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Remember when going to the movies was a budget-friendly trip for the whole family? Those days are now a distant memory. Statista says ticket prices have increased 11% over the past decade.
A trip to the movies for a family is now out of reach for many. Even matinees are out of reach. And if you plan on buying anything to eat or drink while at the theatre, forget about it. But there are some ways to enjoy the big screen without burning a hole in your wallet.
We’ve compiled a list of 11 simple hacks to save money at the movies so you and your family can get back to enjoying something you love doing together.
Watch Movies on Discount Days
You’ll find that different movie theaters have days when they sell discounted tickets for certain time periods. For example, at Showcase Cinemas tickets every Tuesday is known as Bargain Tuesday where tickets are only $5.
To get access to the $5 tickets, you will need to be a Starpass member; otherwise, ticket prices are $8.75, which is still a bargain.
Purchase a Membership Pass
Like Showcase Cinema, plenty of cinemas in the U.S. have member programs where you can get discounted ticket prices. If you enjoy watching a lot of movies, this may be a good option for you as long as the cost of membership is less than what you pay monthly for movie tickets.
Buy Tickets at the Box Office
Save money on unnecessary third-party fees by buying your movie tickets directly from the box office or the theater’s official website. While sites like Fandango are very convenient to use, they often charge a convenience fee of up to $2, which can increase over time or if you’re buying in bulk.
Go During Off-Peak Times
Ever heard of the phrase matinee tickets? This just means they’re tickets for movies that are shown during the not-so-popular times of the day, like early mornings or late evenings. Matinee tickets are generally much cheaper than movies shown during peak hours.
This is a good hack for you if you can’t stand a noisy and crowded movie theater.
Eat Before the Movie
Ticket prices are not the only thing that has gone up. Concession stand food and drink prices have also gone up. Even the price of popcorn has been known to raise an eyebrow or two.
Avoid paying for overpriced snacks at the movie theater by eating beforehand. You could either go home or get some fast food. As tempting as sneaking your own snacks in may be, you don’t want to risk getting caught.
Avoid 3D Films
While 3D and IMAX films offer a thrilling way to watch your favorite franchise, such as Avatar or Marvel movies, these tickets are typically a lot more expensive. Save money by purchasing standard 2D movie tickets instead.
A 3D film can cost up to $4 more than standard 2D movies. You can use the money saved to buy snacks.
Take Advantage of Loyalty Programs
Many movie theaters offer loyalty programs for cardholders where you can earn points just by watching movies, and the more movies you watch, the more money you can save. Points earned can be cashed in for cheaper tickets or discounts on snacks.
For example, Cinemark Movie Club members save around $100 annually, while Costco members can rack up some movie savings.
Choose a Drive-In-Theater
There are cheaper alternatives to a traditional movie theater. You may want to consider going to a drive-in-theater. Not only are the ticket prices a whole lot more affordable, it’s good nostalgic fun.
Bring your favorite snacks and a comfy blanket to enjoy a movie underneath the stars for a unique experience.
Share Snacks
If watching a movie in the theater without popcorn just sounds unbearable, but you don’t want to spend a lot of money on snacks, a good alternative is to share the snacks with someone else. Instead of buying two tubs of popcorn, buy one and share it with a friend.
This way, you can still enjoy crunching on some popcorn while enjoying a good film.
Buy Bulk Tickets
Did you know that some movie theaters offer special prices for groups? Sometimes theaters want to fill their seats so they’ll offer discounted prices on bulk ticket purchases. So, gather your group of friends or colleagues and save money on your movie ticket while enjoying an outing at the movies.
Use Credit Card Rewards
The last hack you can use to save money is to take advantage of credit-card cashback benefits. Be sure to use your credit card at the movies because some cards offer 5% cash-back rewards on entertainment purchases. It’s a savvy and resourceful way to save money. So, the more you get to the movies, the more rewards you’ll get in the long run.
With these 11 simple hacks, you can control your movie expenses and enjoy the big screen without burning a hole in your wallet. It’s a win-win situation!
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