46. If one has two options of shuls in which to daven, one which charges money and one which does not, but he prefers the shul which charges, he may use maaser money to pay for a seat. The logic is that since he has the ability to daven somewhere without paying, he is not chayav to daven in the shul he prefers.
47. However, if he has to daven in a particular shul, e.g., he belongs to a certain chassidus and would not consider davening elsewhere, davening there is like a chiyuv and he may not pay with maaser money (Chukai Chaim, Issue 6). However, he may upgrade to a better seat using maaser money (שו"ת שרגא המאיר ח"ח סי' נ"ד ב').
48. If the gabboim charge a higher price for seats than is generally accepted, one may pay the amount beyond what is accepted from maaser money (שו"ת שרגא המאיר שם ).
