Sticker Shock

**nuisance26** · 07-25-2011, 04:49 PM

~Every time I go out now I have to fight to keep myself from freaking out.
This weekend we took our 6 and 8 year old to their first ever movie at the theater. $33 for two adults and two children at the matinee.

I hadn't been to the theater since December 2005. I think tickets were $6.50 then.
I never buy snacks but we had free popcorn coupons and I wanted my kids to have a special memory so I stood in line to redeem my coupons. I watched 30+ people move through the lines paying $4-9 for popcorn and $4-6 for drinks. I think my eyes were as big as dinner plates by that point.
I also took my 6 yo to the beach over the weekend. There are still a few free beaches so we went to one of those. But gas cost $12. Sunscreen was $2 higher this year too. We stopped for an ice cream cone on the way home. Prices have gone up! $6 for two small soft-serve cones.

And this wasn't an ice cream stand at the shore, so it wasn't tourist trap inflation.
I feel so ooooooooold. I'm already griping about how bread used to be $.39 at Aldi. What's it gonna be like 30 years from now? I'm trying to take a positive attitude, like I've resigned myself to paying $2.50 a pound for meat now and I'm ok with that. When it goes less than that I do a double-take and a happy dance but I don't expect or often see sales like that anymore. I'm more diligent than ever about getting good deals.
It just seems like every time I try to buy something I haven't picked up in a while I get depressed. *sigh* ~

**Contrary Housewife** · 07-25-2011, 05:06 PM

Costs are going up everywhere. DH works for the theater home office, and he says they make most of their money off the drinks and snacks now, as the ticket $$$ goes to the movie companies that make the films. The cost of popcorn is up. The oil to cook it is up. Candy prices have skyrocketed, etc.

I agree the prices seem outrageous, and we don't buy it either, but you're right there's a line every time we go so a lot of people seem to be "enjoying the experience" as they say.

I wish I could find meat for $2.50 a pound around here -- that wasn't full of preservatives and processed with huge amounts of salt. Aside from chicken legs which go on sale all the time I'm starting to think $3.99 is a good price for pork and beef.

**craftypam** · 07-25-2011, 05:13 PM

I so agree with you nuisance. My ds took me to the movies a couple of times in the last year during the day; so it was cheaper. At our theaters the first show is more expensive, then the next show is cheaper and then of course the evening are expensive again. I really wanted a frosty the other day and had not had one in a long time. A decent size used to be $1; I paid $1.49 for this little one. It won't happen again. Todd Wilbur has a copycat recipe OR I'll stir up some regular ice cream.
I don't think all of it has to do with age nuisnace, some of it has to do with our cr***** economy. Our library has movies for free; you may have to wait for a little while to get them, but free is sure better.

AND grocery store prices are just out of this world!!!!! I'm at a point that I just try to buy loss leaders

**brenda67** · 07-25-2011, 05:48 PM

I totally understand the sticker shock..I haven't been to the movies in a couple of years...I really want to sees the new Harry Potter movie but it would cost at least $50.00 or more for a family of 6..so I've decided that I will have to wait till it comes out on DVD...I bought everyone of the Harry Potter movies so I will complete my set..The grocery store is just plain upsetting to me.. "Me who just loves to grocery shop".. I just can't find the good deals like I use to...ie my dh love hershey choclate bars w/almonds so I know at Walmart the 6-pk is $2.49 (last week) I had some $1.00/2 manufacture coupons that I had ordered and happen to be near Walmart and they hd raised the price to $2.99..I had to take a second look to make sure I wasn't seeing the price wrong..It just plain sucks!

**dancemommy** · 07-25-2011, 06:58 PM

Around here you can go to movies a couple of mornings each week for $1. They are not new, but kid movies. On Tuesdays our theater has tickets for $5 all day- to ALL movies- that doesn't hurt so bad. Sneak in candy and use coupons to buy popcorn when you can or buy the big huge refillable buckets and one refillable drink, shove some baggies in your pocket to doll it out and eat as much as you can! That is what we do...As for ice cream- McDonald's around here has 49 cent ice cream cones! There are coupons for BOGO Blizzards at McDonalds. Good luck- summer is expensive!

**Imarachne** · 07-25-2011, 07:08 PM

I'm on Social Security only and I have learned to love ramen noodles !

**craftypam** · 07-25-2011, 07:48 PM

I love ramen noodles, but they are not good for my health because of the salt. Someone put a copycat recipe for the seasoning, but it wasn't for the chicken one.

**mh3rdwheel** · 07-25-2011, 07:51 PM

If you are a member of AAA in my area you can get matinee tickets a lot cheaper than that, plus maps,etc.

**Darlene** · 07-25-2011, 07:57 PM

Doesn't seem like it takes too long before the big movies are at Redbox for $1 and that's a nice alternative if you can wait but you miss out on the whole movie theater thing. It really is too bad but as I find myself saying a lot more "it is what it is"

I used to stock up when I saw a sale but lately I haven't had the money to do so, planning things with what's on sale or on hand is what I've been doing lately.

**brennasmom** · 07-25-2011, 08:44 PM

We go to the movies very rarely. Me, DD, and DS did go on DD's birthday earlier this month but I had 2 free passes and used the entertainment book coupon that got DD in free since it was her b-day.

It seems there isn't even much of a price difference between matinee and the evening show... it seems like it used to be a lot more savings.

That is why we stick to netflix and redbox.

Hubby was just telling me at one theater they had the Imax (some guy movie) and it was $25.00 per. ticket. ****thud*****

**Palooka** · 07-26-2011, 12:49 AM

I hear you. I can't even remember the last time I've been to the movies. I really wanted to take my son to see Cars2. Until I did the math on the matinee for our family.

I'm still thinking about it though...

**mauimagic** · 07-26-2011, 01:27 AM

I treated myself to the New HP movie in 3D yesterday - got in for $9.95 which was $1 off regular because I'm a senior!! For the first time in years, I did purchase a medium popcorn and water - never mind what that cost.

thankfully DH has been doing most of the grocery shopping - I just keep walking around looking for something that looks affordable!!

**sinopa27** · 07-26-2011, 05:51 AM

i don't think I will be able to afford a movie at the theater anymore cause the prices are ridiculous. I will have to wait but it is so tempting. The candy is so high there and at the Dollar tree, the same size box of candy is a dollar.
They pop that popcorn and make it smell so good. Thats how they get you!! The last time I went, i got the kids tray of popcorn that included a drink and candy.
Is it dishonest to brink your own drink and candy??

**ilovechocolate** · 07-26-2011, 06:37 AM

At our movie theaters the matinees (before 6 p.m.) are $6.50.

I went to see the new Harry Potter at 11:30 a.m. and got in for $6.50, which surprised me----I really thought they would be charging more. It was the regular 2D movie, not 3D or IMAX.

And the grocery stores----oh, my, it's discouraging. Even the loss leaders aren't as good as they used to be. Thank goodness we now have an Aldi's.

**sinopa27** · 07-26-2011, 06:55 AM

Originally Posted by ilovechocolate

At our movie theaters the matinees (before 6 p.m.) are $6.50.

I went to see the new Harry Potter at 11:30 a.m. and got in for $6.50, which surprised me----I really thought they would be charging more. It was the regular 2D movie, not 3D or IMAX.

And the grocery stores----oh, my, it's discouraging. Even the loss leaders aren't as good as they used to be. Thank goodness we now have an Aldi's.

I have a question about Aldi's. The brands in that store are not familiar to me. I am kinda hesitant cause I am not sure if it will be good or not and then I lose money. Are those brands good like the name brands that are most popular and costly?