Movies for twice the price? Nah, let's just go home.

[baburu]

Hi everyone, this is my first post.

Every since finding this site two months ago I've been making changes to optimize my life. My first was to start noting down everything I spend down to the penny. Soon I was packing my lunch to work everyday and riding my bike (almost unused for more than 10 years!) to the gym.

But this post is about an experience I had half an hour ago. My girlfriend and I don't go out much, but tonight we decided to go to the movies on a date. We choose a particular theater where we could get a 50% discount with a certain card I have. We lined up to buy the tickets (I've never seen the place so full) and, when our turn came, I saw a sign at the counter saying they don't accept that card anymore since last month. That meant our plan to spend $18 total would turn into $36 instead. We looked at each other and she said, "Let's just go home watch a movie".

On our way back my girlfriend was making moustache grooming-like gestures, which made me laugh hard. She doesn't even read the blog but I've told her quite a bit about it.

The best thing is, if this had happened up until a few months ago we would simply have paid up. Thanks MMM and fellow mustachians for helping us see unnecessary expenses for what they are. I'm sure our investments will appreciate the extra $36.

Now the two of us are going to cuddle up and watch a Japanese movie at home.

[Paul der Krake]

Wait, $9 for a ticket is supposed to be half price?

Welcome!

[baburu]

$18 for a full-price ticket is in local currency, about US$9, so US$4.5 for half-price ticket.

[Stachsquatch]

Welcome to the better life ;)

[sheepstache]

Wait, $9 for a ticket is supposed to be half price?

But this has nothing to do with why movie sales are down, of course.  It's those darn pirates!

[limeandpepper]

Welcome!

On our way back my girlfriend was making moustache grooming-like gestures

Haha I love this. So cute.

Wait, $9 for a ticket is supposed to be half price?

I know OP has since clarified, but I gotta jump in and horrify everyone a bit - if you are located in Australia, yes. $18 is the standard full price adult movie ticket. Add more if you're watching 3D.

[GreenGuava]

I know OP has since clarified, but I gotta jump in and horrify everyone a bit - if you are located in Australia, yes. $18 is the standard full price adult movie ticket. Add more if you're watching 3D.

My goodness.  I hear in New York it's $24 for a matinee, or $8 to sneak in for free.  Prices across the board are up.

[GuitarStv]

3D in movies sucks . . . dim, flickering, and gimmicky.  They should offer a discount for movies shown in 3D.

[marty998]

Yes Aus is nuts, but the FX rate is not 2 to 1.

I only go to the movies now when I get given gift vouchers. Can't bring myself to spend $16-$18 on a ticket for essentially the same old hollywood formulaic rubbish. boy meets girl, boy fights evil mastermind with doomsday device, boy rescues girl, evil mastermind fights back, boys struggles with evil mastermind over a gun and is bleeding from a cut above his eye, girl helps save the day, boy kisses girl, the end.

I make an exception for the LOTR and the Hobbit series (2nd movie Desolation of Smaug is out on boxing day this year), but otherwise not going to do it.

[totoro]

LOTR and Hobbit... I'm excited for the next one. 

[btau]

$18 aud isn't $9 USD, its $18.36 USD.

I'm so sick of the Australia tax.

[limeandpepper]

$18 aud isn't $9 USD, its $18.36 USD.

I'm so sick of the Australia tax.

Read the bit I quoted, we're talking about half price vs full price. So $18 if full price, and $9 if that's halved. I wouldn't quibble about 36 cents / 18 cents when the exchange rates are so close and fluctuate anyway.

[RedMaple]

Sounds like you found a keeper.

I haven't been to the theatre in years because there aren't any movies I am excited to see. Ticket prices have sky rocketed in the last decade; but the quality of films have sunk. Not to mention food prices have gotten out of control as well. It's so easy to throw away $50 on two people.