I mentioned in my Frugal Summer series, one of the ways you can save money is by watching what movie theatres you attend, as the cost varies significantly. Last Thursday on a whim, we almost went to see a movie. Now I have to say, we are infrequent screen watchers – in the last almost 11 months I’ve been a mother, we have seen 2 films in the movie theatre. One was a Christmas treat of a beloved children’s book (Hugo) and the other a film very special to my children, which also happened to be a Birthday treat (The Lorax). The film last week which we were invited to see wasn’t a favourite, in fact, as my children watch no tv, they hadn’t even heard of it. But it was hot and I think we all needed a change of scene. So we went on our merry way, only we ended up getting stuck in traffic and during that time my sensible side came out. I realized spending $50 on a movie was just not wise and it wasn’t exercising discernment. Sure other people may be able to do that, but we can’t, that $50 would give my daughter another physiotherapy session, and/or be almost a week’s grocery money. Just as I was fretting about what to do instead, I remembered we were near a wonderful park we haven’t visited in a while, so we went there and saw turtles and ducks in the large pond, went for a walk through interesting trails and to our surprise, enjoyed a free concert in the park – my two wee ones danced the night away. And when the temperatures got too hot, we began the journey home stopping at a wonderful library en route, where I read them a bedtme story (haven’t you ever had a bedtime story in your day clothes at a public library?). And despite the inital disappointment, my children went to bed filled with excitement about our day and I didn’t have to worry about our budget.
There is nothing wrong with going to the movies. There is nothing wrong with splurging every once in a while. But in this instance, such an impulsive choice was certainly not right, and we found a more frugal alternative, without too much heartache, with a bit of thinking and a bit of luck.
It is always good to stop and consider what we spend before we spend it. I always think I’m being frugal when I consciously choose to find less expensive ways of doing something I want to do. Sometimes this means not doing it at all
Good move on your part.
Save for an inexpensive tv/built in dvd player. Then visit your library to borrow dvd’s. Library may also have books on tape/cd.
Good for you Frugal Trenches! I totally get the part about “could be another physiotherapy session” – when you think of it that way, it isn’t much of a choice!
It is perfectly OK to splurge, but you have to make sure the splurges are what YOU want to do, not what someone thinks you might want to do.
While you’re in a position to have to make choices between a movie or physio it’s a no-brainer isn’t it. When we can make choices like that and we feel good about it, it’s such a good feeling
Sometimes though, I spend money recklessly but decide not to beat myself up about it. For instance I will go out for a friend’s birthday and pledge to buy only dinner and a wine and I’ll end up having a great night and kick on with everyone having more wine and getting cabs and paying cover charges etc, but when I wake up and start wishing I hadn’t been so frivolous I think ‘wait a minute that happens about twice a year I am entitled to that’ and stop myself feeling bad. It’s easy when money isn’t free flowing to get down on ourselves for allowing the odd expensive fun to happen and when the time is right I think we should do it!
But movies are so expensive aren’t they! You can see them on DVD or from the library
this summer i am trying to look for free activities. My son is very sick so simple pleasures are the order of the day. Glad you found a better day – i find sometimes that the movies are expensive and after they want to do something else – not really satisfying in some ways ! Enjoy the summer and i am so glad your son is feeling better. I am a bit tired today as i was up until 330 am with mine ! kids ! but they are truly the most wonderful things in the world !!
Depending on where you are, many movie theaters have cheap showings (~ $1) of second run kids’ movies on summer mornings. One program is http://www.regmovies.com/summermovieexpress/ (I don’t have any affiliation with Regal) but I know there are others. My kids’ first movie theater experience was a summer morning viewing of Wallace and Grommit shorts!
Good thinking, and I admire your ability to think through these things carefully and logically and then change your plans in order to do what’s right for.
I hate paying to go to the cinema – if their prices were lower, they would fill the cinema up more days than not. Most of the time that I do go, there are about 15 people watching the film! Good choice with the park,
Cheers – Joolz