Hitting up your local theater with your family sounds great, especially on a rainy day. But when you factor in the costs of exorbitantly priced snacks and tickets (ranging from $9 to $13 for an adult ticket in the U.S.), a trip to the movies can quickly empty your wallet. How does a family on a tight budget combat such costs? Before you settle in with a DVD, try these cost-cutting ideas.

1. Take the family to a matinee. Most theatres offer a considerable discount for the earlier viewings.
2. Check out the independent theatres in your area for cheap flicks. Many smaller, independent theatres offer “second runs” of popular movies. These are movies that have already been out for a few months but haven’t been released to DVD or streaming services.
3. Bring your own snacks. Theaters frown upon this practice, but when you’re on a budget every penny counts. Tuck bags of snacks into pockets or purses and snack responsibly!
4. Better yet, don’t buy snacks at all. Keep your family from over indulging at the movies by eating lunch (or dinner) before you leave home.
5. Shop for discounted movie passes through your employer, warehouse store, association, or club.
6. Have the kids earn their trip to the movies by completing extra chores around the house.
7. Join your theater’s membership program. These “frequent buyer” programs allow you to build points toward discounted tickets, drinks, and snacks.
8. Avoid gimmicks like 3D, IMAX, or DBOX. Upgraded seats can sometimes double the cost of a ticket.
9. Take advantage of discount days. Theaters want to attract customers, especially when kids are on school vacation, and often offer screenings of family films at a lower price point.
10. Shop around. Theaters owned by the same company may offer different prices in different locations. If you don’t mind a little extra travel time, you may be able to save money on ticket prices.

Being on a budget doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a good film. Share your family’s strategies on saving big bucks at the big screen in the comments below!