Cutting Your Costs at the Movie Theater

It seems that in times like these, every dollar that can be saved will be saved. With rising food and fuel prices putting people in an uproar, some may want to relax and enjoy a night out at the movies. However, the price on everything seems to be skyrocketing and you will have a hard time trying to squeeze every last cent out of that dollar. Even a single trip to the movies can cost more than $20. Taking the following tips into consideration you could save some money that will undoubtedly go into your fuel tank.

Go to a matinee.

You can save a few bucks by going to an earlier showing. Be sure to check the matinee hours, as more and more theaters are cutting the hours shorter. Be sure to look around for other movie theaters in the area. Some may charge lower ticket prices than average, even for the later showings. Also avoid going during the weekend as the prices may rise another 50 cents.

Do away with the concession stand.

Rarely stocked with any good-for-you foods, its not a good choice for your wallet or heath. There's no reason to spend upwards of $7 for a bag of popcorn. You can avoid the concession stand altogether by grabbing a snack before you go to a movie and resist the temptation. Another alternative is to chew a piece of gum while you watch the movie to satisfy the urge of snacking. Popcorn flavored perhaps?

Keep an eye out for coupons.

Check your newspaper and anywhere you know there may be a coupon. Research the Internet or even ask at the counter if they have any deals going on. If you are willing to fork over $10 for a book full of coupons check out http://www.entertainment-savings-offers.com/guide/movie it's sure to save you money in the long run if you are an avid movie goer.

Sign up for reward programs.

Most movie theaters have rewards programs to gain points for the money you spend. If you are going to spend the money, you may as well be rewarded for it. Rewards include free popcorn or free movie tickets. Why not give it a go?

Avoid Fandango.

We've all seen the joyful singing and dancing paper bag people inviting you to reserve your space at the movie theater. You end up paying more for your tickets with the additional charges tacked at the end. It may be worth reserving when a monster hit comes to town, but not for every movie you may go to. Take the extra time to stand in line when the movie is not overly popular, and especially if its a release thats a few weeks old.

Try it in bulk form.

Theaters may offer tickets in bulk from $6 per ticket. A downfall of this process is the amount you will put down initially. There are usually restrictions such as not being able to use the tickets for brand new releases. However, you may feel pretty smart when and if ticket prices soar again.

Of course the best way of saving money is having a night in and renting a DVD. There's just something about the movie going experience that makes a movie that much better. By using simple methods to save your money, you can make the experience better on your wallet as well.

Sources:

http://finance.yahoo.com/family-home/article/105239/9-Ways-to-Save-on-Movie-Tickets
http://www.entertainment-savings-offers.com/guide/movie