Not sure of the proper etiquette for this...

[Magenta]

It's been a long time since I've made a new friend. Well, that's not true. It's been a long time since I've had to work at it. There's a girl in my vocal class who is new to the country from Turkey. She's really nice, friendly but quiet. We're both shy and we've been a bit awkward around each other but we joke around and tonight we spent almost three hours talking online. Half-personal stuff and half-casual stuff which was interesting because I usually don't reveal much about myself so quickly and I think she is the same way.

She ended up inviting me to go see Idina Menzel with her this coming Friday. She's had the tickets for awhile but since no one else in her family is going with her, she has an extra ticket and asked if I'd like to go. Obviously, I'd love to. I've never really been invited anywhere by someone I'm becoming friends with though so I'm totally over my head in this situation.

The main issue is money. She never brought it up but I feel weird not knowing. If she (or her parents) did want me to pay them for the ticket, I know I can't afford it since my mother may be losing her job. I wouldn't know how to ask her. I feel like I should because I don't want to assume she's just paying for it and feel rude. Or is asking rude? I really don't know the etiquette of this. My mother raised me always to offer to pay a part but I literally have no money... and I'm beginning to think I may have to refuse.

I don't want her to think it's personal or I don't want to be her friend. If it were a close friend, I could tell them about my money problems but I'm just feeling like I'm in a weird position.

Help?

(Gah, I'm so socially inept, I hate it. Now I'm all anxious... then I have to work out how to ask my mother for permission if this works out and just... ugh.)

[Ambrosia]

Well first of all, it's so great of you to try and be friends with her! I'm sure it's really hard for her to be in a new country and all, and you being a friendly hand to shake is probably a big relief to her.

Proper etiquette is that you don't pay her for it, mainly because she invited you. Of course, it wouldn't hurt to just ask. I understand how hard it is to ask someone something like this, I have been in that situation more than once. I know what it's like to be nervous about the money situation. But just pull her aside, and say something like...

"So, do your parents want me to pay for the ticket, or what?"

I highly doubt that's the case, though. It's a 98% chance that it isn't the case, because no matter where you're from, most people don't invite you somewhere and want you to pay for something they already bought. They didn't buy it with the idea of "Hey, let's buy this ticket and make someone else pay us back for it!" It's probably just a spare.

Have fun!!!

[Magenta]

Thanks, Lexi. Actually, when I think about it, my mum once offered to pay for a ticket for a friend when we went to a concert so I suppose it would be the same way...?

It's like I'm six years old again and trying to make friends. Haha. I'll maybe see if I should casually bring it up when we're in class together. I just know my mother is going to ask about money when I ask her for permission. ><

[Jean Poutine]

Usually when I go out socially with friends we go dutch. For example, I may "invite" a friend to grab something to eat and we'll both pay for our parts.

In this case, the ticket is already paid and she's only looking for somebody to use it. I don't think she wants you to pay for it. I would find it more than quite a bit strange if she does.

If she didn't bring it up yet then it's no strings attached. When I invite someone somewhere, the first thing I do is tell them if I'm paying or if they're paying their part. She's giving you a ticket. I'd accept it and enjoy my time with a new friend.

[Sleepwalking]

It's sorta a tough situation.
Asking and not asking could both be considered rude.
Most of the time, when someone offers to take you to a concert with a spare ticket, they won't expect you to.