I spent more than $250 on a Wednesday

Posted on June 30, 2011 6 Comments

I wrote a check for $186.04 for two tickets to Eddie Vedder at the Chicago Theater last night, then spent about $75 on dinner for two and several drinks at Hub 51 and POOF! More than $250 gone.

This was kind of a big expense right after the vacation. But a few weeks ago, my cousin texted me asking if I wanted to go. The offer was far too tempting: Eddie Vedder solo in an intimate setting (the Theater holds only about 4,000 people). I happen to think Eddie has one of the best voices in all of music, and jumped (rather excitedly and without much forethought) at the chance to go. She logged in with her Pearl Jam Ten Club membership and got us tickets, then booked she and her hubby a trip from Houston to Chicago, and we were on.

The entire night was totally brilliant and magical. Vedder rocked everything he played, from a ukulele to a mandolin to guitars, from his own music to covers to duets. (The set list is here.) Though I think these were expensive tickets, I am so thrilled that I went. It was a unique experience and something I’ll always remember.

I find myself internally debating often about whether concerts are truly a worthwhile use of my budget. I turn down a LOT of concerts (so many awesome bands play here), but I really love live shows. I love the noise, I love the crowd, I love finding out that the band really does sound as good as the record. I love watching other people totally rock out. I love dancing to my favorite musicians. And I love when a music-filled night is simply perfect, as was the case with the Eddie Vedder show and also, recently, the Arcade Fire show I saw at UIC Pavilion.

What’s more, when I really want to go to a show but don’t get tickets, I tend to linger on it forever. When I was a freshman in high school, Pearl Jam played Soldier Field.  I saved up money for the show for weeks. When tickets went on sale, I tried buying them by constantly re-dialing on a pay phone (I was at school and this was before cell phones). I had my mom and my aunt dialing on their land lines.  The most important thing in my life at that moment was getting tickets for that show. And I never got them. I missed the show.  To this day, it upsets me. I know a lot of people who went to that show so many years ago (including my man-friend) who still reminisce about how great it was. So when I started working after college, Pearl Jam was the one band I pledged to go see as many times as possible during my life.

So that’s why I’m less upset than I probably should be about this expense. I think if it were a performer I only mildly knew of, or just about anyone else!, I would definitely not have spent the dough on the tickets. But this was too perfect not to go. And it was completely worth it.

So now I’m gonna go hermit it up this weekend and try not to spend any more, despite teetering dangerously on the side of tragedy with my hair highlights, which have not been updated since March. I’m trying to stretch it into July so they don’t hit the same paycheck as everything else. Thank goodness for the hermiting, I guess.

Category: Life
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Comments

6 Responses to “I spent more than $250 on a Wednesday”

  1. Allison
    June 30th, 2011 @ 11:16 pm

    Sounds like an awesome night. I think a splurge is totally fine!
    Sounds amazing!!!

  2. Laura
    July 1st, 2011 @ 5:21 pm

    I’ve come around to the notion that money spent on experiences (concerts, vacations, events) is much better than money spent on things.

    Because while sometimes it feels like the money just disappears into thin air without some sort of physical representation of it, the memories of the experience really do linger forever. Better to do than to have, right?

    (at least that’s how I’m rationalizing my trip to Canada in the fall….:) )

  3. Missie
    July 1st, 2011 @ 7:31 pm

    It can be a tricky decision, when one is budget-minded — I was raised by VERY frugal parents! — as to whether or not one should “splurge” on certain events or activities.

    My thought is that as long as you’re not taking food from your table, utilities from your home, or necessary medicine from your body, then go ahead.

    Laura, I like your thinking :-)

  4. Nicole
    July 2nd, 2011 @ 5:00 am

    I love the way you guys think ;)

  5. Missie
    July 2nd, 2011 @ 9:52 pm

    Well, Nicole, it’s not as though you’re robbing your 401K for the evening out, so… ;-)

  6. Jessey @ Debt Management
    September 21st, 2011 @ 11:35 am

    Experiences make a extra lasting feeling: they keep on with you longer, even if they were alarming, shocking or scary. When we get together with my lovely friends after long time, we are inclined to bond over past collective experiences and memories.

    Regards,
    Jessey Ellen

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