10 Ways to Save Money at the Movies

1. Use Price Clubs
   If you have a Sam’s Club or Costco membership, you can save on movie tickets. Head to the consumer service desk and ask about discount tickets – you can usually score them for a few bucks off. I’m not a club shopper, but I discovered that my local grocery store and gas station offer cheaper tickets. I can then save even more by using a cash back credit card that offers additional rewards for shopping at these locations. Call around to different stores in your area and you might find a cheaper way to see the same movie that everyone else pays full price for.
   
   
2. Go in the afternoon
   
   
   When my kids are rowdy and restless, I usually load them into the SUV and drive to the movies. This is perfect, since matinees cost way less than evening showings. In fact, I can usually purchase all of the tickets for less than $10, which makes it a worthy way to spend my money on something fun for the kids – and something stress-free for me.
   Call and ask the theater about ticket discounts or check Fandango online. Matinees, senior discounts, and student discounts can help you shave a couple dollars off ticket prices, making a trip to the movies less of a financial burden.
3. Buy at the Box Office
   
   Buying tickets online is convenient, right? Too bad you get charged a fee for that convenience. Most booking sites charge $1 to $2 for you to use the service, making your tickets even more expensive. Even if you want to snag tickets for a hot movie in advance, head right to the box office and don’t pay added fees.
   
4. Find a Late-Run Theater 
   
   My neighborhood has a late-run theater. Instead of seeing movies when they first come out, I can catch them after they’ve been released for a few weeks at a greatly reduced price. This means that I sometimes have to wait to see a movie I want to check out, but often, it’s worth the savings. It’s also a great way to re-watch a flick that you loved in the first-run theater.
   
5. Skip the 3D
   
   We all know that 3D movies are the newest gimmick to get you to flock to the theater, but you must pay a premium price. If it doesn’t matter much to you, inquire about a 2D showing instead. It will save you money, and is better for kids who can’t keep the glasses on the entire time. You’ll also pay more for an IMAX movie, so make sure the flick is really worth seeing in 3D on the big screen or you’ll be forking over major dough to go.
   
6. Divvy up the Snacks
   
   I used to always buy my kids separate snacks to reduce fights and whining. Of course, it’s cheaper to buy larger quantities of popcorn at the movies – purchasing my kids two small popcorns and a medium for myself wasn’t exactly cost-effective. However, I once saw a mother pull out several brown paper bags from her purse and divvy up her large popcorn among them. Her three kids each had their own bag to limit squabbling, and she saved by buying a larger tub. Genius!
   
7. Eat Beforehand
   
   Sneaking food into the theater is against the rules, so I won’t advise you to do that. But if you’ve got the time, grab something to eat before you set foot in the theater. That way, you’re not overwhelmed by temptation to buy nachos and hot dogs – premium snacks that cost a premium price. Instead, make a pact with yourself that you’ll grab a drink and one snack to stay within budget.
   
8. Group Deals
   
   Groupon and LivingTons of group deal websites – like Social – offer deals for movies. Since it’s difficult to snag cheap tickets for particular theaters, you can look for deals instead for ticketing websites, like Fandango. It’s usually a percentage off the ticket price, or a flat rate price for two tickets to a specific movie. It’s perfect when you’re lining up a date night with your partner; you’ll get a code to enter into the ticketing website when purchasing the tickets. Just keep in mind that convenience fees still often apply.
   
9. Gift Cards
   
   You might think that a trip to the movies is a perfect gift, but not everyone thinks that way. Enter gift card swap sites, like Raise. When a person gets a gift card that he or she probably won’t use, it can be listed on the site. Shoppers like you can then snag the gift cards on the cheap, sometimes for a seriously deep discount. Check to see what’s available – for example, you can get a $25 gift card to AMC Theatres for 14% off.
   
10. Sign Up With the Theater Online
    
    Purchasing your movie tickets from a second-party website might be super convenient, but you might not be getting the best deal. Sign up for newsletters and promos with your neighborhood theater directly via their website. Also follow them on their social media accounts, including Facebook and Twitter. When you book tickets, you’ll avoid extra fees, and you might even get a heads up about cheap movie days, special discounts, and coupons for concessions like popcorn, drinks, and candy to relieve some of the burden on your wallet.