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Saturday 16 December 2017

5 Things Cheaper Than a Cinema Ticket

cinema-ticket

Over recent years, the price of the average cinema ticket has seen a massive hike. While going out to the movies is still a popular activity, this popularity is gradually dropping as people give the big screen a miss in favour of watching their films on DVD or streaming services.

However, this is a big shame, as a trip to the cinema provides a much more special, cultured experience. You get to share all the fun, excitement, action and adventure with fellow movie-goers, watching the film from the shelter of a darkened theatre and becoming totally immersed in the movie experience. Of course, the cinema also has its drawbacks (prices aside, for the time being) and some people do prefer to stay home and watch films at their own pace from the comfort of their own homes.

But in spite of this, the cinema is a real cultural institution; one which is becoming increasingly at risk of dying out due to the ever-increasing ticket price rises.

To put things into perspective, I've come up with a short list of just a few things which are cheaper than the average cinema ticket in the UK today. From the fun to the essential, here are my thoughts!

Coffee

A cup of coffee is often used as a comparison by charities looking to guilt people into donating to their cause, but it's true that the price of your humble cup of morning coffee is a great place to start. Whether you prefer a bog-standard coffee or a fancier, custom drink, the fact remains that you could buy at least two hot drinks for the price of a typical cinema ticket. Food for thought?

Dinner

Sticking with the foodie theme, when was the last time you went out for dinner? Whether it's a relaxing takeaway, a restaurant date or a meal out with friends or family, going out for dinner is a great way to escape the usual kitchen chores for a night! Depending on where you go and what you eat, you can easily get a filling meal for less than the cost of a standard cinema ticket. Dinner and a movie? With prices like these, it might just be time to give the movie a miss.

A Book

Granted, as a book blogger, I may be a little biased here, but finding a good book to get stuck into is one of the best ways to relax and spend your free time. Unless you're after a just-released hardback, many paperbacks and downloadable books are both affordable and enjoyable. If you're really looking to save money, you could visit a second-hand or charity shop, or even better, head down to your local library for a wealth of reading materials on hand for free!

Charity Donation

While we're sitting here debating the cost of cinema tickets, it's easy to forget about the many people around the world who are less fortunate than us. Whether it's the homeless or people who are struggling to get by in our own communities or those in need further afield, sometimes we all need to do our bit to help out. Whether it's dropping some spare change into a collection box or setting up a regular donation, just think - how much do you really want to see that movie?

Movie Streaming Service Subscription

Finally, it's time for the most interesting one of the five. Although the price of film streaming subscription services like Netflix do vary, many monthly memberships will cost you the same, if not less, as one single cinema ticket. Why pay to see one film when you can pay less and have access to a whole host of movies and TV shows at your fingertips?

Of course, this is just a fun list, but the reality is that the situation is getting worse. Thanks to the price hikes, many people are simply getting priced out of a visit to the cinema, with what used to be a fairly regular activity now being reserved only for the most special of occasions. Couples, friends and families are avoiding the cinema and waiting for films to be released on DVD or streaming services - if something isn't done soon, will the money-grabbing people at the top end up spelling the beginning of the end for UK cinema?

One thing's for sure - between cinema ticket price rises and the increasing popularity of big-budget TV shows like Game of Thrones, we're fast approaching a crisis for the future of big-screen cinema here in the UK.

What do you think? Should cinema ticket prices be lowered? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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