Friday, October 26, 2012 12:40 PM

Our family loves going to the movies.  In fact, we'd love to go more often but let's face it, for the average household it's a huge expense for only a couple of hours' entertainment.  Fortunately there are some easy ways to keep the costs down, thanks to tips like these.  Give them a go!

Get the timing right.  In many theatres, you can make some handy savings on seeing your chosen movie by watching it before 6pm.  Or, if it's not imperative that you see a new release as soon as it comes out, wait a while until it becomes a discount showing. You still get to enjoy the movie experience long before it comes out on DVD – but for much less cost.

Eat before you go.  Just as the saying 'don't shop on an empty stomach' goes, if you're serious about saving money don't go to the movies on an empty stomach either!  Theatres make a staggering amount from drink and snack sales and by the time you've bought popcorn, a drink and some lollies, you can spend as much in food as your ticket, doubling your expense!  Check the movie times early and give yourself enough time to eat dinner or lunch beforehand to make sure that you don't need anything to snack on.  If it just doesn't feel the same without popcorn, bring your own popcorn and drinks from home for a fraction of the price.

Weigh up the cost of your movie.  While they all sound fantastic, not all movies are suitable for 3D or IMAX viewing - it depends on how they have been filmed.  Many movies have been converted to 3D or IMAX later, simply to make more money out of movie goers but with less than perfect results.  A good way to check whether a movie is worth paying the extra for to see in 3D  is to go online to RealorFake3D.com,  however the majority of movies are perfectly acceptable to watch in 2D and will cost you less.  

Loyalty pays off.  Cinema loyalty programs are usually free but even if your local one isn't, it could be worth it if you go to the movies a lot. It may take a few trips to see any real savings, but is worth it in the long run as you can score some great freebies such as free movies or popcorn and advance screenings to new releases.