I invited 4 kids to a movie. Should I pay?

[robinb]

I invited 4 of my 8-year old DD's friends to see the Hannah Montana 3-D Movie, but I never said anything about who would pay. The movie is next Thursday and when I went to buy the tickets I was *shocked* that they were $15 each! *gulp* So, I charged $90 to my credit card for 6 of us.

I didn't ask before charging because it's early in the morning and I (1) didn't want to wake the other families and (2) I didn't want to wait because this weekend is already sold out and the 5:00 pm shows will soon be gone too as little girls get to the theater and find out they can't see the show. In fact, the reason why we are going on Thursday is because of the sold out weekend.

I would like to ask the parents to pay for the tickets but is it too late to ask? If a parent invited your child to a movie would you expect to pay for it? I know that I would send $$ with my DD for her ticket. One parent already offered to pay and I accepted.

FWIW, $15-$20 will not "make or break" any of these families.

So ... do you think it would be really rude to call up the parents and say: "Hey! I printed out the tickets and they're $15 each."?

 

[shortbun]

My son's friends' parents always offer to pay or the boys show up with money and just hand it to me. If the parents involved don't offer, I think YOU invited them so you are their host. At this point, I think you could suggest they all bring money for a snak.

 

[poohandwendy]

I would just eat the cost, because you invited them to be guests. It would be different if you said something like 'It would be cool if the girls could get together and go to this movie, do you want me to look into the cost of tickets? Would you be interested?"

Money should always be mentioned upfront, if there is an expectation that each person pays for their own ticket. JMHO

(although, I would probably offer to pay for my kids ticket...many parents will probably just send their kids with money for snacks and stuff)

 

[freckles and boo]

I think I would bite the bullet and pay for it if I invited the kids. I wouldn't ask for money. HOWEVER, if the parents offer to send money I would accept it, thank them, and explain that I didn't realize the movie was so expensive when I extended the offer.

 

[kejoda]

I would just eat the cost, because you invited them to be guests. It would be different if you said something like 'It would be cool if the girls could get together and go to this movie, do you want me to look into the cost of tickets? Would you be interested?"

Money should always be mentioned upfront, if there is an expectation that each person pays for their own ticket. JMHO

(although, I would probably offer to pay for my kids ticket...many parents will probably just send their kids with money for snacks and stuff)

exactly

 

[Thats_for_Shore]

I completely agree with freckles and boo.

You extended an invitation.

If you invited the girls to your house for dinner, you wouldn't expect them to bring their own food.

 

[dg39]

While I think its too late to ask for the money, I can't imagine the parents not giving you the money when you see them.

I always gave my kids the money for their tickets and snacks. If the parents absolutely refused the money, I gave my kids that extra money to buy the snacks and I told the parents thats what I insist that they do, being they were nice enough to buy the tickets.

 

[OceanAnnie]

I also agree with Freckles and Boo.

If I were one of the parents, I wouldn't expect you to pay. I'd send the money for the ticket and for snacks. That's just me.

ETA- I hope the parents do pay for their kids tickets. Let us know how many parents chipped in!

 

[Sleepy]

Since this invitation seemed more like you were not expecting them to pay for it, I would go into this expecting to pay 100%. That way if the kids bring their own money it will be a nice surprise and if they don't bring a dime, you won't be shocked. Most parents these days will send their kids with the money to cover everything, but not everyone has caught onto that idea yet.

 

[DisneyfeverTN]

If you don't mention the price of the tickets at the time you are inviting someone, I think it is in poor taste to charge them later. However, if someone offers to pay, then I don't see a problem with accepting.

Whenever we invited our kids' friends to events, we always paid. They all always offered to pay though. But when my kids' friends invited them places, their parents always paid. We always offered though. It worked out for everyone.

 

[KikiFan]

Personally I think it would be tacky to ask for money after the fact. An invitation implies that the host is paying - unless it's talked about up front.

 

[rumrunnergirl]

If you don't mention the price of the tickets at the time you are inviting someone, I think it is in poor taste to charge them later. However, if someone offers to pay, then I don't see a problem with accepting.

Whenever we invited our kids' friends to events, we always paid. They all always offered to pay though. But when my kids' friends invited them places, their parents always paid. We always offered though. It worked out for everyone.

ITA. To bring up the price now would be tacky and we do the same thing as mentioned in 2nd paragraph above.

 

[golfgal]

Around here unless it was for a birthday party no one would expect you to pay, they would send money for tickets and snacks. I wouldn't outright ask for the money now but I wouldn't turn it down if offered.

 

[EthansMom]

Since you've already invited them, I'd say you should pay for the tickets. I don't think it'd be out of line, though, to ask parents to send the kids with a few bucks for snacks or to stop for pizza.

OTO, if DS was invited somewhere and I got a call from the parent that invited him saying, "Oh, I didn't realize the price was higher than normal. Would you mind sending you child with $5 to help cover some of the ticket cost?" I wouldn't have a big problem with it.

 

[cgcw]

If we invite, we pay.

If one of our children are invited to join a friend at something, we always offer to cover their cost. Sometimes families say don't worry about it and reciprocate, others they don't.

I do agree that you need to make it known up front that the kids should bring their own snack money or that could end up costing you more than the tickets.

 

[yasmina]

We have tickets to see it tomorrow. I told the kids back in Nov./Dec. (I forget when they went on sale) that it was one of their Christmas presents. Each of my daughters was allowed to invite a friend. However, I made it clear that while I bought the tickets, the kids have to pay for their own drinks and/or snacks.

Don't feel too bad about the price. Here's how stupid I am. When the tickets first went on sale, the only 2 theaters I found playing the movie were 1 1/2 hours away. So I bought the tickets anyway, since I couldn't get tickets for the actual concert. This week, I found out that the movie is playing at a theater much closer, only 1/2 hour away. So I bought new tickets for an earlier showing, so we'll be home for the super bowl! So I ended up buying 10 tickets, and will only use 5.

 

[Minnie_me]

Yeah, you invited them, you pay. BUT you should send out an email or voicemail to all of the parents and say something like, "I'm so excited to be taking the kids to see Hannah Montana! We'll pick your child up at 1:00. Make sure she brings money for snacks and drinks (and souvenirs?)!"

 

[NMAmy]

I'm like many other posters--if I do the inviting, I do the paying. If dd gets invited somewhere, I send money with her and she offers to pay and the other parent will usually refuse.

 

[Freyja]

If I invite, I pay. If I don´t intend to pay, I say so to the parents before I buy the tickets.

 

[aprilgail2]

If I invite, I pay- movies, bowling, vacations, whatever---if I invite then I expect to be paying. My daughter is going in a few minutes to see the movie, she is going with her friend, the mom bought 15 tickets and told her to invite who she wants- they are paying and then going out to applebees for lunch afterward.