a great memory for the kids.  A few years ago DH and I decided to give the kids experiences instead of things as gifts.  When my daughter opened up her Christmas gift to see tickets for Justin Bieber she was literally shaking and crying she was soooo happy.  Felt like we were Super Parents that day.

[Cinder]

Great story!  My mom was always frugal going up--I heard "no" so often it's what I always expected.  When I was 17, I casually asked at the dinner table, "Can I go to New York City with the art class?"  She replied, "Sure!"  I almost fainted!  (We live in Northern Ontario, Canada.)  She added, "I think everyone should get out there and see some of the world.  New York is a big one."  Holy smokes!  My mom said, "yes"?!!  WTF?!  I'd asked just as a joke.  ...It was a great trip.  And I think I enjoyed all the more because I wasn't used to being spoiled and having my way.

This.. If they were always getting their way, and they went to the concert, it would be just another thing they always get...  Since they know that it is a 'special treat' it will make lasting memories for them.

Also, you may be able to help show them the difference between frugal (spending when something is worth it or spending intentionally) and cheap (I just want to spend as little money as possible no matter what the non-financial cost!)

[ThriftyD]

My Dad loves to spend stupid amounts of money on even more stupid things.  Case in point, he was about ready to buy two Jacksonville Jaguars tickets to the game next weekend for himself and me for my birthday.  I was okay with this little bit of pampering until I realized that the cheapest seats were going for an asinine $117/each.  At that point I had to act fast to dissuade him from spending almost $250 (not including parking, food, drink, etc) to get crammed into tiny seats with people sitting way too close for comfort, get sunburnt, and watch a team that will invariable lose the game.  Never mind the fact that he's drowning in debt, is facing possible foreclosure, etc.

$117 for JAGUARS tickets?  As an avid sports fan, when I go to games, I ALWAYS go to secondary sale ticket websites like Stubhub.  On StubHub right now, I'm finding countless tickets to that game at EverBank Field in the $40 range!  With all the empty seats I see at that stadium and the terrible product that team puts on the field each week, I'm sure it's very easy to secure tickets for much less than $117!  However, you have that awesome swimming pool and party deck on top now so that might bump up prices a bit. 

I'm only joking and giving you a hard time.  I'd actually like to see the Jags do well!  I just wouldn't buy tickets directly from the team or pay face value for ANY game I go to.  Here in Packers country, tickets are very hard to find for less than $150...even on StubHub.  It could be -10 degrees and Lambeau will still be packed.  It's a crazy breed up here.  I have only been to two Packers games in my life and both times I was invited to go for free by a friend and family member. 

[Kaspian]

Also, you may be able to help show them the difference between frugal (spending when something is worth it or spending intentionally) and cheap (I just want to spend as little money as possible no matter what the non-financial cost!)

It completely does.  I think back to all the junk I didn't get compared to my first trip to the USA?  Priceless.  ...Which makes me think--I wonder what happened to all the *stuff* the spoiled kids got?  I'd have to assume that 98% of those plastic toys are in the landfill and that they don't even remember the bullk majority of their McDonalds visits.

[Cinder]

I'd have to assume that 98% of those plastic toys are in the landfill and that they don't even remember the bullk majority of their McDonalds visits.

It's funny you say that... I grew up in an area where there wasn't a McD until about 10 years ago.  Going to McD's was a treat for us (about 45 min away).  We had a cardboard box full of our fastfood toys.  There were a few runs that had really awesome toys (the transformers ones spring to mind.. had some from both the robot and the dinosaur runs). 

Sometimes that plastic crap can be a lot of fun, but I think it's because we'd only really go on rare occasions, and usually only really care when it was the awesome toys..