I’ma leave the door open...on $650 Bruno Mars tickets

A weekend trip to Las Vegas nearly leads to an impulse buy.

Bruno Mars is by far my favorite musician.

If belting his lyrics from the bottom of my heart and at the top of my lungs — whenever and wherever — never made that clear to me before, an impromptu trip to Las Vegas last weekend drove it home.

The 15-time Grammy winner wrapped up a residency in Vegas this week, and unbeknownst to me when I booked my flight I was in town for his second-to-last show. It was one of those chance occurrences that can lead you to an impulse decision.

This one carried a $650 price tag for a pair of tickets — and for bad seats, no less.

But I didn’t care. I would have been in the building. I wanted the experience. I coveted the memory.

And while $650 sounds insane, I can afford it these days. Additionally, a Bruno Mars show falls into a bucket I believe in: paying a premium for rare or exclusive experiences. It’s one of the things my mother taught me about money, specifically with regard to spending. Some of my favorite memories, from vacations to concerts to sporting events, stemmed from my mother happily paying to provide the experience. I want to uphold that philosophy and pass down that approach to Parker.

Perhaps with that as my driving force, I dug in. In the final hour leading up to showtime, I sat outside the Dolby Live Theater for about 45 minutes leafing through Ticketmaster’s app. Upper level seats for $265 each appeared momentarily before some equally overzealous fan scooped them up. That person almost became me thanks to my excitement for a measly $6 dip from the previous low that had been holding strong for what seemed like a week.

Those fees, though!

I’d made it so close to Bruno Mars (literally standing and ogling at the actual attendees from outside the theater’s entrance on the casino floor) yet never felt so far away. I’d seen Bruno Mars perform before, long ago in Oklahoma City. It cost much less than $650 back then. Even his Friday night performance in Vegas was selling for $100 cheaper per seat than the Saturday show I sought. But it’s because I’ve seen Bruno Mars in concert that I knew he’d be worth every penny.

He’s this generation’s Michael Jackson, or Prince. Imagine what ticket prices for a Vegas show would be for one of those late legends today. Bruno Mars, in my book, is a living legend of the same ilk. You can’t put a price on his artistry.

FITZ 11 🐐 @AZ_ArmyChief

If you’re in Las Vegas the @BrunoMars show is a must!!! Wife & I went last night. It was amazing! Incredible showmanship & musicianship! Has all the elements! So talented! Thanks #BrunoMars! We had a great time! @parkmgm @LIVEatMGM #DolbyLive

The old me would have pounced, happily paying and walking in pleased as punch. But it wouldn’t have been the wisest money move, and that’s what I’m all about now.

In order to truly reshape my mindset with money and revamp my approach to earning and spending, saving and investing, I must be more mindful of such lavish adventures. Even if it’s my boy Bruno Mars.

I could have wiped out the $650 fee Monday morning and moved on with a memory of a lifetime. Someday, I will do just that. The difference is by then I will have amassed more assets through saving and investing. Last weekend wasn’t the time to splurge. I’m only beginning this financial journey. My choices over the past six months is what put me in position to afford those tickets. The goal is to keep building.

Tax season ultimately is what made me pass. If Uncle Sam wasn’t looming, last weekend would have gone a bit differently. But there will be other times to see Bruno Mars. He’s already added more shows to his Vegas residency. When my next opportunity arrives, I plan to have accrued enough assets to comfortably afford much better seats.

Consider some of your high-end purchases. Could they have been avoided? Could that money have been put to better use? What is your compass that keeps your spending in check so that you’re not caving to every temptation?

Instead of indulging during an impromptu trip to Vegas, I maintained control. Although difficult and disappointing in the moment, I’m happy to say I exercised restraint.

I left Las Vegas $650 richer and never placed a bet!

Rather than returning home having to wipe out concert tickets, I applied less than what I would have paid for Bruno Mars to my credit card. It paid off all expenditures incurred during my weekend getaway.

I know I made the right call.