29 Apr
2010

Watching movies is great fun, but buying new movies can easily run you $20 or more and dinner and a movie can easily top $50. While that won’t exactly leave you dependant on payday loans in most cases, it can wreak havoc with your budget, and anyway that $50 is better served in your buffer account. Even if you’re a cinephile, though, there are some thrifty ways to see plenty of movies for (almost) free:

1) Check out garage sales – and stick with older technology. At garage sales, it’s not unusual to find VHS tapes and DVDs for under a dollar, which is much cheaper than renting or seeing a movie in theaters.

2) Visit your local library. Your local library is usually well-stocked with DVDs and even Blue-Ray, including the latest releases. The best news? It’s all free.

3) Check out your video store. Your video store may have specials (such as two for one deals) and big-discount sales on previously-viewed videos. Most stores will buy many copies of the latest DVD and then sell off those copies at a deep discount once new videos are released. It’s a cheap way to buy recent DVDs for very little. Also, shop around for the lowest-cost video store in your area – it can save you a few dollars on every rental, which can add up.

4) Exercise some patience. The longer you wait after a DVD comes out, the cheaper it will be. Watching last year’s movies now is a lot less expensive than watching the latest releases in theaters.

5) Use your TV. Even local cable companies air movies for free on your TV.

6) Get in tune with local free screenings. Plenty of organizations in your area offer free or almost-free movie screenings. Check out local colleges, film societies, libraries, fund raisers, and film festivals or events. Some screen even new movies for free.