Our Frugal Lifestyle

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Passionate about eco-frugality. I used to party hard, clubbing my way from pay-packet to pay-packet. Never getting ahead, just getting by. Then came our much wanted baby with no savings in the bank - only an old car. Changes were made to our lifestyle and we didn't turn back. In the past 6yrs we purchased a flat, found employment, lived below our means, built an emergency fund, purchased a reliable car and saw the financial benefits of our frugal lifestyle. Our only debt is our mortgage. Our aim is to manage our cash flow wisely, pay off our home quickly and eventually work for pleasure, not necessity. Join us on our journey, share insights, tips and tricks to help us and others to get ahead while having a good time.

Saturday, November 13, 2010

An Outing To The Cinema

On Wednesday night we headed out to the cinema. My mum had been given 2 tickets in exchange for a completed survey. She in turn gave them to us. She babysat Dolly for us while we went out to see Eat, Pray, Love.

Have you been to the movies in Australia lately??? The Candy bar prices are totally over the top. For a large coke and popcorn you need to fork out $15. Two lots = $30. I don't know if the prices are this high in other countries, but I know I don't want to waste that much money for cinema nibbles!!!

However I do like rubbish snack food... and know I will be tempted by the candy bar, so I always plan a quick supermarket shop and a big handbag to stash food before going to the cinema. And this time was no exception. I purchased a bottle of sarsaparilla and chips (crisps) for myself and a bottle of ginger beer and bag of lollies (candy / sweets) for The Rambling Expat. The total cost being $6.88. There's a huge difference between $30 and $6.88, and I prefer that difference in my pocket!
Supermarket Junk Food Cheaper Than Cinema Junk Food.
When I go to the cinema I always use my FREE loyalty card. After 10 movies are logged onto my Events card I get a FREE cinema ticket. They not only log sessions you have paid for but also tickets that were received as gifts or in competitions. I also use my VISA card for all my purchases. I know frugality usually means no credit cards, but I jump on the net every few days to pay it all off, so I never get the fees, but I do get the points which I then redeem for supermarket vouchers. I also use my FREE Flybuys card for my Coles purchases (not in this pic) and once again redeem my points for supermarket vouchers.
Make It Work For You!
I make it all work for me as much as possible and as best as I can. I used to be lazy, disorganised and unworried about it all. I would pay for parking, get cinema tickets and buy up big at the candy bar. But now my mindset has changed and I want to save for future goals such as holidays, study, Dolly and retirement. All these small frugal steps allow me to save pennies here and there, growing my pool of cash larger and larger. I am still disorganised though! If I was better organised I would be much further ahead of the game in all areas of my life.

How about you? Are you organised? Or a big entertainment / junk food spender? Are your cinema candy bar prices just as crazy as those in the NT in Australia? Please feel FREE to comment  :-)

5 comments:

  1. Dear Frugal Down Under,

    I wish me and my husband could go to Cinema like you are since my parents and his live in another city. I envy you, mate... hehehe...

    Anyway, instead of going to the Cinema, we usually rent the DVD and make our "Home Theater".

    The cinema candy bars are also more expensive compared to the supermarket in Indonesia. The cinema tickets are varied, depends on which cinema will you choose to go.

    Me and my husband are waiting for "Harry Potter and the Deadly Hallows, the finale" premiere on 17 November in Indonesia, my sisters will be in Jakarta, so they can babysit our children.

    Have a nice weekend.

    -Tia-

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  2. We go to the cinema on Sunday mornings when we want to see a film, it's the cheapest time. We take a flask and some coffee, usually a small picnic each. I won't pay their prices and they can't see what we're drinking in the dark

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  3. Yeah the cost of going to the movies, its crazy, I do like their popcorn though! I wish i wasnt so lazy. Hey that rhymes! Was the movie any good?

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  4. Hi Melissa,
    The movie was alright. I wouldn't pay to see it again. It was a bit flat and the acting didn't seem real or passionate.
    I've heard the book is so much better then the movie.

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  5. Hi Frugal Down Under, I'm just catching-up reading all your posts;) My man and I have only been to the cinema once in the five years we've been together, and never likely to go again! A good film is wasted on him but is one of my fave things so I enjoy dvd and my own company! I notice my kids - now grown - go on two-for-one nights or cheap afternoon performances, and take their own snacks, sensible!

    pamela x

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Thanks for commenting - I love getting feedback, sharing experiences and learning from you.