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

[taylor1293]

I agree with most everyone else. You invited them and didn't mention money before purchasing the tickets. Therefore, you should pay. It really would be tacky to ask for money now.

However, it is not to late to let the parents know that they should send money with their kids for snacks .

 

[mjkacmom]

Every time my ds has been invited to a movie, I've sent him with money, and the parents have never taken it. If they offer, feel free to take it, but if they don't, don't ask them for the money, since you invited the girls.

 

[momof3disneyholics]

My seven year old daughter says Hannah Montana is evil. I just had to put that out there.

I would expect to have to pay for my own children, so hopefully they'll bring money.

 

[clutter]

My dd was invited to see the movie. I know the family, they have the money, they are probably intending to treat (my dd and her eldest daughter and a pretty large handful of 2nd graders are going). So even though the mom didn't mention it, and even though she'll blow me off, I'll have the $15 ready, and I'll offer to pay. When she refuses, I'll give the money to dd and tell her to buy snacks for her and her friend.

I've always paid for friends we invite to movies (though the other parent usually offers). And I always offer to pay. Making the offer at least establishes the terms and ensures no misunderstandings.

 

[sha_lyn]

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

ITA......
I almost had to buy tickets for several girls because DD was inviting everyone she knows LOL.
DS bought 2 tickets for DD for Christmas. DD thought "'hey I have an extra ticket" and somehow invited 3 girls to go with her and use that 1 ticket. I guess she thought I was going to let a bunch of girls (2 7-yr olds,1-11yr old and 10 DD) to into the theater alone. I then looked closely at the tickets so I could get 3 for the same show. that's when I saw the price. there was just no way I could shell out $45
When I found out I was PO'ed. I emailed the mothers and they completely understood. I did offer to drive/chaperon. I don't think the 2 7yr are going at all. The 11yr went last night with several girls.
Our tickets are for Monday......
Luckily everyone understood that a 10yr inviting without parental consent isn't a "real" invitation.

 

[mumom95]

I do think you shouldn't ask the parents for the money, since you invited the children and never said anything about them paying. But when people invite my children to go to something, and don't mention money, I always send enough to cover the cost anyway. Sometimes my kids will come home with all of the money and say the parents said it was their treat, and sometimes the parents take the money. So you may be surprised, many of the kids may come with money.

 

[babieemelly]

When my brother and I were younger, whenever we invited friends over to go to the movies my parent's always paid. A few of my friend's parents would always offer the money but my parents would say not to worry about it. When I went to the movies with my friends and their parents the arrangements were always the same. Since you invited them I think you should plan on paying, expecially if the price of tickets wasn't mentioned at the time.

 

[MushyMushy]

I agree with Minnie-Me about asking them to send money for snacks. I'm with everyone else in thinking you should pay since it wasn't arranged up front, but you sure don't want to get stuck paying for all that popcorn and drinks! By time that's said and done, you could have gone to the concert.

I can't believe how outrageous the prices are for a 75 minute movie. That's just shameful.

I got tickets for tonight, but we told DD that it was all sold out. It's going to be a surprise for her. Which is very timely because a certain DISboards member went to last Monday's concert and sent DD some items from the show! That kid was over-the-top happy.

 

[sunlver]

If I did the inviting, then I would pay. But, coming from the other side as well, if somebody offered to take my daughter, I would offer the 15$ back to the inviting parent.I really dont expect anybody to pay my childs way(a birthday party is a different category).

 

[babieemelly]

I can't believe how outrageous the prices are for a 75 minute movie. That's just shameful.

I got tickets for tonight, but we told DD that it was all sold out. It's going to be a surprise for her. Which is very timely because a certain DISboards member went to last Monday's concert and sent DD some items from the show! That kid was over-the-top happy.

My aunt and I surprised my cousin with tickets last night and she was through the moon! The movie itself was short, most of it wasn't in 3D, and the sound was pretty bad... but halfway through a song my cousin started crying and looked up at me and said, "Melly, I just love her so much!" THAT made it completely worth the money... and scared me because Disney has these kids ridiculously and insanely brainwashed!

 

[KikiFan]

but halfway through a song my cousin started crying and looked up at me and said, "Melly, I just love her so much!" THAT made it completely worth the money... and scared me because Disney has these kids ridiculously and insanely brainwashed!

Awww That is so cute! I remember when my daughter was that way about "Lizzie McGuire" She had the biggest crush on Lizzie's friend (Whatever happened to that kid anyway?)

Now? She's a "too Cool" almost teen. She thinks Hillary Duff is a no-talent, can't sing hoochie.

 

[Disney1fan2002]

I am sure the parents will give the kids some kind of money. They may not think to pay for the ticket, since the kids was an invited guest, but they will probably give them snack money.

Look at it this way, you have 6 tickets for less than what most people paid for ONE ticket to her live concert.

 

[babieemelly]

Awww That is so cute! I remember when my daughter was that way about "Lizzie McGuire" She had the biggest crush on Lizzie's friend (Whatever happened to that kid anyway?)

Now? She's a "too Cool" almost teen. She thinks Hillary Duff is a no-talent, can't sing hoochie.

I went through that stage, too! I was one "generation" before that, though, with Hanson, the Backstreet Boys, Britney Spears and all those pop stars. I LOVED Hanson for a good three years, and then I was just WAY too cool to admit it. Now, ten years later, they're new stuff is ridiculously amazing and I'm a loud and proud bonafide Hanson fan again! Everyone in the theater last night was talking about how great of a role model Miley Cyrus is (despite those completely random underwear pics ), and I told them how Britney Spears was the great role model of my youth and let's just hope the two don't turn out the same...

 

[Becky2005]

I think in this case, you should be the one to just eat it. You invited them without mentioning the cost. If they offer to pay, great but I wouldn't expect them to. Now, I do agree asking to make sure they bring money for snacks.

I know when I found out about it quite awhile ago. I called up DD's friend and asked the mom if she was available and wanted to go. I told her the cost up-front, so she knew she was paying.

On the flip side, I had invited the same friend to the High School Musical concert with another friend for DD's birthday. The moms came along & I asked them to pay for their tickets but I paid for the girls as I had invited them as a guest.

Depending on how the invitation was given, if one of DD's moms called up and said "we would like to invite you to see such & such movie" I would think that was implying they would pay.

 

[Becky2005]

So I ended up buying 10 tickets, and will only use 5.

Aha!! You were the phantom guests in the theatre. We went last night. While we waited in line to get in the manager? came by making announcements that it's a sold out show, that every seat in the theatre will be taken. They will try to keep groups together but anywhere you sit in the theatre will be a good view, etc...

We go in find our seats, make sure we fill in all we need to, the show starts and I'm baffled because there were *several* empty seats in the theatre. I don't know how many behind us as we were in a first section but there were a good 8-10 empty seats in the area we were at. Of course, we did have a snow day yesterday but by the 6 pm showing, everything was cleared up and I'm sure there could have been illnesses but I just thought it was funny how they made it quite clear that you may end up being split up but there wouldn't be any empty seats, etc... and yet there were.

 

[Liberty Belle]

Yes, I think it is too late. I honestly think it would not have been right for you to ask them to pay when you issued the invitation, too. I've always felt that if I invited someone somewhere, I should take care of the finances for it.

 

[Erin1700]

If you invited my DD, I would most definitely send money with her to give you for the ticket.

We invited our neighbor to go tonight and her mom already asked how much it was for the ticket. Hope you get polite guests!

 

[majimikate]

I agree that you should probably just eat the cost of the tickets for this time, and chalk it up to a lesson for next time. The only other comment I have is that you mentioned one other parent had offered to pay...if they are the only ones that do so and the others find out it could be a little sticky, the one who paid thinking that their child was the only one whose ticket was not a "gift" as part of the invite and possibly the others being embarrassed about NOT having offered to pay. Just a thought...and you're a nice Mom for taking your daughters friends!! The closest theater to us is an hour and 15 minutes away so we won't be able to go at all (that would be my daughter!)

Have a great time!!
Chris

 

[marlynnp]

and another thought because I didn't notice anyone post this....

If someone "invited" my DD to something without saying that it would cost $xx.xx and later came and asked me for money, I would probably decline any future "invites".

 

[mickeyfan2]

You extended an invite so you pay. If you wanted them to pay you needed to make that offer privately with the parent first.