EmailABC News’ Paula Faris reports:
Treating yourself or the family to a night of entertainment can be a pricey venture, but there are ways to keep more money in your wallet.
The average American family spends $1,367 per year on fees and admissions. Spending on entertainment defined more broadly tops $4,086, which is a fair chunk of change.
For the Alena family of Princeton, N.J., movie night has become a regular family event.
“Every time there’s a new kid’s movie, we’re there within the opening week,” said Minda Alena.
But when you add in concession stand snacks and dinner, those blockbusters can turn into huge budget busters.
“It can get very expensive,” said Bill Alena. “Well over $100.”
Real Money: Tips for movie goers who want to save money
To find out how to save on your next outing, ABC News enlisted family finance expert Farnoosh Torabi to pay the Alena family a visit, armed and ready with some real money secrets.
1. Buy your movie tickets in bulk, in advance.
You don’t have to stand in line. Buy your tickets online at the movie chains themselves or at warehouses for much less. On a recent trip to Costco, ABC News found discounted movie tickets priced at $15.99 for two people. Based on the Alena families’ local box office price, that saves their family 20 percent.
2. Maximize your club memberships.
Many theatres offer membership affiliation discounts that can add up to big savings. For example, one theatre offered 30 percent off with an AAA membership. But you have to call AAA.
3. Buy unwanted movie gift cards for a steep discount.
Gift cards can be used for tickets and concessions. Experts told ABC News that is where markups can be upwards of 1,000 percent. To find discounted gift cards, visit Plasticjungle.com or giftcardgranny.com
The Alena family spends roughly $2,600 a year on movies, including snacks and dinner. By taking advantage of some of these tips, ABC News’ experts estimate they can save upwards of 30 percent, or $780.
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Go on weeknights or to matinees. Or look for a second run theater.
I work near a cinema that charges $5.25 for tickets on weeknights. I bought the annual popcorn bucket for $18 with refills all year at 3.50. Enough popcorn for the 4-6 colleagues that go to movie night. Just noticed they started a rewards club. Credit for every dollar you spend, tickets or concessions. You can earn free concession items and free tickets.
Posted by: KG | February 22, 2013, 6:51 pm 6:51 pm
Buying movie tickets online or buying a movie ticket gift card is a rip off! They charge more for the tickets than the actual theater prices AND a service charge. I was charged $2.00 using a Fandango gift card!. They charged $16.00 for two tickets and the theater price was $4.50 each!
Posted by: Tami | February 22, 2013, 6:55 pm 6:55 pm
Another way to save money is find a theater that offers discounted prices on certain days. By my house it is every Tuesday for $5. Also regarding food, go to the local supermarket before the movie and buy your stuff there. I would bring in a big purse with me and put the stuff on the bottom so if it is searched they won’t find it. If you see that they are searching bags, grab a bunch of napkins and start coughing and sneezing into them and stuff them on top of the purse. No one wants your cooties and they will not search. Saves a ton of money and offers major portion control. If you have to, buy a soda and share. I know it’s cheating but prices for everything is way out of control and I need to save money wherever I can.
Posted by: Jennifer | February 22, 2013, 6:55 pm 6:55 pm
Move to Michigan. The MJR Theaters have morning showings on the weekend for $4.75. Large popcorn and soda combo is $9.50 with a free refill on both.
Posted by: Fred Roy | February 22, 2013, 6:59 pm 6:59 pm
Who is spending all this money on entertainment? Are you just considering going out to the movies? My family nor do I spend anywhere near the amount listed….but then again we haven’t been to a movie in years. I guess for me I have to consider my commute to work and all the gas and gridlock as my entertainment(that is so much fun for us unworthy serfs). I would like another measurement of central tendency and these households you got this information.
Posted by: algernon | February 22, 2013, 7:26 pm 7:26 pm
I don’t think these are very good deals. You should check with your local theaters. I live in San Diego and everything is pretty expensive, but one of our local Regal Theaters has $5.00 Tuesday and Sunday’s for ANY movie, even new releases. One of the local AMC charges $6.00 for any matinee movie, and an Ultra Star Theater charges about $4 for older movies, which little kids and younger people have probable never seen. So there are better deals out there. We usually go out to eat before going to the movies (It’s less expensive) or we eat at home so we don’t spend all that money on their food. We still get to go out and have fun.
Posted by: Ale | February 22, 2013, 9:55 pm 9:55 pm
I forgot to add, we also go to a drive in which is $6.00 for 2 movies and they are all new releases. And we bring our own pizza and snacks! It’s so much fun, especially in the summer.
Posted by: Ale | February 22, 2013, 9:56 pm 9:56 pm
We go to the matinees or use our military discount, which is the same as matinee price. I buy the large popcorn that has free refills and then I bring individual brown paper lunch bags from home and split the popcorn between all my kids so everyone has their own bag. If we need more, I can go get the free refill. I make my kids share drinks, too, and they don’t care. I have also been known to bring my own boxed candy from the dollar store, although the theater doesn’t really want you to do that. The obscenely high concession prices really rub me the wrong way.
Posted by: runningmom | February 22, 2013, 10:53 pm 10:53 pm