Enjoying the Movies Without Breaking the Bank

[ajrsmom]

Enjoying the Movies Without Breaking the Bank

Is one of your favorite forms of entertainment the movies? We love them, too, but what a drain on your pocketbook! Try some of these great ideas to save some money and still see your favorites.

Matinees
Most movie theaters offer a discount for movies during the day. Go right after the kids get out of school, take a long lunch break, or go on the weekends.

Concessions
The high cost of popcorn and soda at the movie theatre is enough to make one faint. Try to eat a meal just before the movie, or promise the kids a sweet snack AFTER the movie that you have prepurchased and have waiting at home. Even a visit to the local Dairy Queen will cost less than the candy and snacks at the theatre. Remind children that drinks during the movie will just make them want to use the facilities anyway, and they will miss the good parts when they have to take a bathroom break! Always check to see if the theatre offers any refills for bonus bag purchases, or see if they will provide you with free small sized cups and buy a large drink to split among you and the kids.

AAA Discounts
AAA actually offers its members a discount on movie tickets. In some cases you can save as much as $3 off the price of a ticket. For information about AAA discount movie tickets, go to www.aaa.com and type in your Zip code. Click on "member services"; you'll see a link for movie tickets. You'll have to have your AAA membership number handy to get details.

Local Dollar Theater
Sure, they don't carry the newest things, but they do tend to carry the most popular, so you can still see most of your favorites at greatly reduced prices.

Big Screen vs. Small Screen
Is it necessary to see it on the big screen? If it's not a movie with breathtaking panoramas, maybe it's worth renting it (or getting it on Pay Per View). For less than the cost of ONE movie ticket, you (and any friends you want to watch it with) can see anything you want (including the ones you missed the first time around in the theater). Plus, homemade popcorn is much healthier than the popcorn you get from the movie theater!

Buying Videos
Search through the previously-viewed section at your local video rental outlet. These are movies that are no longer rented out as often, and the store is trying to recoup some of their costs. You may get bargains as low as 99 cents each but usually will pay approximately half the cost of the new movie (7.99 or so). You can also purchase videos at discount prices by shopping at .

Libraries and Churches
Your local library probably carries quite a selection of movies. Libraries allow you to keep the videos much longer that a video rental outlet. Standard library video rental is 7 days compared to 1-2 days at video stores. The best part is there is no rental fee, it's all free! Another place to check would be your local church. Many churches now offer movies on loan for free to their congregation.
***Printed from MomsMenu.com

[barbszy]

We've recently started using Netflix. We got a 2-week free trial and we like it a lot.
There are many "plans" to choose from. We picked "2 out at a time, unlimited movies per month." It costs about $13 a month to do that, the same as renting ONE movie per WEEK at our local video store. And I don't have to go out and return them! That saves me time and gas.
Everyone in the family has a chance to give input on what movies they would like to rent. When someone says they would like a certain movie, I just add it to the list (after checking reviews to see if it's OK for my kids to watch!!!) The turnaround time has been very good. I mailed a movie back today and probably will have the next one Thursday--Friday at the latest!
We're very pleased, and enjoying the videos. We rarely go to movies in theatres, so this works perfectly for us.

[kasparcat]

I have to ditto the Netflix... worth every cent. I'm wheelchair-enabled, and getting to and around a movie theatre is an effort, so we don't go often. Stay at home and save money, energy, gas... and have healthier snacks, to boot!

Back when my kids were younger, I had a different strategy that wasn't mentioned. Perhaps because it's not very nice. But I smuggled snacks in for the kids, in my purse. Partly for frugality and partly because I wanted them to eat healthier snacks.

Rani

[ajrsmom]

Rani, I think that everyone has smuggled something in at one time or another. We were checking out a $2.00 movie place the other day and they wanted $2.50 for a "movie-size" box of candy!! Same boxes that you can get at the Dollar Tree for $1. and sometimes even less at WalMart.

After reading what you both have to say, Im going to check into Netflicks. Right now, we are renting 1-2 movies every weekend at the cost of $7.49--a little cheaper if my son picks an older movie.

Is there any kind of contract with Netflicks? Does the payment automatically come out of your checking account?

[kasparcat]

Well, I don't feel guilty about my "smuggling"... any more than they feel guilty about their price-gouging!

We have the 3-movies-at-a-time deal with Netflix, probably we see at least two a week at that rate. Yes, they deduct it from my checking account. We were spending more than that with late fees at Blockbuster. Yes, I know that Blockbuster stopped the late fees, but back when they had them, we were supporting the place with late fees, and that is not good. The great thing for ME about Netflix is that the entire thing is done from home. I live in a small town, we don't even have a video store here. And being in a wheelchair, I don't drive a car, so that means nudging hubby or one of the kids (kids? they're 19 and 23!) to return movies is like pulling teeth! Here is how Netflix works, and you will see how well this works for me. Go to www.netflix.com (that is with an X, not FLICKS). You make a queue... a list.. of the movies you want to see and in the order you want them. Netflix mails you the first 3 on the list (postage is free). Watch the first one, mail it back in the postage-free envelope. Watch the second, mail it back in the postage-free envelope. By the time you watch #3, you will have #4 arriving in your mailbox. Go to Netflix and rate how you liked the movies, 1-2-3-4-5 stars, and after they get a number of your ratings, they will make recommendations for movies you might like. If a movie comes that is damaged, send it back and check off whether you want a good copy sent or the next on your queue. If you send a movie back but it doesn't show up as returned in a day or two, just let them know on the website, they are cool about it and will send you the next one. Their mail system is BEYOND exceptional, very fast and efficient. I have had Netflix for 3 years this Xmas, and in that time, I've had 3 damaged disks that were immediately replaced, 1 disk that didn't show up there, but no questions asked. I have never once received the wrong movie in a sleeve (and that HAS happened to me several times at Blockbuster), nor a movie that I didn't request. I estimate that turnover time is 2 days, which is better than FedEx.

We have friends who live nearby and sometimes we share movies. Like I saw a movie I liked and thought they'd like, so gave it to them, they watched and mailed it back.

Go check the website out and see how you like it.
If you try it and don't like it, cancel it.

Rani

[megrayau]

I haven't checked out any of the rental places like Netflix yet. We do hire movies, and if it is a kids one, I can claim it as a tax deduction the first time we see it ( Kids Pastors have to research their market!!) We went on Sunday as a family and it was $35-00 instead of the usual $48-00! I guess that was saving, although it was still expensive!

[barbszy]

I think if you go to their main website, there is a button you can click for the 2-week free trial.
There is no contract; it is month to month.

[ajrsmom]

Does anyone know if its easy to cancel Netflix when you are ready to do so? One of my concerns is that if you are ready to cancel, the money will continue to be removed from your account and it will become a hassle.

I talked to my husband about this last night and we agreed that we would probably save money doing something like this too. So today Im really thinking about trying it.

Thanks for your opinions.

Tami

[barbszy]

The site says that it's easy to cancel. My in-laws canceled it with no problems.

[ajrsmom]

Thanks Barb! I might sign up for it today.......should have something for the weekend, right?


Had to laugh when I saw the price for 2 movies out at a time....was $14.99. I instantly thought " Hey, She is getting a better deal than I am!!" Im so cheap!!