DD wants to spend £800 on concert ticket

[11112222]

DD (17) has just inherited £1800 from the sale of her grandfathers car who recently passed away.
She is autistic, and has special interests which change after around a year or so.

At the moment it's Taylor Swift, which is the concert she wants to buy a ticket for next year. She reckons it will cost £800 for a 'pit' ticket, where you will (might) be close to the stage.

In a few years, she will need to buy a car, and also needs a laptop.

How would you feel if this was you?
She is quite right when she says it's her money, she can spend it how she likes, but I think it is such a waste of a lot of money.
AIBU?

£800 seems like a lot for a ticket. I'd maybe try and work out with her how she can get better value for her money like for example could she get a cheaper ticket and then include her travel costs, maybe stay overnight in a hotel near the venue and get a Taylor swift tshirt to wear/new outfit and spending money within that?

I’d tell her how much her grandfather would want her to buy her own car with this money, not a one off concert - an over priced ticket

She'll remember it forever. She'll have loads of shitty cars. As long as she realises and agrees that she will need to pay for her own car in the future I'd let her. She might be 18 when concert comes around anyway and then it's nothing to do with you.

That sounds like a lot, I would guess they will be more like £300? Stadium tours have got completely crazy but not that crazy as far as I’m aware - unless she wants some kind of gold VIP pass where she meets Taylor maybe?

I would only allow this if she is capable of learning from consequences (ie she looks back and realises she should have been more cautious)

If she doesnt understand consequences and wont learn a lesson for the future that such a large amount of money cant be spent like that unless you can guarantee it would be replaced, then she'l have difficulty when it comes to the things she really needs like the car and laptop

Why would you tell her that when it could well be bs?

Also, to be fair to your daughter, once she has got a decent laptop, she would only be able to get a pile of crap for a car or a few PCP payments for a new one. Then add on running costs for a new driver.

It is her money. Is she able to learn from consequences ie she spends £800 on a concert ticket but that means that a year later she can't afford a laptop?

Its her money, not so sure it will cost £800, but if it does then I would let her go for it.

Its a once in a lifetime experience (or likely to be at that price) the memories will last her forever and she will have a great time.

She can always make more money for things she needs (as she would have done had she not inherited this money), it's not very often we get to be totally frivolous, care free, and have such an amazing experience.

I have an ASD teen … no point having any sort of chat whilst they are mid-obsession. Smile, say “that sounds exciting” and hope the whole thing has worn off before the ticket sales dates are announced

If it’s not … it’s her money, her choice .. and she lives with the consequences of that decision.

Face value won’t be anywhere near £800 , is she looking at VIP packages ? Each to their own but I wouldn’t pay more than £150 to see anybody .

It's all different these days! All the front areas are cordoned off and they charge extra. It's not just a single standing price. Think the new Harry styles has about 4 front zones.

@11112222

No way would I let a teen (especially with Autism) do that.

who has the money right now?

I'd tell her it's not hers until she's an adult.

People with Autism are all different & it's hard to know without knowing your daughter. But if you can't make her understand how ridiculous it is to spend £800 on a ticket for a concert, then you have to just step in & find a way to stop it happening.

I doubt it will cost that much but even if it does, it's her money, let her spend it how she wants! You can offer advice but you cannot control. She's already said she will get a job to save for the rest.

I know gigs are expensive these days but £800 for a ticket? That's bonkers.

I’d let my kid spend the money on this. Taylor Swift is amazing in concert and if your daughter a big fan, it will be something she’ll never forget. Hopefully it won’t be that much. 🤞

Apart from the cost (which seems extortionate) are you worried she will have gone off her by the time the concert has come round and she will have completely wasted £800

This! Taylor is an artist who just wouldn't do that - she knows she has young fans.

She hasn't announced a tour, and that guesstimate is just that
Hang fire and calm down.

It seems that she’s guessed at the ticket prices just as you have guessed at her “need” for a car in a few years’ time. She might not “need” a car and might be quite happy to use public transport, bicycle, occasional Uber. By then she may well be working anyway and can buy a car, if needed, that way.

Blimey, give over, do you think she sits there pricing up the tickets herself?

'Hmm, let me see, this one is for the working mans club in Grantham, I think I'll go for £15 a pop for my dedicated UK fans'

If she's going to get a job to "pay back" the £800 I don't see why she shouldn't. They have to learn these lessons somehow.

If she's autistic, how would she cope with being in close proximity with that many people? Is she going on her own? How is she getting there and back?

£800 seems an extortionate amount for a single gig ticket!

This. I’d be ok with her spending money on a “regular” (do such things exist?) ticket tho

Depending on how quick she is to get a ticket with ticjetmasters ‘dynamic’ pricing she could be looking at £3-400 for a pit ticket

@bellac11

But a tour and prices have not been announced for Taylor yet so what else is it but a guess?