Whether it’s a date night or you’re dragging a bunch of kids out of the house, a trip to the movie theater can sometimes get expensive.
The smell of popcorn basically drags you to the concessions line, and then there’s a bunch of candy staring you in the face when you get to the cashier.
Not to mention the ICEE’s that are being stirred in their machines under the menu on the wall that reminds you how expensive everything is.
It wouldn’t be hard to rack up a hefty bill, that’s for sure.
So follow these guidelines on how to make your trip to the movies as cheap as possible!
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1. Check out online cashback resources
There are so many online tools to help people save money.
And yes, that includes savings on trips to the movie theater!
Start with Rakuten for cashback deals on movie tickets.
Rakuten is easy to use and with just a few clicks from their site you will get cash back on the tickets you purchase.
You’ll simply be redirected to the normal website that you order tickets from, and buy your tickets like you usually would.
Your earnings will then be deposited into your Rakuten account within a few days.
Drop is another cash back tool that you can utilize to save some money on the price of your tickets.
This app requires some initial set up before you buy any tickets, but then all you have to do to get cash back is use the credit card that you have connected to your account.
No need to think about setting it up again either.
Every time you use your connected card, you’ll automatically get cash back!
Swagbucks is another place that you’ll want to check for some cashback opportunities.
2. Join Loyalty Programs
Many movie theaters offer loyalty programs, just like other stores and businesses out there.
Some programs will have a small monthly charge and others will be free.
Either way, you’ll get sweet perks and typically have the chance to build up loyalty points to redeem for tickets, and possibly even sweeter perks if you have a paid membership.
You might even get some free birthday tickets, or something for simply signing up.
Ultimately, it can’t hurt you to join a loyalty program and can only help you save money!
3. Fill Your Stomach Beforehand
Getting popcorn and other treats is a fun part of going to the movies, I get that.
However, dropping a ton of cash on your movie viewing snacks can get expensive in a hurry.
And you don’t want to leave your financial decisions up to your growling stomach.
So instead of leaving it to chance, eat a little something before you head to the theater and just get one treat from concessions.
You’ll still get to enjoy a tasty snack and you won’t have regrets after the movie about spending too much.
4. Bring Paper Bags for Popcorn
This sort of goes hand in hand with not overspending on movie theater treats.
Popcorn is a movie theater staple.
Movie theater popcorn just has a different smell compared to anything you could make in the microwave or any other way at home.
If you’re going to the movies with a big crew, it’s pretty likely that more than one person is going to want popcorn.
Rather than buy each person their own individual bag, buy the biggest bag the theater offers and split it up yourself into separate paper bags once you get to your seats.
You’ll minimize the chances that there’s a bunch of leftover popcorn in everyone’s bags and many theaters offer free refills for their largest popcorn size so you could always get more if you run out.
Get more for less, simply by bringing in some extra bags and sharing an order of popcorn.
5. Go During Matinee Hours or Deal Nights
If you can make it work, heading to the movie theater during matinee hours or on special deal nights can cut your ticket prices almost in half!
If you’re looking to save money on entertainment, this should be a no brainer.
Early afternoon movies might be a slight inconvenience to your schedule, but they can help save a few dollars per ticket.
Many theaters also have deal nights.
Sometimes they are specific to students or seniors, for example, but in many instances you can find a deal night available for everyone to utilize.
6. Wait For Movies to Hit the Discount Theater
If you want cheaper tickets than even matinee hours or deal nights can offer, you should see if there’s a local discount theater in your area.
These theaters usually show movies that are nearing release for consumer purchase and have been replaced at normal movie theaters by newer movies.
So if you’re willing to wait a month or so before seeing a new movie, you could see it for less than half the price as a normal showing just by catching it at a discount theater.
Some discount theaters even offer a cool dinner and a movie deal, where you can order pizza, burgers, or other non-conventional movie snacks while you watch your movie.
Just a unique twist on a trip to the theater that may be available, plus you can knock out dinner and the movie all in one shot.
Enjoy the Show!
Entertainment can get spendy sometimes, and that definitely includes a trip to the movies.
If you plan ahead, make the right decisions, and take advantage of some of the ideas above, heading to the movie theater can be a fraction of the cost that you might expect.
You could even make some easy money before you go to cover the entire cost of your movie and snacks!
Bottom line, you can and should enjoy movies at the movie theater for pretty darn cheap!
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