This GOOD idea may or may not be something of use but it may at least get the ball rolling or the mind turning as far as other ways to save $$…and any money saved is more that can be put towards Getting Out of Debt. An avid moviegoer these days can expect to spend upwards of $9 per ticket and that’s being modest. Multiply that by 2 adults and 2.5 kids (national average), not sure how the admission for half a kid works, but nonetheless that is 4.5 x $9 = $49.50. Throw in some popcorn and drinks and you have an easy $60 spent on an evening. Now time spent with family is priceless, don’t get me wrong, yet on a budget it’s hard to thoroughly enjoy knowing, in the back of your mind, that it is hurting the bottom line. Now honestly, unless you were talking to each other through the whole movie (highly unlikely), it was time together rather than 1 on 1 quality time (but that’s another subject).
Let’s look at another alternative. We have the rental kiosk wave that is hitting our nation and it’s not a bad way to save some $$ if you don’t mind driving to pick up a movie, you hopefully reserved online (the only way to really guarantee you get a good pick of the most recent ones), and save time driving all over town trying to find a Redbox that has the one you want. Oh, and make sure you are good about getting it back soon, each day away is a $1 more to the tab. With this option you can rent quite a few movies and still save over the one time evening at the movies splurge. Another thing to avoid is the bargain movie bins at your Walmart or Kmart, etc. I can’t tell you how many times I have succumbed to picking up a movie or two at those “great “ prices, only to watch it a few times, if even more than once. It then sits around collecting dust, taking up space and ends up being sold off at a tag sale for a fraction of what I payed. Unless it is a die hard (no pun intended) favorite that you plan on spending several hours of you life (that you don’t get back by the way) on it, walk on by, you will feel good about…I promise. One avenue that I have found that has allowed us to save a decent amount of cash is a very basic Netflix account.
For less than $10 month we have access to hundreds of movies (including educational ones, indies and informationals, like The Beautiful Truth, Food Inc.) via the internet/ home pc any time of the day, up to 2 concurrent connections (2 movies) at a time (so you and the spouse can watch one, while the kids watch theirs). We also get the option to rent one cold hard DVD at a time, which equates to about 4-7 DVD movies a month if you are good with getting it right back in the mail after watching. Benefits: no late fees (they can eat you alive…even at $1/day)….a set monthly expenditure that you can budget and track…less time traveling and save gas (it’s green). So…. let’s make it an at home movie night…put on your PJ’s….pop some homemade popcorn (much healthier…depending on what you make it with of course). PS. if you talk through the movie…no one besides you family will get upset…;).
Sounds like a winning ticket to me……
Please keep in mind this is if you and you family enjoy movies…..if you can do without….you can save even more $$$. Figure 2-3 times of movie going a year can tally up to $90-120 fro the year, or a year of Netflix = $120. Some might be better off budgeting to few Redbox movies a month…or even better. None. It’s all up to you, the more you can live without…the less you will find yourself spending and the more you can use to pay down debt and eventually the more you can start saving/giving/investing. (More on this later)
On a side note if you really, really must go to the movies….make a celebration event (when you pay off a debt).
