It all started with a tweet... Music, movies, sports and other live and entertainment events are big business and a lot of people are passionate about them; willing to shell out large amounts of money to experience. Some argue that it is financially irresponsible to spend hard earned money on such experiences. This is obviously subjective so we here at Talk Wealth to Me thought this is a great subject to discuss as this tweet is actually part of the reason we ourselves got into trouble when we were younger. Is he right??? https://twitter.com/smartmoneybro1/status/1405262922427867137
It all started with a tweet... Music, movies, sports and other live and entertainment events are big business and a lot of people are passionate about them; willing to shell out large amounts of money to experience. Some argue that it is financially irresponsible to spend hard earned money on such experiences. This is obviously subjective so we here at Talk Wealth to Me thought this is a great subject to discuss as this tweet is actually part of the reason we ourselves got into trouble when we were younger. Is he right??? https://twitter.com/smartmoneybro1/status/1405262922427867137
Welcome to Talk Wealth To Me, a safe space podcast, where we chat about anything and everything related to personal finance. The information contained in this podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. It does not constitute as accounting, legal tax or other professional advice.
Chase Peckham:Good morning, Phil, how are we today?
Felipe Arevalo:I am well Chase. How about yourself?
Chase Peckham:I'm doing Great. I'm doing great. Uh, our Padres, uh, I've been on a good stretch.
Felipe Arevalo:Yes. I enjoy it.
Chase Peckham:Here local anyway.
Felipe Arevalo:Well, I don't get to watch because it's The channel and YouTube having to YouTube TV, having to agree to anything yet
Chase Peckham:So you don't get to watch any of it. Right.
Felipe Arevalo:I don't get to watch yeah.
Chase Peckham:You know what? That's funny because I actually was YouTube TV before the season, but I live in a household where it is Padre centric, especially my son, I should say more than anyone, but my wife enjoys it a lot too. And, uh, but, and myself being a former employee of the Padres, I've got a very, you know, I love to watch them. I'm a big baseball guy. My whole entire life played in through college and all that, uh, coached for many, many years. And then through the little league years of my son, uh, travel ball and all that. But, um, did not coach my son in travel ball. I just want to preface that no daddy ball over here for those of you listening,
Felipe Arevalo:That was the cutoff.
Chase Peckham:That was the cutoff that's right. Little league is about as much daddy ball as. We're going to get now, if he's going to be further himself, he's not listening to me anymore unless he wants to help one-on-one. But we going back to the YouTube thing, we actually discontinued YouTube and went to AT&T TV. So we could get Padre games every day because we just, there's no way I was going to go a whole summer without watching and have to rely on other friends around town or going to a sports bar to watch the games.
Felipe Arevalo:That can get expensive.
Chase Peckham:Which could cost me more. Right? Yes. In one day, having a happy hour, watching a game could cost me more than the monthly, uh, that I was paying for at AT&T TV. So that was something I, uh, I wanted to do. Uh, but it was important to me. And the great thing about streaming right now is you don't have contracts.
Felipe Arevalo:Right
Chase Peckham:So I really did enjoy YouTube TV. So if we decide at the end of the year that we don't love at and T TV, uh, which by the way, it doesn't get golf channels, unless I go to a bigger tier, but that's going to put me over the$90 mark. So I'm not doing that.
Felipe Arevalo:Yeah see that is a lot,
Chase Peckham:But that, you know, that sucks though,
Felipe Arevalo:Right. So you got to pick and choose.
Chase Peckham:You do get to pick and choose which, which blows, uh, in my opinion, but at the same time, I'm watching Padres day in and day out is a lot more important to me than watching golf channel on a Thursday or Friday. So not, not a big deal and I'm not watching that much TV anyway. So, uh, you know, top Padres is, must watch TV. It's like appointment TV for us. Um, not always, it's not crazy, but you know, we, we will know.
Felipe Arevalo:Enough a couple times a week I would imagine.
Chase Peckham:Oh yeah, absolutely. Oh, it's on every day. It's just whether everybody's watching it or not. I don't know. Uh, but it'll be on one of the TVs in the house at some point, but it's interesting because you were talking to me about a tweet that you came across and we tweet a lot and we do social media through our organization and, and, and love to go back and forth with other financial experts, uh, and just discussions that are out there and something came across your plate. That was really intrigued me.
Felipe Arevalo:Yeah. It's something where, you know, I spend some time on social media, both with the, uh, SDLC@SDLC and the talk wealth to me on Twitter, you know, there's a big personal finance community on there. And I love to interact with people, get different ideas, different perspectives, but one tweet came across. I couldn't resist, but comment. Um, and it's by Eric Bowie, smart money bro, or smart money, or his Twitter handle is@smartmoneybro1, the number one and the tweet is five distractions that are unhealthy time-wasters and money pits live concerts because(they're anticlimactic) national politics,(CNN, Fox, et cetera), eating out.(pay high prices to be unhealthy) alcohol,(the leading cause of preventable death in the U S) and sports(an obsession for some.) And I couldn't help, but comment back. I agree with most of them and we'll touch on all of them here, but the sports one was the one that I was like, all right, I got to respond at the sports one.
Chase Peckham:Well, it's interesting because those, you know, like anything else, we talk about personal finance and that's just what it is. It's very personal. And the honest, honestly, he's not wrong.
Felipe Arevalo:He is not wrong.
Chase Peckham:In his assessment and any of them, but at the same time personally, I don't agree with a couple of them. Um, and, and, but he's not wrong if you're not, you understand what I mean.
Felipe Arevalo:Right yeah.
Chase Peckham:Now in his mind that that concerts are a waste, but there are people that are legitimately big time music fans, and they get an energy and a love of going to watch a live concert and see live music and those kinds of things. And they truly, I mean, I have friends that are musicians that are just, that is their thing, and there's nothing better to them than live music. And I'll admit, I love live music now.
Felipe Arevalo:I love it.
Chase Peckham:I don't frequent concerts all the time. I personally they're expensive for me. And so we pick and choose, but there are certain acts that come through town and Kerry and I, we will go see Zac brown band if they are in San Diego or somewhere close at any time, because it is a absolute pleasure for us to watch them. They are just extremely to us, extraordinary musicians, and we love to do it.
Felipe Arevalo:I've had, I mean, I sent the little time off calendar on my note or notification on my calendar for August. I bought concert tickets for, it's mostly for Sarah. This is her birthday present two years ago. Uh, for Green Day Fallout Boy, Weezer concert. That's supposed to happen in 2020, but now it's been pushed to later this year. And it's something where she enjoys those bands. Hasn't gotten to see them live. So it's, it's a, it's a cool experience. I hope so anyways, but I've been to some country concerts that I absolutely loved. Um, I know you've mentioned, uh, Garth Brooks,
Chase Peckham:He is phenomenal absolutely.
Felipe Arevalo:Um, and you know, so I, I agree, uh, have there been times where maybe I shouldn't have been going to as many concerts I'm thinking in my early twenties while I was in college. Absolutely.
Chase Peckham:You know, and that's really funny you say that because that's the same thing. I was in college and I went to concerts all the time and it seems like young people obviously do those things and I couldn't afford to do those. So I agree with him. I don't agree with the anticlimactic.
Felipe Arevalo:No I enjoy it.
Chase Peckham:I think that the entire time, I mean, I sometimes will have, I'll be singing tunes in my head for days afterwards.
Felipe Arevalo:Yeah,
Chase Peckham:And that experience you can, you, it's just that it's a phenomenal experience.
Felipe Arevalo:Especially if you pick and choose the songs that you, you ever go to a concert with a friend, just because they needed someone to go like this. Isn't really my, I mean, I know the music, but it's not my music.
Chase Peckham:Yeah.
Felipe Arevalo:Um, it doesn't have that same experience, but when you pick out, like when I went to go watch The Eagles, um, or, or you go watch something that you really like, I saw George Strait, um, it's like, oh, this is cool. I just made myself sound old, um, with those two music choices. But you know, it, it, it's a different experience when it's like the, the music that you really do enjoy
Chase Peckham:Phil, just to kind of set you straight there. Um, we are extraordinarily young for being fans of both of those.
Felipe Arevalo:Oh, I know I was a youngest one there.
Chase Peckham:Especially the Eagles George Strait. You could argue because George Strait, you know, he's, he's not as old as some of the Eagles, but, uh, yeah, we, we, we, our fans because our moms and dads had the, uh, the albums and then when they got back together and they were doing the touring, we got to see them. And I agree with you. Cause when I saw the Eagles, that was, and we went with a group of friends that it was like an day out and night out and we got,
Felipe Arevalo:Right.
Chase Peckham:It was just a phenomenal experience. And it's, it's one that we remember and, and that's something, you know, people talk about experience over things a lot. And, and that means a lot to me that, that that's a fond memory that I have with a group of people. The music was phenomenal. Uh, you know, there's something that can just make you happy about music and that's not the same for everybody. There are some people that just are not musicians, music fans, or don't see the reason for it. And again, that's exactly why we call personal finance, personal finance.
Felipe Arevalo:Right. Yeah. I know when I saw. Went to go see the Eagles, I have a little different musical tastes than most of my friends and family. So I was having a hard time find a group,
Chase Peckham:You're an old soul to to speak.
Felipe Arevalo:I was like forget you guys, I'm going to go on my own. And that's the, that one of the few concerts I've ever. And I was like, I'm just going to go by myself and buy a ticket. No one wants to go. I don't need you guys. It's at SDSU. I got this. And I went on my own and it was actually tons of fun, uh, to just kind of walk in, do my own thing, you know, taking the trolley there. And it was, it was, it was cool. Even though I went by myself, it was like a experience like, ah, just at a concert on my own, which normally I would think this is kind of sucky. Uh, but it was actually pretty cool.
Chase Peckham:What was the second one? Uh, I got the eating out and I understand that.
Felipe Arevalo:Oh I get that.
Chase Peckham:we talk about that all the time, eating out is you, you are blowing money. Um, and, and you are spending money, uh, that
Felipe Arevalo:You can make so much better use of it,
Chase Peckham:oh, for sure.
Felipe Arevalo:At the grocery store.
Chase Peckham:But I don't, I don't necessarily agree with them on the unhealthy, but for a lot of it, he's right. Depending on what you're eating, it can be, you know, if you're eating fast food constantly, that is, that is not a good thing. And then
Felipe Arevalo:Even restaurants though, I don't think, unless you go prides itself and trying to be a healthy restaurant, you're probably do better health wise trying to create that your
Chase Peckham:Whiteout question the caloric intake is astronomical, especially just because the serving size is to make it worth the cost that they're charging.
Felipe Arevalo:Right.
Chase Peckham:It makes those, those serving sizes are larger. So you really have to pick and choose and I'll be, well, I'll be honest. I'd love to go out. I love to eat dinner. Um, COVID had kind of.
Felipe Arevalo:Threw a wrench at that.
Chase Peckham:Yeah. Well, it definitely threw a wrench in that and I don't necessarily love it as much as I used to. Uh, and I'm, and even though it was like, I can't wait to get out of the house, but at the same time he is right. I mean, there's no doubt that we, and we know we're going through people's budgets, more people blow their budgets and spend more money on eating out and not just going out for dinner. I mean, just eating out in general than anywhere else.
Felipe Arevalo:Yeah going to the deli during work or getting lunches.
Chase Peckham:Or stopping at Starbucks every morning. I mean, it's yeah, he is absolutely 100% right in that area. But again, if you budget for it and that's your thing, but he is right. It can be very unhealthy as well.
Felipe Arevalo:Yeah. The second one was actually national politics, CNN and Fox.
Chase Peckham:We're just going to gloss right over that. I, a thousand percent agree with him.
Felipe Arevalo:I agree. I'm 100% ok with that.
Chase Peckham:Don't need it. It's going to cause you anxiety either, either way.
Felipe Arevalo:Either side.
Chase Peckham:There's nothing positive at all. About any of it. It's just, it's all of those channels. I don't care if it's left or right. Fox left CNN left, left of CNBC, whatever it is. It's just pries it preys on negativity. And it's just awful. So yes, from a health standpoint, that's not good. I,
Felipe Arevalo:And time.
Chase Peckham:I'm done with that.
Felipe Arevalo:You get sucked into a new cycle and then
Chase Peckham:If you want to be angry snd you want to, you just want to be pissy for whatever. Go ahead. Watch that crap.
Felipe Arevalo:Jump on the news cycle. Yeah. Great.
Chase Peckham:Let's just argue about the most thing ever. Yeah. Same thing over and over again, that all those people on the right. Oh, those conservatives and oh, those liberals, whatever. It's just it's it's uh,,
Felipe Arevalo:yeah, I agree. It's something that I've worked on just removing to stop consuming it. That, and I saw this something on, on, uh, Facebook, not necessarily politics were, I don't remember where I was reading it.
Chase Peckham:Facebook is a bad place for that.
Felipe Arevalo:Where it's something like you saw something that upset you and that, um, you know, got you going, why is share it and upset your friends who, you know have similar,
Chase Peckham:You're just passing it on.
Felipe Arevalo:Right
Chase Peckham:You just, you want to pass on negativity?
Felipe Arevalo:Well, I saw something that upset you and you know, it's going to upset your friends because you and your friends have some, the things why share and there and share that with them, suck it up, look at it and say, oh wow, that was a really a disturbing article. I agree with that.
Chase Peckham:I just don't give it ammunition.
Felipe Arevalo:And then just don't share it.
Chase Peckham:I don't, I don't share it. I don't, I don't interact with it unless you're just the kind of person who just genuinely likes to argue,
Felipe Arevalo:likes to debate.
Chase Peckham:And likes to debate. And there's something healthy about that. That's fine.
Felipe Arevalo:I like to debate.
Chase Peckham:You answered his, you answered his tweet. So, you know,
Felipe Arevalo:so sometimes I can't help myself.
Chase Peckham:But there is a difference between debating and then throwing vitriol out there.
Felipe Arevalo:Right,
Chase Peckham:And being, being just mean and being, not having an argument, you're just sitting there and you don't believe in it because one you'd probably don't understand all of it. And two, you just already believe one way and you're not going to budge. So what is the point?
Felipe Arevalo:I think the only time I engage in try and debate someone is if, if it's someone who I've seen previously and, and be like, oh, this person is a reasonable person who will have a reasonable conversation with you with me, even if they disagree. Um, and I think I've seen his tweets before and I was like, okay, this guy seems, I don't know him personally. Uh, but he seems like a cool guy, reasonable guy. So let me just tweet this back. But yeah, I, I stay away from politics for the most of the time, and I stay away from politics, like 99% of the time. It's just not, it's just going to anger people.
Chase Peckham:Just an unhealthy, yeah. It's just unhealthy in general. And we're, we're coming out of one of the most unhealthy stretches of politics ever. So, and, and, and, and this is coming from somebody who is kind of in middle, you know, I'm not in any way. It doesn't matter. Uh, but I agree with the eating out. Um,
Felipe Arevalo:How about alcohol?
Chase Peckham:Yeah.
Felipe Arevalo:You know, we've both mentioned, we'd like beer.
Chase Peckham:Yes.
Felipe Arevalo:I'm not going to hide that. Um, what about alcohol is that?
Chase Peckham:I know I, a thousand percent agree with him again. Yeah. Have you ever gone out again? We're going to bring up dinner, but do you ever go out to dinner and not drank and you looked at how much the bill was? I
Felipe Arevalo:Feel like I saved a ton of money. Why? Because I ordered a iced tea.
Chase Peckham:Yeah. I just drink water. I mean, yeah. I mean, I, you know, I mean, I, I went through, uh, a no, no drinking April and that extended into May a bit just to clean myself out after a vacation. And, um, and it's true. I mean, you just the bills and you not buying that 12 pack of Coors light every week or whatever it is is just,
Felipe Arevalo:Yeah.
Chase Peckham:I mean, and that that's not a lot, but it's 10.99 or whatever. I mean, that's money, you're not spending, but especially when you're out.
Felipe Arevalo:Yeah. Especially if you're out eating or out with friends or whatever the case is, I'm like two weeks without beer, I'm taking a month off.
Chase Peckham:good for you.
Felipe Arevalo:Trying to get my rosacea under control. Um, and, and it, it's just like.
Chase Peckham:to be honest with you,
Felipe Arevalo:you know, they, they gave me this antibiotic to see if that helps with the rosacea and it says maybe you shouldn't drink. So I was like, you know what? I don't need it. I could take a month off. Um, so, um, um, about two weeks into, not having a beer.
Chase Peckham:I mean, it's, well-known alcohol, especially in, in.
Felipe Arevalo:I've lost weight,
Chase Peckham:larger amount. Well, I, okay. One, remember that five weeks, six weeks that I didn't drink, I lost 14 pounds. Yeah. I mean, I didn't do anything different working out, except that I will say I probably had better workouts more often because I wasn't tired and it's not like I drink a ton. I mean, I don't. Okay. I'll back it up that, that vacation that we went on the first vacation after COVID, I was like a college student on spring break. But, uh, other than that, you know, it's not a lot, but that he's right about that too. And it does, it's, it's a poison. It's not good for your body, especially in large amounts, it can cause all kinds of different issues.
Felipe Arevalo:And When you do your groceries, if you, if you don't throw in the beer, it starts to, you know, you could see the difference in when you go check out. You're like, oh, this grocery trip is a little small this week. Well, yeah, you didn't put any beer in the thing that's$20 or whatever it is. And if your grocery bill was already, it was going to be one 20 and it's$20 cheaper, you know, you see that difference. You're like, oh, wow. Or it was going to be a hundred.
Chase Peckham:Well, and if you live in California, you're paying all kinds of tax and CRV and just add five bucks to everything.
Felipe Arevalo:Exactly. So, so it's something where I agree. Um, I think, you know, it's not to say, I'm not gonna, after this month have a beer or two, but it's something where if, if it's something you consume a lot of it, it could, it needs to be factored into your budget. Um, and that's when we do budgets with people I ask, you know, is there any alcohol, tobacco expenses?
Chase Peckham:Yeah.
Felipe Arevalo:And, and you get some people who are like, oh no. You're like, look, I gotta ask because if someone is consuming, uh, alcohol and tobacco regularly,
Chase Peckham:That's a cost.
Felipe Arevalo:That's a cost it is not that I, it's not that it matters to me and.
Chase Peckham:You're not making judgements.
Felipe Arevalo:I'm not making judgements, but if we're doing a budget and you consume alcohol tobacco regularly, that has to be incorporated your budget for the budget to be accurate
Chase Peckham:Without question, you know, it's interesting when, on our way home, uh, from my daughter's volleyball, speaking of sports, my daughter's, uh, very last tournament in Orange County. And we were driving back in early enough to where my wife was like, well, you know, we're on our way back to San Diego. What's, let's stop by Laguna. The kids have never been there. Uh, and it's just right up the freeway from us here in San Diego. And it's gorgeous. I mean, it's, it's a beautiful little, it's like a little kind of,
Felipe Arevalo:On the coast.
Chase Peckham:Um, but it's, it's just gorgeous. Yeah, it's right on the coast. And we, it was, we, it was worth it. We found a place and Kerry wanted to eat and, uh, we sat on a deck on the ocean right there in Laguna beach and had a lunch at this restaurant. And it was awesome. I mean, it, I mean, some phenomenal food, it really reasonable prices, um, talking about food again,
Felipe Arevalo:Right.
Chase Peckham:But that experience was incredible.
Felipe Arevalo:Yeah.
Chase Peckham:It really was. Um, but at the same time, um, my beer was$9,
Felipe Arevalo:Right.
Chase Peckham:One beer,
Felipe Arevalo:You could have gotten six of them at the store.
Chase Peckham:You could get a 12 pack for 10 99. Right. But what are you buying? You're buying the experience.
Felipe Arevalo:Right.
Chase Peckham:And you know, now it was funny because Kerry looked at me, she goes, what's the beer worth it. I'm like, I'm not sure. Usually I would say yes.
Felipe Arevalo:Yeah. Sometimes it is. Sometimes it isn't.
Chase Peckham:It just made me a little sleepy at that point. Yeah.
Felipe Arevalo:Something where, you know, that going out to eat with friends or family and just sitting and having it at the place. It's not that it tastes, I mean, honestly, it's, doesn't taste that different. Uh, then, you know, if you'd have bought it at your local grocery store.
Chase Peckham:No, but it's not like you can buy it at your local grocery store and bring it into the restaurant. Right. That's where they make their money. It's a business.
Felipe Arevalo:Yeah.
:and you are frequenting their business. And so, you know, sometimes you just know you're going to pay that and if that's worth the experience to you then great. But again, you know that he's not wrong.
Felipe Arevalo:It's funny going back to the tweet, the one, I was reading it as I was reading the tweet and I was like, okay. Yeah, I agree. I agree. And then I saw sports and I was like, oh, I'm going to respond. And not to say he's wrong because I'm not saying,
Chase Peckham:What was it about the sports again?
Felipe Arevalo:it's says sports(an obsession for some).
Chase Peckham:It is.
Felipe Arevalo:It is he's
Chase Peckham:He's 1000% right about that.
Felipe Arevalo:He's not wrong. Um,
Chase Peckham:On the other, he's not wrong, but there's nothing wrong with being obsessed with sports either.
Felipe Arevalo:Right. So here's what I responded. Uh, I put sports is tough. Like you said, for some, you could watch TV, you could watch it for free on TV, aside from the time you've lost. And if you play sports, it could help you stay healthier. And then I mentioned from personal experience, I know I gained a few pounds when I stopped playing soccer. Um, and some sports like golf, we all know, need to be added to a budget. Um, and he was super cool. He put, he commented back. He agrees with all of it. Um, so it's something, but chase, I've been on the wrong side of that sports being an obsession. I know I was mentioning earlier, um, I used to have season tickets at the Padres. Um, and, and it's like, when? Well, when I was a broke college student,
Chase Peckham:you were having, You were a season ticket holder when you were a college student.
Felipe Arevalo:Yeah. It was, it was great at the time, really bad financial decision.
Chase Peckham:You had to go into debt for that that didn't you?
Felipe Arevalo:Oh, absolutely. Um, and I mention it during my presentations, it was, uh, student loans and credit cards. Um, I think mostly student loans because they give you more than you need. And that's the one thing I mention also when I'm talking about student loans is, look, I don't regret taking out student loans. They allowed me to further my education. They allowed me to continue with my education. That's what they're there for.
Chase Peckham:You took advantage of them.
Felipe Arevalo:What I do regret taking out the maximum when I didn't need to, um, I could have probably taken out half the student loans that I did if I'd have been better with my money back then, but no, I took out the max and, and you know, that cross-country road trip that I mentioned, uh, season tickets at the Padres. It was at least two years, maybe three. We had the 20 game plan. And then of course, when you're there all the time, you get motivated to go more. So.
Chase Peckham:Oh of course, and not to mention all the food that you eat while you're there.
Felipe Arevalo:Food, beverages.
Chase Peckham:Yeah.
Felipe Arevalo:In your early twenties, I did consume probably a beer or two. Um, you know, and, and it's something where all of a sudden then you're like, Ooh, I need a Jersey and I'm going back tomorrow. I need a second Jersey, you know? So, so it's something where the expenses start to add up. And my best friend, my brother and I, uh, did season tickets. And my brother was a senior in high school. I think the first year we did it.
Chase Peckham:Oh my goodness.
Felipe Arevalo:So it was bad financial decision by the three of us. Um, I don't know that it was, I don't remember whose idea it was. It very well could have been mine. Um, so it was either my buddy Harrison, my brother or I, and we had a blast season. Tickets are awesome. It was just not the right time for either of us,
Chase Peckham:I guess, not what years where those?
Felipe Arevalo:Um, they were pretty good for one of the years. They made the playoffs. We were at the game where the Cardinals eliminated us. Um,
Chase Peckham:Was it 04 05 06 in that area?
Felipe Arevalo:Yeah, It was, yeah, that's right around there maybe 05 06.
Chase Peckham:I was working there then you didn't know that.
Felipe Arevalo:Yeah, It was, it was some good years. Um, got swept out of the playoffs by the Cardinals.
Chase Peckham:That's what we got swept card by the Cardinals.
Felipe Arevalo:twice,
Chase Peckham:Many years while I was,
Felipe Arevalo:I think it was like twice in a row.
Chase Peckham:Yeah and in, uh, 96.
Felipe Arevalo:And then there was the slide into home plate.
Chase Peckham:At Colorado.
Felipe Arevalo:in Colorado. Um, I think that was the last season that we had. I
Chase Peckham:Still have still has never touched that plate.
Felipe Arevalo:I agree. And you know, but so he was right in my younger years. That was absolutely. But you could responsibly watch sports for free.
Chase Peckham:You can. And I mean, for years I have, I never paid for season tickets for anything. I mean, and I was in a situation where I worked in major league baseball for years. So I knew a lot of people I could go to games, uh, for, with people. I had friends that were in the business that would give us tickets and stuff like that. But you know, this year is the first year that I've ever bought tickets to games. And my family, we decided pre COVID or while it was in COVID still coming into the season, that there was a possibility, that was the only way we were ever going to get to a game because of the attendance that they were allowing at the time,
Felipe Arevalo:The limits.
Chase Peckham:It's the limits. So we decided with the vacations that we weren't able to take, we had the money that we, and it was way less than a, actually a few vacations. We were going to take and bought the 20 game package. And so my kids got to experience that now it's full again, and we love it. And it's money that, you know, we only go to 20 games a year and we're not going to go to that many. I mean, we've already sold tickets a few times to friends or people around our neighborhood. And, uh, they get used and people enjoy them, but I'm telling you what, it's an, a great experience, like a concert in that way, the experience that you get at a live sporting event, if you're into it is phenomenal. And who is to say that that's stupid the way to spend money. However, I will say that he is right. It's a borderline obsession. And there are a lot of people that will buy season tickets kind of hala yourself and can't afford rent or can't afford their car payment, but they're going to get those Charger tickets or those Raider tickets or the Padre tickets, whatever it might be.
Felipe Arevalo:Right
Chase Peckham:And they'll buy those$250 jerseys, um, you know, and they'll have extravagant tailgates, but they, they can't afford your, your essentials. So that, that is that, that in itself, he is right, that is wrong,
Felipe Arevalo:right.
Chase Peckham:And it is money that is not well spent. But if, if you're deciding to do a 20 game package, instead of going on a vacation or two during a year, or you've decided to do that instead of, you know, buying or going in and just getting in a larger home and you stay in a relatively more affordable home because you want to go do other and experience other things. Well, that's up to you. That's very personal.
Felipe Arevalo:Right.
Chase Peckham:So I don't think that there's a wrong answer. Is he right? That those are areas that you could be wasting your money. Sure. But it sounds to me like that's very much his opinion because he doesn't love those things. He's A not a drinker, right. This is what I'm gathering just from the language I could be completely wrong. And I'd love to talk to him someday about this.
Felipe Arevalo:Yeah Eric if you're listening to this. Yeah. I'm gonna, I'm gonna, I'm going to tag you on Twitter. Yeah.
Chase Peckham:He's not wrong. I want to say that again. It's not like I want to get an argument, but it is something where I do believe. Uh, and it gets back to that gentleman that I, this senior that I helped and he had, he was literally paying$400 a month or so, uh, in, in his, uh, direct TV. And, and he was living on his, you know, very limited income. And I was like, oh, this is, I'll fix this budget. I was doing, it was a friend of mine's dad. And he was trying to help him financially. And I'm like, oh, this was the easiest budget in the world. We just, I mean, literally 400. I've never even seen a cable bill or something like that. But he, you know, this gentleman was, he grew up in the New England area and he was a die hard Red Sox fan and a diehard Patriots fan and a Boston Celtics fan, not to mention the Boston Bruins. And you know, this gentleman's in his seventies, late seventies and his wife had passed away. He didn't have a ton of friends anymore. And he had every package. There is so he could watch his Boston sports didn't matter what it is. But every single day, he looked forward to watching those games.
Felipe Arevalo:Whatever sport is on.
Chase Peckham:He said, and I'll never forget. He said, son, if you take that away from me, or if we, we that's great that I have money, but I have nothing to look forward to at all. You're taking away all my enjoyment in the life that I have right now. And I went and I felt just very, very small. I mean, I was like, man, you're absolutely right. Just because I think that's crazy just cause I think having the MLB package and the NBA package and the, at the time, you know, there's the NFL package and all those things for him, that's all he did.
Felipe Arevalo:Right.
Chase Peckham:So we, I said, you're absolutely right. And so we just had to, you know, instead of me, you know, being the, let's just take the easy way out of this. We had to really look at different ways to make a budget work for him and still do the things that he loves to do. And that's, that's what I say. And that's what we talk about a lot in this podcast is that that's what you really need to do. It may take work, but you need to work. You need to enjoy life.
Felipe Arevalo:Yeah.
Chase Peckham:Um, and, and for some people are going to hate going to ball games and think it's a waste of money. And I did too for the longest time, but this has been great money for me now. Um, and the idea that what is right for somebody has to be right for everybody. It's just ridiculous.
Felipe Arevalo:Yeah. I mean, I have a hard time with, you know, Barrington, he's about to be eight. He doesn't like baseball. He doesn't like sports as much as I would love him to. That's not really his cup of tea at the moment. Uh, hopefully someday. But so then it's like, do I bring him to the game? Do I, he, he could care less. Who's playing all this knows who the Padres are. Uh, but that's about it.
Chase Peckham:How old is he? Is he about seven or eight now?
Felipe Arevalo:He's seven. He's about to be eight.
Chase Peckham:At that age. My son was already repeating stats of all the different quarterbacks and baseball players.
Felipe Arevalo:Right I'd love that.
:And he just, this morning I was laying in bed and he came in, this was, Carrie was getting up to work out and he's like, dad, can you believe that so-and-so, didn't make the finals for the all-star game. And he started rattling off stats. And how much better he, Jake Cronenworth is as a second baseman than the three that were, that got the fan vote. He goes, this fan stuff is ridiculous. And I'm like, buddy, it's just different markets.
Felipe Arevalo:Yeah. Bigger markets. Yeah. But it's something where I was, I was very excited to tell him like, Hey buddy, look, ESPN just scored the rights to the Spanish soccer league. So next season we get to watch Barcelona games again. I'm so excited. And he was like, his response was more like, oh, we have to watch soccer again.
Chase Peckham:Uh, that's good.
Felipe Arevalo:No, it's it's we get, we get[inaudible]. Um, that's fine.
Chase Peckham:That's funny.
Felipe Arevalo:But I'll tell you what, though, as much as he doesn't care for baseball at all, he loves the ballpark.
Chase Peckham:because it's an experience.
Felipe Arevalo:It's an experience. So it's not sports to him. Johnny
Chase Peckham:My daughter loves going to the ballpark and she's learned so much about baseball. Now. She actually knows a little bit because she watched her brother for so long. But at the same time, she wasn't thrilled about it either, but she loves going.
Felipe Arevalo:Yeah. He, he, he doesn't to him. We're not going to see the Padres. We're not going to go see baseball. We're going to Petco Park. Um,
Chase Peckham:There you go.
Felipe Arevalo:And that's his, we're going to Petco Park. Yeah. And buy him snacks or some stadium food. And, and he he's happy. He, you know, he got himself a baseball, his first game. So he, he enjoys the ballpark
Chase Peckham:Oh my son will be pissed about that. He hasn't gotten one yet.
Felipe Arevalo:Oh really?
Chase Peckham:No, He just turned 13.
Felipe Arevalo:He didn't catch it or anything. The usher had caught one and he came by and he was like here little man.
Chase Peckham:Still that's awesome.
Felipe Arevalo:Yeah. So, so he, he, uh, he enjoys the experience. And I think for me that makes it worth it. I love the game. I love watching. I love, you know, I'll sit there and watch the whole thing. Um, I also enjoy the experience. I think baseball so much better at the ballpark. Uh, so, so to me, you know, if you can fit it within your budget and it's something you enjoy, like anything else, you know, get out there and check out the ballpark 5%
Chase Peckham:100% it can get away from you though. I mean, you.
Felipe Arevalo:It can.
Chase Peckham:Get into the, buying all the jerseys and all the memorabilia and all this stuff. And, and, and it does, it adds up very, very quickly. I've never been that guy. I don't wear jerseys. In fact, my buddy, Pat O'Hara has a Dodger Jersey. He's a big old Dodgers fan. And we always joke. There's a group of us friends that always joke with other people that wear the jerseys that the jerseys are meant for little boys. I'm not wearing, I'm not going to pay money to have somebody else's name on my back. Yeah. And, and I say that, and due respect, I know you have a big smile, but I know you've got a few soccer jerseys in there.
Felipe Arevalo:I do, I do have a few soccer jerseys. Although the soccer jerseys are usually a blank. They don't have a player name.
Chase Peckham:Okay.
Felipe Arevalo:Um, so I have, but I do have a couple of Padres jerseys. I learned during season tickets and stuff to just buy financially. It makes sense to buy players that are always going to be of that team. So my jerseys for the Padres now,
Chase Peckham:Hard to find these days.
Felipe Arevalo:I have Trevor Hoffman, a Tony Gwynn, uh, so you can always wear the Jersey because if you get the newest, hot shot player and you know, he gets traded next season,
Chase Peckham:Right.
Felipe Arevalo:Or he's not as good as everyone thought, you know, now you're sitting there with the Jersey that you're like, oh man, I don't even know. So you get those legacy players for lack of a better term. Oh,
Chase Peckham:And now you're just being historical.
Felipe Arevalo:You're being historical. It's remains relevant. And financially it makes sense because that Jersey, will last you, as long as that Jersey will
Chase Peckham:Well, I disagree with you, but that's that's me because I don't love but see. You're not wrong because to you it's worth it. So that was the point of this. And I think that that is what in the personal finance world that we talk about so often, uh, that it is just that. And as long as you are budgeting and not spending more than you make, um, you're not putting all those things on credit just because you enjoy them, then that's wrong. If you're having to finance those things and that's putting you in harm's way for the things that you actually need, like rent and food and a car transportation, uh, diapers, whatever it might be we'll then, then there, then let's talk, then that that's an issue. But if you're, if that is ingrained in your budget, there's nothing wrong.
Felipe Arevalo:Absolutely. Eric, if you're listening to this, we'd love to have you on.
Chase Peckham:Absolutely shout out to you though. Those were good.
Felipe Arevalo:Yeah. So we definitely want to chat about this or, or something else. I'm going to make sure I tag you in when this episode goes live.
Chase Peckham:Absolutely. And then same thing. It's make sure that you like us download us, subscribe to us and uh, we'll see you guys[inaudible].