Cheap Movie Ideas for Families on a Budget

My kids and I love movies but they can put a big dent in the budget. Because my budget is very tight, I have to weigh each penny I spend, but it is possible to create and find fun activities for myself and my kids that don't cost a lot of money. Finding ways to enjoy movies without breaking the bank can be challenging, but it's not as difficult as you would think. The best part is spending time with my kids and creating memories while keeping my budget on track and enjoying movies together.

Pizza and Movie Night
I have set aside one night a week to have a special "pizza and movie night" with my kids. The cost of renting a video and buying microwave popcorn is around $5 and I spend about $12 on a large pizza and cheese bread from a local pizza place. So for a cost of around $20, pizza and movie night doesn't break my budget (as long as I plan for it) and the kids and I have a great time.

To lower the cost even more, some Thursday nights I will make homemade pizza (with the kids helping of course), make home popped popcorn and opt for a DVD that we already own or a special program that is on satellite. While the focus might seem to be family entertainment, the gist of pizza and movie night is spending time together and enjoying it, which means it doesn't have to be expensive.

Local Movie Events
In my area, there is a local winery that hosts outdoor movies during the summer (free) and some local libraries have movie nights. One library in my area has a monthly family movie showing in their community room.

Cheap or Free DVD Rentals
Check with local video stores about specific days of the week that offer cheap or free rentals. One video store in my area offers free kids' movies and also has free rentals for good grades and other promotions. Find out what moneysaving programs are available and take advantage of them.

Most local libraries have DVD movies available for checkout. My local library has a number of new releases (and they try to add a few new releases regularly) as well as older movies. Sure, we've seen most of them but every now and again we like to watch some of our favorites again.

Local Movie Theater Specials
My local movie theater offers a special on Tuesdays - $5 tickets and free popcorn. While catching a movie at the theater can be a bit pricey for myself and three children, on special occasions, my budget will allow me to treat the kids to a new release movie. The Tuesday special pricing and free popcorn makes that easier for me and my budget.

Finding ways to treat your family to movies doesn't have to be expensive. Check around in your area to see what is available - you might be surprised at what you find.