What to do.

[Astrolady]

A few weeks ago, actually probably more like 3mths ago one of my friends asked us (me and another friend) if we would be interested in going on a night tour of the Adelaide Goal for her 40th birthday. I asked then if partners could go and she said yes. So I said that Andrew would probably be the first one there as he loves all the proclaimed "haunted" places.

Fast forward to two weeks ago. I ask her again if it is still happening as Andrew is in the bay to birdwood car rally the following day. She says it is and then says "Oh is Andrew coming is he" I said "umm yes I said that when you initially mentioned it" her reply was "Oh it was supposed to be a girls night only, but it doesn't matter"

A couple of days later she proceeds to tell us that to go it will be $75 each, as she is booking through a haunted tour company, and we get to stay at the Goal for 4 hrs. If you book direct with the Adelaide Goal it is only $28 per head and you still get to stay for 2.5hrs. I go home and tell Andrew the costs, hoping he would back out cause he has to be up at 4am the following morning to get organised for the car rally and we would not get home till 1.30am, but he still wants to go even though it will cost us $150 !!!

So this last week I get in our car rego bill which is just shy of $800 for a 12mth period. I don't wish to pay 3mths as it will make it due again 7 days before Christmas. So I have to find and pay $800 right before the 40th birthday, where I will need another $150.

I am now contemplating not going on the tour. I would feel bad if I went alone when Andrew really wants to go too iywkim, and I really don't see how we can both afford to go when I would have just paid a huge rego bill.

What would you do ??

[PumpkinZulu]

I wouldn't go. Life and bills get in the way unfortunately. Maybe if the friend had told me the costs well in advance so I could put some away, but no, I wouldn't be going with such a large rego bill and such short notice of the costs. That's just me though.

[*Efjay*]

Yeah i agree with the pp . I would have to pull out.

[Mel_B1981]

I would pull out.
If you go by yourself you upset Andrew.
If you don't go, you upset your friend - but she gets her "girls night".
Yes you'll wind up with two people upset, but things like rego I see as being far more important than parties and other entertainment.

[Tinks]

I wouldn't go either. I think you should book a tour for a later date for the 2 of you though.

[Lenny]

Good resolution! Love saving money!

[krystals]

I'd pull out- if you can't afford it, you can't afford it. Perhaps you can go together, another time? You'll enjoy it more anyway as you won't be worried about stepping on anyone's toes. (unless you can't see them, because they're ghosts :P). If it were me, I'd also buy a small gift for my friend, and send my apologies. Maybe also do something that night with the family, whether it's a movie and homemade popcorn night, or whatever, so you don't feel like you're missing out.

[Livinthedream]

I dunno hon, I would be telling Andrew that you cant afford for him to go.
It is her 40th so thats kind of a big deal, and TBH, Andrew is a big boy, I am sure he will get over the dissapointment and he can go another time.
I guess it depends on how close a friend she is, but I would make the effort, and she probably was hoping for a girls nite.
GL


ETA, to be fair, she did give you 3 months notice and you have known for 12 months that the rego would be due, so I dont think that you can really play that card

[peanutter]

that's a lot of money!! would you enjoy it though?

if it's something you'd really enjoy, then I'd go, but probably without DH (though I'd organise another time to go with him).

it would annoy me that your friend isn't really helping out by not updating you on the girls only status, or the cost a lot earlier on!!

but if I wanted to do the activity, and I could scrape together the money, I'd probably still go ... it might be the case however that my participation and maybe a drink for her was effectively my prezzie!!

but if it wasn't something I was ok spending the cash on, I'd organise coffee and a gift instead ...

[ladybird11]

That's pretty steep considering what the fee is booking direct with the gaol....

Can I ask what's so special about this company your friend is going through?

I'd be backing out given all your other expenses. You and your dh can book direct and still go to the gaol with just the 2 of you (or more depends on the spirits of the evening )!

[StrawberryFields]

I'd just explain that its not in the budget right now, and offer to take her out to lunch or something once you have a bit more dough.

Really, she didn't give you much notice considering how long she'd been planning it for, and who knows, there might be a few others in the same boat and she may end up having to move it anyway.

[Astrolady]

Well I spoke to her today convo went something like this

"Hey xxxxx have you booked the tour for the goal yet with the tour company?" and she replied with "Nah not yet"
"Did you know that you can do a 2.5hr tour with the Goal direct for $28?" she replied with "Oh no I didn't know that"
So I said "Maybe ring the goal later today and find out some more about it"

I got a phone call 2 hrs later. "Hey I rang the goal and you were right with the cost. It goes for 2.5hrs and we have to be there at 8pm instead of 9pm" I said "ah okay, so what you going to go with then?" and she said "I have already booked it direct with the goal. Thanks for that, I didn't know you could do that"

So problem solvered

Oh fwiw when she did mention about it being a girls night only 2 weeks ago, I asked her if she was okay with Andrew going as I had already mentioned it to him previously and he was really keen on going, and she said that it was fine. We are going to drive ourselves in though instead of getting on a hire bus with the girls.

[LionsandBears]

Yay! Happiness all around

And Andrew can get more sleep for his rally, which is a bonus.

[peanutter]

what a great solution!

well done - I hope you all have a blast

now to come up with some ideas to scare the pants off her ...

mwahahahaha!

[Just Me]

Your friend sounds really down to earth. Love it when a problem solves itself so neatly.

Have a great night out!

[STARRYSKY]

yay!!

(just be aware that the parking lot is one of the old execution yards....)

[Pandora]

Im glad that it worked out! I'll be your firend and all her guests are happy about the price reduction too!

[Astrolady]

yay!!

(just be aware that the parking lot is one of the old execution yards....)

LMAO yeah, we've done a day self guided tour there before. Only thing that really freaked me out in the day time was the hanging tower. Wanted to be out of there asap, so we'll see how I go with that at night hahaha.