Frugality in Motion: Going to the Movies

April 12th, 2007 • Related • Filed Under • by admin

Frugality in motion is a series of posts designed to enable to save more money throughout your regular activities, practices, and life events.

If any one single industry has figured out how to separate us from our money, it has to be the movie industry. We go to the theater, spend $10.00 a person on tickets, only to have to spend the same amount of money on snacks and beverages, and people pay these crazy prices every single day. It can easily be $60 for a family of four just to go out to the local theater and see a movie in some parts of the country! Here are some tips to save money when going to the movie theater.

Bring Your Own Snacks – A lot of people frown on this activity, because concessions is where movie theaters make their primary source of income. The truth is that you bringing your own water in versus paying $2.00 for one at the concession stand won’t make a bit of difference. If everyone were to do this, the theater might be hurting, but that’s just not what’s going to happen. The vast majority of people who eat snacks at the theater will pay the exorbitant prices, and there will always be a small percentage that doesn’t want to pay that much. It’s just how it works. They know this is going to happen, so why not be in the small percentage that brings their own snacks and save some money?

Matinees – Usually you’ll only have to pay about half the normal rate by going at a matinee time versus going in the evening. It’s the same movie, just a different time of day. Consider going on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon so that you can save a lot of money in ticket prices.

The Cheap Theater – Most cities of any decent size have a theater that plays second run movies for jus a few bucks a ticket. Consider waiting until the new Hollywood Blockbuster gets to the cheap theater before seeing it. You’ll easily pay half of the normal price in snacks and on your ticket prices. It pays to be patient!

Coupons & Deals – Some movie theaters offer coupons in the local newspaper, or just around. This doesn’t happen very often, but if you can get a free popcorn or get a fifth movie free after going to four, why not do it? You won’t save a ton of money, but it’s less than you were paying before! At the prices awe have to pay to see a movie, we should try to get back every single dime that we can!

Avoid Multiplexes – Usually the big fancy multiplex theaters have the highest ticket and concession stand prices around. They have the best screens, seating, and facility, but it comes at a price. Save a few bucks by going to a smaller theater.

When it comes to trying to be frugal at the movie theater, you’d think that the cards are certainly stacked against you, and that’s definitely the case. Fortunately there are a few bright things that you can do to be frugal and still go out to the movies.