concerts

The High Cost of Modern Love

Andrea Cannon — Mon, 13 Feb 2017 10:00:16 +0000

Being in love is now more expensive than ever. In fact, Americans spend an average of $20,000 in their lifetime on dates. With dinner and a movie costing about $90, you could easily go broke if you date frequently.

We've covered some of the costs below so you can get a better idea of what modern love can cost. However, these are only national averages. The amount you pay for entertainment and impressing your date will vary largely depending on where you live.

Movie Ticket

Average Price: $8.51 per ticket

The worst part is that after spending money on movie tickets, you have to worry about buying popcorn, soda, candy, and other overpriced treats. For instance, if you decided to order one large popcorn, one large candy, and two small soft drinks, you could expect to spend around $22.25, in addition to the price of the movie tickets. Instead of doing dinner and a movie out, consider cooking at home and taking advantage of Netflix.

Dining Out

Average Price: $12.17–$88.00 per person

A 2015 study found that the cost of eating at a chain restaurant ranges from $12.17 to $88.00 per person, but it depends on where (and what) you eat. It also depends on where you live. For instance, Zagat found that diners in NYC spend an average of $48.44 per person when eating out, which is higher than the national average.

As an alternative, consider happy hour deals, taking advantage of restaurant week or local food festivals, or impressing your date with a home-cooked meal. You can either show off your cooking skills or cook together as a bonding experience.

Concert Tickets

Average Price: $46.69 per person

Concert tickets all depend on who you are going to see and which tickets you get (unobstructed or obstructed view). For instance, impressing your date with tickets to a Taylor Swift concert will set you back $110.15 a ticket.

Broadway Show

Average Price: $105.68 a ticket

Now, this is only appropriate if you are really trying to impress your date. With an average ticket price of $105.68, Broadway shows should be saved for very special occasions. The price will depend on what you go to see. For instance, a ticket to Hamilton could cost $300, while a ticket to Jitney could be around $55.

Baby Sitter

Average Price: $10 an hour

If you have a child at home, you can expect to spend a hefty amount on a baby sitter. The average cost of a baby sitter, per hour, in New York City is $15+, so the price will vary depending on where you live, who you hire, and the agreement you set with the sitter. As an alternative, consider asking another parent to baby-sit your child for a night at no charge, and tell them you will return the favor later by baby-sitting their child for free.

Gifts

Average Price: $92.50 per occasion

Once you find that special someone, you'll need to start worrying about the costs of gifts on special occasions. The average American spends only $25 per year on flowers, but can expect to spend an average of $146.84 on Valentine's Day gifts. Gifts for holidays, birthdays, anniversaries, and other special occasions can take a hefty chunk out of your budget.

According to Huffington Post, Americans spend an average of $92.50 per special occasion on their new love. They also found that people spend an additional $21 on gifts for each additional year of their relationship.

Dating Sites

Average Price: $0–$60 per month

Match.com is $41.99 per month, eHarmony.com is $60 per month, True.com is $50 per month, Tinder is free (unless you sign up for premium services, which range from $2.99–$34.99), and Bumble is free (again, unless you sign up for premium services, which range from $2.99–$35.99). You can save a lot of money by signing up for longer periods of time, like six or 12 months. Many dating sites, like Match.com, also offer free options with limited capabilities.

When it comes to dating sites and apps, there are distinct differences in the quality of the service and potential suitors, so cost shouldn't be your only factor. For instance, PlentyOfFish and OKCupid are free, but they don't offer the same matching abilities or photo quality as a service like Match or eHarmony. The people on PlentyOfFish also aren't usually as devoted to finding that special someone for life, as compared to someone on Match or eHarmony.

As an alternative, try meeting someone in real life. After all, only 5% of Americans in a marriage or committed relationship actually met their significant other online. Studies continue to show that couples most often meet each other through work, friends in common, or in social settings, so just put yourself out there more.

The Cost of "Ghosting"

Average Price: Your love life?

If you decide that the cost of dating sites is just too much, consider the cost to your love life if you disappear from the app completely. If you start "ghosting," it can end very badly. In fact, it often leads to even more confrontation than if you were just honest from the start. Take advantage of the sites and apps you subscribe to, while you still can.

On the other end of the spectrum, if you take your special someone on a horrible date, you risk getting "ghosted" yourself. Getting ignored can really take a toll on one's confidence and lead to hurt feelings, so observe the golden rule and avoid ghosting. Just remember, a good date doesn't have to be an expensive one. Take them somewhere meaningful, dress and act the part, and find ways to impress your date without going broke.

Alternative Date Ideas

Ask your date what they would like to do. Going to the movies and dinner can be fun, but most people have other ideas for a better date night. Here are some ideas to get you thinking.

Go for a hike or walk through your area. Show your date some of your favorite areas.
Get active with canoeing, miniature golfing, ice skating, rock climbing, paddle boating, paddle boarding, biking…the list goes on and on. Find out what your date is interested in and take advantage. It's cheaper, more meaningful, and can help you burn some calories.
Visit a museum during the day and time when it is cheapest. Most museums offer free admission on a particular day of the week. You can observe some local culture and will have plenty to talk about with your date.
Instead of going out for dinner, consider going out for coffee instead. After all, why spend something like $90 on a first date, when you're not even sure that they're worth dating long-term? With a coffee date, you can get to know each other in a more comfortable setting. A picnic is also ultraromantic, affordable, and memorable.
Go dancing at a bar or take dance classes, which start as low as $12 per person.
Go for a free wine or liquor tasting in your area.
Take advantage of outdoor movie events (like free movies in the park).
Take advantage of free local tours or free tour apps.
Find a Groupon date that you both want to take advantage of. Give your date some options so they'll be able to pick what interests them most.

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This article is from Andrea Cannon of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

10 Ways to Do LA On the Cheap

Andrea Cannon — Fri, 04 Sep 2015 11:00:27 +0000

It's no secret that Los Angeles is expensive. In fact, it was ranked the second-worst U.S. city for saving money. If you're living there, then rent is significantly higher than the national average, and if you're just planning a trip there, then hotels, airfare, food, and entertainment can really add up.

Once you've taken advantage of an affordable travel package or found a great hotel deal, there are other ways to save money by living like the locals do. The best part about Los Angeles is the consistently beautiful weather, and we've found a number of ways for you to get even more from it. Whether you are living there or just spending a few days on vacation, we've compiled some tips to help save you money in the City of Angels.

1. Relax at the Beach

Southern California is famous for its beautiful beaches and coastline. You can visit famous spots like Newport Beach, Long Beach, Huntington Beach, Mission Beach, La Jolla Beach, Coronado Beach, Malibu, and Venice Beach. Whichever beach you choose, it can provide endless hours of free entertainment.

The Santa Monica Pier is home to a beautiful beach and boardwalk, complete with an admission-free amusement park, carousel, arcade, aquarium, shopping, food, and more. It's like visiting a theme park, without the high price tag.

2. Festivals Galore

There is always a festival going on somewhere in California. Visit the California Fairs and Festivals page to find out what free events and festivals are happening near you. There are also free art walks throughout LA on a monthly and quarterly basis. Many galleries, office buildings, and even apartment complexes will host receptions. During this time, you can take advantage of free music, art, food, and drinks, all while taking in the sights and sounds of LA.

3. See the Hollywood Sights

Driving down Sunset, Hollywood, and Vine can give you a glimpse into the glamorous California lifestyle and provide perfect photo ops, like the famed Hollywood sign. If you want a true Hollywood experience, just park your car and visit the Walk of Fame, Grauman's Chinese Theater, Kodak Theater, and more, all within walking distance. Central to it all, the Hollywood and Highland Center also offers shopping, dining, and more, with $2 parking for up to two hours with validation.

4. Free (or Discounted) Tours

Tours are usually very affordable or free. You can take part in walking, biking, or bus tours, or you can take your time with an online tour or through a smartphone app like Stray Boots. You can also find deals on tours and attractions on discount sites like Groupon, Living Social, and Amazon Local Deals. Take advantage of free tours at locations like the Los Angeles City Hall and the Downtown LA Central Library.

5. Spend Time at the Park

Los Angeles offers beautiful sites and hiking trails through Runyon Canyon, Kenneth Hahn Park, and Griffith Park. You can enjoy the sights, go for a bike ride, or have a romantic picnic for two. Many of the parks, such as Grand Park and Bluff Park, even offer free yoga throughout the week. The options are limitless and none of them cost a thing. If you're serious about taking in California's beautiful National Parks, then consider getting a National Park Pass. You'll be able to visit the parks as often as you like throughout the year, saving you money on admission fees.

6. Visit a Museum

Museums can provide tons of free entertainment, so take advantage of the free museums in Los Angeles to soak up some culture. The best free museums include the J. Paul Getty Museum, California Science Center, Griffith Observatory, Travel Town Museum, California African-American Museum, and the Fowler Museum at UCLA.

7. Forget the Theme Parks

The Venice Beach Boardwalk, Santa Monica Pier and Boardwalk, Universal CityWalk, and Downtown Disney can provide the theme park experience, without an entry fee. You can enjoy rides, shopping, food, and fun, all in a prime location. If you are intent on visiting one or more of California's theme parks (like Disneyland, Universal Studios, Knott's Berry Farm, Sea World, and Six Flags), consider purchasing a Southern California CityPASS or Go Los Angeles Card, which offers savings of up to 55% on some of California's most popular theme parks, events, and attractions.

8. Shopping and Food

California is famous for its destination shopping centers, like Melrose and Rodeo Drive, but that can be really costly. If you're looking to find some of the latest trends without blowing your budget, then you can find some great deals in Santee Alley. You can find discounted men's wear, women's wear, accessories, and more in this Fashion District stop. Olvera Street is another fun stop where you can take advantage of some great bargains, authentic food, and an experience unique to Los Angeles. There are also some great local swap meets, like the Los Angeles City College Swap Meet, Rose Bowl Flea Market, Valley Indoor Swap Meet, and Slauson Super Mall, that offer unique and vintage finds at a bargain.

Los Angeles is home to some of the best food in the world, but it comes at a high cost. Fortunately, you can get some great eats at a discount if you ask the locals, keep your eyes open, and shop at one of the many local farmers markets. If you'll be visiting anytime from January through July, consider taking advantage of Los Angeles Restaurant Week, where you can sample some of LA's best restaurants with a fixed menu at discounted prices. You can also take advantage of Street Food Cinema and Eat | See | Hear for free live music, movie screenings, and local street fare.

9. Save on Transportation

There are a number of public transportation options, which can save you time and money, and help you avoid the famous Los Angeles traffic and parking. California weather is perfect for skateboarding, walking, and riding your bike to get around, but there are also some great public transportation options, including the Metro, Santa Monica Big Blue Bus, and the Culver City Bus.

10. Free Entertainment

One great thing about being in such a big city is the endless free entertainment. You can have the true Hollywood experience by attending a free television show taping, take in the Rose Parade, and enjoy other unique experiences that won't cost you a dime. You can also find deals, free items, and cheap eats on About.com's local discount page year-round.

The city offers free music throughout the year at a number of locations, such as the Santa Monica Pier, Downtown LA, Long Beach, Venice Beach, and Pasadena. During the summer, there are even more free concerts, which you can enjoy in the beautiful weather. There are also endless free comedy shows, so if comedy is your thing, make sure to find a comedy club near you that offers free shows. You can also sign up for Goldstar, which offers discounted tickets to the best concerts, sports events, theatre, and more.

What are your favorite ways to save money in Los Angeles? Please share your thoughts in the comments!

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This article is from Andrea Cannon of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

Ask the Readers: Do You Go to Concerts?

Ashley Jacobs — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 10:36:17 +0000

Editor's Note: Congratulations to Betty D, Kate, and Ang for winning this week's contest!

Almost everyone has been to at least one concert in their lives. Some people go to concerts regularly to see their favorite artists or bands. However, the price of tickets deters others from attending concerts on a regular basis.

Do you go to concerts? How often do you go? How do you save on tickets? What is the best concert you've ever been to?

Tell us whether or not you go to concerts and we'll enter you in a drawing to win a $20 Amazon Gift Card!

Win 1 of 3 $20 Amazon Gift Cards

We're doing three giveaways — one for random comments, one for random Facebook "Likes", and another one for random tweets.

Mandatory Entry:

Post your answer in the comments below

For extra entries (1 per action):

Go to our Facebook page, "Like" us, and leave a comment on this article telling us you did, or
Tweet your answer. You have to be a follower of our @wisebread account. Include both "@wisebread" and "#WBAsk" in your tweet so we'll see it and count it. Leave a link to your tweet (click the timestamp for the individual URL) in a separate comment.

If you're inspired to write a whole blog post OR you have a photo on flickr to share, please link to it in the comments or tweet it.

Giveaway Rules:

Contest ends Monday, June 11th at 11:59 pm Pacific. Winners will be announced after June 11th on the original post. Winners will also be contacted via email.
You can enter all three drawings — once by leaving a comment, once by liking our Facebook update, and once by tweeting.
This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered, or associated with Facebook.
You must be 18 and US resident to enter. Void where prohibited.

Good Luck!

Tell us whether or not you go to concerts and we'll enter you in a drawing to win a $20 Amazon Gift Card!

This article is from Ashley Jacobs of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

How Much?! A Breakdown of Concert Ticket Prices

Paul Michael — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 10:24:20 +0000

If you buy concert tickets on a regular basis, like me and many of my friends, then you know one topic of conversation that often rears its ugly head — what's the deal with the pricing?!

You start off with a ticket for $35, by the time you're done it's closer to $50. What's with all the service fees and other add-ons? Why does it cost more to print the ticket yourself than to have the online service print it for you? How much does the artist actually get after all's said and done? Why are some of these tickets more expensive than a new laptop?!

If these questions have been rattling around your brain, Wise Bread has the answers for you. And you may be quite surprised at the results. (See also: How to Watch Movies in the Theater for Free)

Here’s a chart that outlines where the money goes, with a further breakdown below.

The Biggest Shocker — Most of the Money Goes to the Artist!

I know, amazing. My cynical brain, coupled with the way artists often complain about vampire record labels, had me thinking that the artists walk away with one tenth of the take, if they're lucky. It turns out that assumption was dead wrong. Although artists get poorly compensated for music sales (roughly 10% of the retail price) they get a much bigger chunk of change when they tour. And good for them, because touring is no easy task (despite what you may have heard from Motley Crue).

On average, the artist takes 74% of the ticket price, although it can go as high as 90% in some cases. Now you know why more bands tour so much.

Next, the Dreaded Service Fees

Back in the eighties and nineties, it was usual to pay 10% or less in service fees. Those days are gone. Now, depending on the price of the ticket's face value, service fees can be as much, or sometimes more, than the cost of the actual ticket! If you buy a ticket to an unknown (or maybe unpopular) act, it may only set you back $15. But don't expect to pay just $1.50 in service fees. No, they will still be around the same price as those of a $50 ticket, and friends have shown me stubs from concerts that showed a $15 ticket fee and $12.50 in service fees.

So what are you paying for? Well, it's usually made up of the following:

Convenience Fee/Charge and Order Processing Fee

These vary by event, and retail outlet/box office purchases usually don't include an order processing fee. These fees are typically shared with the artist, venue, or promoter, but this is the main source of revenue for places like Ticketmaster and covers their costs plus substantial profits.

Delivery Price

If you choose standard delivery or print-at-home options, these should not apply. But you can add a lot to the final price of the ticket if you have them shipped two-day or overnight.

Facility Charge

The venue of the concert/gig is responsible for adding any facility charges, and they receive 100% of the money collected from them.

Taxes

City, state, and local taxes are typically included in the face value of the ticket and are not considered service fees.

Why Did It Once Cost More to Print Your Own Ticket?

Ticketmaster used to charge you $2.50 for the option of printing your ticket at home, or you could get them delivered free. Wait, what? Well, it wasn't a question of the physical cost of printing the ticket; clearly it cost the company more to print them than to have you print them yourselves. This was simply one of those “because we can, that’s why” fees and it made a lot of financial sense to the company. People were willing to pay the small fee for the convenience of having instant access to tickets and a soft copy available that they could print at any time.

Physical tickets can get lost in the mail, damaged, or misplaced, and that’s just a headache. Plus, if you’re buying concert tickets last minute, the instant option is your only one unless you want your tickets to arrive after the event. The good news is, as you can see from the LiveNation PDF (or if you have recently purchased tickets via Ticketmaster), that these TicketFast fees have been abandoned. Increased scrutiny from watchdogs and complaints from consumers over the power of the Ticketmaster monopoly had a lot to do with it. So now instant gratification is even more gratifying.

So You Want the Best Price For Tickets...What Do You Do?

Well, in most instances you're going to get your tickets from a reputable online dealer like LiveNation, which includes Ticketmaster, TicketsNow, TicketWeb, and House of Blues. And yes, they've pretty much cornered the market. But you do have some options to save money.

First, see if you can buy tickets directly from the box office of the venue the gig is at. That may be a trip, but it saves you on a few of those service fees. You could also try buying through the artist's website, which may offer discounts to fan club members, better seats, CDs with purchase, or any other number of goodies. And if you do go through an online source, order them in plenty of time so you can choose better seats and avoid any rush delivery charges (if printing at home is not an option).

Oh, and please, don't give money to the scalpers, and that includes those insidious sites like StubHub. I wanted to get tickets to a concert recently that had completely snuck up on me. Face value of the ticket was $62, but the tickets had all gone. Lucky for me though, StubHub had a bunch at the bargain-basement price of $370! Yeah, no thanks. I went to Craigslist and found someone selling them last minute because they had to back out, and they only asked face value.

I personally think there should be a limit to how many tickets anyone can buy, and that includes corporations or other businesses. And I mean real limits, not the feeble ones they have now that aren't enforced and clearly don't work.

Any other ticket buying advice? Concert ticket horror stories? Ridiculous fees that you paid? Chime in.

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This article is from Paul Michael of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

Concession stand treats – a license to print money.

Paul Michael — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 17:58:18 +0000

I was at a local fair recently. The kids were hungry, I was thirsty and we all wanted a snack break. But my wife and I knew we’d have to pay the price. At events like these, you’re paying way over the norm for anything. A 16oz soda cost me $4, a simple burger was $8! By the time I had fed my family, I had very little change left from $35. And to be honest, the food was junk. Welcome, my friends, to the over-priced world of event concessions.

It’s actually a double-edged sword. As the consumer, you’re paying the high price of being a captive audience. Be it a movie theater, zoo, church event or a local concert, you can expect to pay serious extra cash for a regular item. From the $5 bag of popcorn to the $4 corndog, these are premium prices for very ordinary foods. But you usually let it go, because you’re having a good time.

You may grumble as you hand over $9 (yes $9) for a beer, like I did recently at a Stevie Wonder concert, but it’s all part of the show. And other than sneaking in food and drink, there’s really not much you can do about it, other than not eat or drink at all.

However, if you’re a business owner or a charity or looking to do a little fundraising, concessions are a veritable goldmine. I did a little digging on this, which wasn’t easy as it sounds. Most companies don’t want you to know food markup percentages, with very good reason. However, a friend of mine recently did a fundraising event and when I asked him about his supplies, he gave me the number and website of a business called Fun Food Products. As you can clearly see, the markups on some of these concession stand items are enormous.

We’re talking a 97% profit margin on a simple Sno-Kone! But on a hot day, with the sun beating down, those Sno-Kones are in high demand, and people will pay your asking price.

So, you can use this information to save money, or make it. As a consumer, if you’re going out to a gig or fair, go prepared. Grab a bite beforehand or if you are allowed, pack a lunch. We usually take a cooler with sandwiches and drinks if we know we can get away with it.

If you’re looking to make some money, whether it’s for fundraising, charity or your own pockets, concessions are a great way to go about it. You could even hire someone to man the stand for you, at $8-$10 per hour you’ll easily cover the cost of that person’s salary with the huge markups you’re making from the menu.

Bottom line – concessions are very healthy for your bottom line as a business. But buyer beware, as a consumer this is daylight robbery and no mistake.

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This article is from Paul Michael of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread: