Do You Sneak Snacks Into the Movies to Save Money?

August 15, 2008

It's Friday (score!), which means many of us will head out for a weekend flick. Sitting in the theater without a salty or sweet treat is simply not favorable, but neither are concession stand prices. Paying premium prices for a movie ticket and snacks pushes a relaxed evening into expensive territory, and smuggling treats is a much cheaper alternative.

Source

64 Comments

absolutromantic 4 years 39 weeks

I don't go to the movies very much (maybe a few times a year), but when I do, I ALWAYS bring my own snacks. Usually cut fruit or vegetables in a ziplock bag put into my purse. If anyone at the theater ever complained, I always plan to give them an earful about how I'm not going to eat their crappy junk food and that I'm on a strict diet and this is what I can eat. I really don't care THAT much about the money savings - it's nice, but if they started offering healthy food, I'd probably buy it at the concession stand.

fredonica 4 years 39 weeks

My boyfriend and I always sneak in drinks and snacks. Usually we bring in stuff the theaters don't have, like organic soda, little bottles of Perrier, and fruit. We also go to matinees to save a few bucks. I refuse to pay more than $7 to see a movie ONCE.

fredonica 4 years 39 weeks

xXxSatur9xXx 4 years 39 weeks

The only thing I will buy from the movie theatre is a slushie. mmmm... Everything else is bought from the corner store and goes right into my messenger bag XD

xXxSatur9xXx 4 years 39 weeks

The only thing I will buy from the movie theatre is a slushie. mmmm...Everything else is bought from the corner store and goes right into my messenger bag XD

xXxSatur9xXx 4 years 39 weeks

The only thing I will buy from the movie theatre is a slushie. mmmm... Everything else is bought from the corner store and goes right into my messenger bag XD

brookrene 4 years 39 weeks

movie popcorn makes me sick to my stomach so i bring my own snacks. :) it's not about the money, i just dont want a stomach-ache. ugh.

wednesday_adams 4 years 39 weeks

I will bring a drink because I don't drink soda, and I refuse to pay 3-4 dollars for a water at the movies. I make up for it by ALWAYS buying a soft pretzel when I go, they are SO good.

insanitypepper 4 years 39 weeks

I'm not willing to put up with anything about movie theaters: ticket prices, concession prices, sticky seats, ear drum shattering volumes, obnoxious & inconsiderate patrons...

leeluvfashion 4 years 39 weeks

Forgot to mention that I always bring my own water (I don't drink soda) or bottle of iced green tea. I always carry a large purse and anything can fit in that!

leeluvfashion 4 years 39 weeks

Most of the time, however not only to save money but to also eat a healthier snack (ex: Nature's Promise Honey Oat Pretzel Sticks, a 100 calorie pack of whatever type of cookie/chip, raisins, Newman's Own snacks.) I try to eat healthier and this way I can control the portion. However sometimes I break from that and order nachos or a blue-raspberry slurpie (I'm not a huge fan of popcorn unless it is carmalized.)

adrianac7 4 years 39 weeks

if I want movie snacks there's no way i'd pay for the ones they sell at the theater! did I mention my local movie theater charges $3 for parking on top of the $9 ticket!

imdamoos 4 years 39 weeks

I like movie popcorn, but sometimes I just want my own food.Once I snuck in a jar of marshmallow fluff, and another time I snuck in two smoothies in my purse (one for my friend).

imdamoos 4 years 39 weeks

I like movie popcorn, but sometimes I just want my own food. Once I snuck in a jar of marshmallow fluff, and another time I snuck in two smoothies in my purse (one for my friend).

pinky23 4 years 39 weeks

the candy portions at theaters are huge, but i love the popcorn (with butter!), so i'll buy popcorn and bring candy.

ilanac13 4 years 39 weeks

i almost need the 'other' option here. for myself - i usually get popcorn so i buy i there, but my fiance almost ALWAYS brings something with him. i don't know for sure that it's to save money but i know that it does since he doesn't have to pay the exorbitant amount of money for a bag of candy when we have it at home already.

kscincotta 4 years 39 weeks

I almost always stop at Starbucks on my way to the movie theater for a cup of coffee and walk right into the theater, cup in hand. I've never once been stopped and it definitely keeps me from snacking away all my money!

samantha999 4 years 39 weeks

Absolutely. Movies are expensive and the concession stand is just calories waiting to assault my hips.

ImJessica 4 years 39 weeks

My mom always used to make me do this when I was little, and I found it SO embarrassing, but now I always put a bottle of water and some candy in my purse! I'm not going to pay 3-4 times the normal price for a box of Junior Mints.

ImJessica 4 years 39 weeks

Shadowcat14 4 years 39 weeks

*directed at sweetstanzy's comment* eek! That would be horrible. I was stopped once because I was trying to carry something in and I was holding it, never a bag search though. Hopefully the theatre companies will never become that desperate.

valancyjane 4 years 39 weeks

"I don't feel a burden to purchase insanely expensive theater crud while I'm out for a movie. Purchasing the ticket is how I show my support." Darn right. My parents never let us get snacks at the movies when I was growing up and I rarely do now. I have one friend who always brings me a Diet Coke when we go together, so I do sneak a drink in when I go with her, but that's the only time. It's not as if the outside food and drink makes a bigger mess than the stuff you buy there.

sweetstanzy 4 years 39 weeks

I bring snacks in all the time. that's what my big purse is for. But I'm afraid that theatres may start cracking down and do bag checks like at the airport.

lizs 4 years 39 weeks

My mom always wanted to do this when I was little and it totally embarrassed me (not like anyone knew - it's dark in the movie theater!)...now I follow in her footsteps. Like many others, I think movie theater snacks can be kind of gross, so I'd rather bring my own healthy treats if we think we'll be hungry.

chatondeneige 4 years 39 weeks

I usually keep a little stash of 100 calorie packs or little peanut butter crackers in my purse, so it's not unusual for me to happen to have snacks in there at any given time... It's usually not an intentional sneak, though, it's just something that I happen to have.

Link Love

64 Comments

You Might Also Like