Movie Money Savers
by Shannon O. McGinnis

Saving money at the movies is always one of my priorities. Here are a few ways to help you save:

Some movie theatres offer reduced rates at a certain time, usually from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. If you go later in the evening, some theatres offer student discounts, so be sure to bring your student ID.

From time to time, newspapers offer free tickets to movie screenings as a promotional item. This is great, because not only can you sometimes win prizes, but you also get to see the movie before it’s regularly released in the theater. Be sure to get there extra early to ensure that you will get a seat.

The thing that really costs the most at the movies is not the ticket, but the snacks. The movie theatres make most of their money on these items. If you really want to save money, don’t buy popcorn, snacks, or a drink.

The best way to save on a movie is probably buying or renting it on video or DVD. If a group of your friends wants to see it with you, wait until it’s available in the stores and everybody can split up the cost. That way you have popcorn and a movie for less with all your friends.

The very cheapest way to see a movie is to wait until it is shown on TV, but I don’t really recommend this if you REALLY want to see a particular movie, as it usually takes a while. But Pay Per View type offerings might be the way to go for you if you have cable TV or DSL. You can see the movie with all your friends for the cost of one movie ticket. This is good if you plan to see the movie only once. If you want to watch it again and again, it is best to buy the video or DVD.