Most people love to go out and watch movies over the weekend, but every-increasing prices coupled with shrinking budgets makes it hard. The average ticket price for a move ticket has climbed to about $8, while cinemas offering IMAX and 3D cost even more for an entry.
Rather than staying home and starving yourself of entertainment, you can actually take steps to help you save some money when you head out to the cinema next time.
Here are five ways that can help you to save money at the movies and enjoy the big screen experience:
1 – Purchase Bulk Tickets
Most of us plan our monthly groceries and buy in bulk to benefit from discounts at retailers. However, few of us might be aware that discounts are also available for bulk purchases of tickets. You can buy tickets in bulk, usually around 50 or more, from the corporate sites of theaters. Some theaters allow you to watch any movie with these tickets, while others may only hold the passes valid for a movie that has been playing at the theater for a certain number of weeks.
2 – Join a Loyalty Program
Many theaters now offer membership and a loyalty program to reward regular visitors. Membership to such clubs is usually free but may still be worth spending some cash on if you frequently visit the cinema. These reward programs help you earn a certain number of points on the purchase of each ticket. Once you accrue some points, you can redeem them to get free snacks or a movie ticket. Therefore, these loyalty and reward programs are a great way to save money for regular cinemagoers.
3 – Go to the Matinée
Watching movies in matinée or daytime shows rather than peak hours could also help you save money. A daytime movie screening may cost as less as $5. If your work schedule is flexible, you may also consider checking out the ticket prices for weekday shows. Compared to the weekend, these special weekday prices are generally reduced to attract a greater audience to the theaters. These daytime shows become an even more enjoyable experience in the spring season. During spring, you may also consider watching movie in a drive-in cinema. These cinemas are a lot cheaper than the contemporary theaters.
4 – Don’t Bother with 3D or IMAX
Many cinemagoers have rushed to the theaters to watch movies filmed in 3D or IMAX technology, only to be disappointed later by the quality of their experience. As 3D is the new craze, many studios are producing films in this version. However, before you decide to pay additional surcharges for film viewing in 3D or IMAX, ask others whether the movie is really worth watching. Honestly, if a movie has to rely on a massive screen or 3D to be good, it’s not that good to begin with. A great movie is great no matter what venue you see it in.
5 – Look for Credit Card Perks
It may also be worth it to check with your credit card issuer about any promotion offers being run. Credit cards may offer perks such as discounted prices, free tickets and reward points on the purchase of tickets.
About the author: Jessica Bosari offers lots of helpful ways to save money and live frugally at SavingTools.com.