What family doesn’t enjoy a night at the movies? Unfortunately, the economy has made it harder for families to enjoy this activity. A simple night out at the movies for a family of four, plus drinks and snacks, can cost close to $75. In a rough economy, most families simply can’t afford this type of entertainment every week. Thankfully, there are ways to enjoy movie night at home. This week, let’s bring back family night by enjoying a few movies. There will even be money left over for drinks and snacks.

First, let’s discuss the movies. There are several options that will help families save money. Pay Per View movies cost around $5. Movie rentals from a local video store are slightly less. But, the biggest savings comes from online rental services. These services can save families a ton of money. For example, most companies offer 3 movies out at a time for around $25. That’s 12 movies a month. Just think how much 12 movies would cost at the theater! Best of all, family movie night can be enjoyed all evening long. Everyone can choose a movie they love.

Now what about snacks? Movie theaters make most of their money by charging outrageous prices on simple things like popcorn and soda. For example, a large bucket of popcorn costs around $7 and a large soda costs around $5. You can recreate the entire movie experience for less than $20!

2 liters of pop $6
4 boxes of movie theater candy $4
1 box of microwave movie theater popcorn $6

As you can see, it’s much more affordable to enjoy movie night at home. You could even afford to make nachos and hot dogs if you wanted. And, once you discover how much money you can save, you may want to invest in a movie theater style popcorn machine.

Movies don’t have to be reserved for the theater to be good. In fact, movies are even better at home. So why not gather the family together this evening and enjoy a few movies? This is truly an activity you can afford every week.