Join Mavis Butterfield for vegetable gardening and canning tips, easy recipes, and saving money strategies (Rug hooking, too!). Simple living at its best!
Yesterday we went to the movies, which is a rare treat for us. We had left the house so quickly that I had forgot to pack a few snacks in my purse. So The Girl and I ran to the store and picked up a few supplies.
And then after our purses we full, we stuffed the extra candy down our pants.
Do you do this?
Or am I totally weird?
This post may contain affiliate links. These affiliate links help support this site. For more information, please see my disclosure policy. Thank you for supporting One Hundred Dollars a Month.
Error: No feed found.
Please go to the Instagram Feed settings page to create a feed.
LisaB says
You’re not weird… beyond acceptable limits, anyway! My sister used to work at a movie theater and I was a frequent patron who frequently snuck in a myriad of snacks. But um, I just used my purse and coat pockets. Coolest thing I ever smuggled in: a full-on super-sized McNugget meal from McDonald’s. With. Drink. *BOOM*
Amanda says
I just bring a big ol’ 2 gallon bag of popcorn and lots of candy and drinks from home in a tote bag. If anyone puts up a fuss about it I tell them about my sons allergies and ask if they can guarantee that their food is safe for him. that makes em quiet real quick.
LaToya says
We don’t go to the movies often – because of the price – but if we do, yes, we sneak it all in. Sometimes snackies from the stockpile…sometimes we’ll stop at the dollar store and get the movie theater boxes of candies for $1 and divide them up in to Ziploc bags. We do soda cans too. I ain’t spendin’ $40 on snacks for the fam at the movies – that’s cray.
Jan says
Not weird at all. We do it all the time, but with hubby and the two boys, they always want to bring mondo food and leave it all for me to carry. It’s no fun trying to look “natural” with a 25 lb. purse! LOL!
Connie says
I can’t remember the last time we bought snacks in the theater. I’ve been known to bring in a Starbucks drink.
Carin says
There is nothing weird about doing this. There’s a Target and Dollar Tree next to the movie theater I go to the most frequently and I always stop in one or the other and pick up snacks. I carry a large bag so fitting it in is never an issue. I just have to make sure my bag doesn’t rattle as I walk. 🙂
Jane says
That’s great! I say sneak it in however you can!
Melody @ This Beautiful Frugal Life says
I swear, I am so darn moral in all areas of my life but I WILL sneak food into the theater. The prices they charge are downright atrocious. We could never afford to pay for tickets and get snacks. I always remember my Mom doing it with me and she is the worst liar in the world. She’d be giggling so hard the entire time that she’s just about give us away! I’m sure you’ll get comments that this shouldn’t be done, but their prices shouldn’t be done either.
Wendy Steele says
I pay for popcorn & kids drinks–but sneak in loads of candy!!! Large purse…
Michelle says
I’m so not paying movie theater prices for snacks. Its bad enough I have to pay the ticket price.
Amanda S. says
Nope, saving money by being dishonest doesn’t sit well with me. I wouldn’t sneak my own food into a restaurant, so I wouldn’t do it at a theater either. Love your blog, but not this kind of tip.
Christine says
Seriously!!!! You go to a restaurant to eat and pay for your meal, but u go to a movie theater to watch a movie and pay to watch the movie not the food you have a choice to have food and drinks @ a movie theater. No Mavis it is totally normal to sneak food in, the prices are outrageous @ a theater.
Kara says
I can go without snacks at the movies, but I must have a drink, and I hate spending $5 bucks for it! So, if I don’t have my purse with me, I can fit a 20 oz bottle of pop down the BACK of my pants… sounds a little gross, but just don’t go too low, and it won’t fall out. hahaha And no one ever notices it 🙂 Another trick of mine is to take a sweatshirt with me — I’m always cold in movie theaters even in the summer — tie a knot in one sleeve, and put the soda down the sleeve… then just carry the sweatshirt over my arm. Totally works like a charm! 🙂
Kayla says
Hate movie theater prices! We don’t go often so sometimes we’ll splurge on concession food but I end up regretting it right away. And of course they ask if you want to upgrade for an extra 50 cents after you’ve already spent $20 on a drink. Swindlers! Luckily there is a locally owned theater that’s $4 for a ticket and the snacks are well priced in our area.
Jessica says
How is bringing your own snacks “dishonest”? The movie theater I visit (AMC) doesn’t have any posted rules about bringing your own snacks. I don’t think they even care. Of course, they would like you to buy their overpriced stuff. I have never been asked to get rid of my snacks, but then again, I wouldn’t go advertising that I brought my own.
Nuala F. says
No, I’m with Amanda S. on this one. The concession prices are ridiculous, so I treat myself after the movie if I’m still craving. I love what you’re doing with your garden, but I don’t think your Inner Pilgrim would be very happy with this one.
Susan says
Mavis, I love, love, love reading your Blog!!! You crack me up in the best way, I love to laugh and I appreciate a frugal woman!
I also love going to the movies, but, I hate movie theater prices.
Our local theater offers $6 movies on Tuesdays, which in my opinion is closer to what the normal price should be. Also, Regal offers a rewards program so you can earn credits for Free movies, popcorn, soft drinks and more. And it’s free to sign up. So, every now and then, I get to enjoy a free movie, popcorn and drink.
And in between the freebies, we take our own drinks and goodies!!! The prices at the concession stand are ridiculous!!
P.S.
Mama always said, if you have nothing nice to say…. 😉
Sara says
We go to the movies & rarely purchase snacks when we do go in, but every once in a while I get a craving for movie theater popcorn…. it not the same in a bag from the store! I used to work at a movie theater in high school- best job ever! You should talk the girl who thinks she is a bird into it when she is old enough. Free movies, free popcorn, free nachos & drinks + getting paid min. wage- which in WA is outrageous. 🙂 I got friends and family into the theater all of the time (we were allowed to bring in a certain number). Interesting fact, though- Movie theaters generally break even on tickets for the film, concessions is where they make money. So when I go now, if I eat anything while I am in there (I can usually last 3 hours without a snack) I purchase from the concessions.
Popcorn tip: Ask if they do refills on their bags or buckets (also, the buckets are more expensive due to the stability- bags were larger, but cost less at the theater I was in). Our theater allowed refills on the large. I always told families to shake them out & store them in the car for the next time they came in. 🙂 If you get really desperate, you can dig them out of the garbage, but not for the faint of heart. 😉 We would mark them once the free refill was done. Check it out at your local theater. Good luck!
P.S. Most theater employees don’t care that much if you bring in snacks- management/ownership might, but I don’t think down the pants is really necessary. A nice handbag will probably do the trick. 😀
lorri says
our local theater has family movies in the fall/winter… usally $8 for 8 or 10 movies and adults are free. Ill buy the pop corn comb then. thats normally the only time we go however the local credit union just did a free showing opening night of Dark knight raising, and they tossed in free popcorn and soda…. 1st time in years ive been to an opening night!
subienkow says
“I was thrown out of the movies for bringing in my own food. My arguement was the concession stand prices were outrageous. Besides, I hadn’t had a barbeque in a long time.” – Steven Wright
Yes, though, I have brought my own candies in. I might buy the popcorn, if for nothing else than the effect. I do like the argument “Amanda” made about her son’s allergies. True or not, it’s a good way to get it with no questions asked.
Athena says
I used to *sneak* candy and pop in my purse for years as a teen all the way up to early in my marriage…until one day I was taking my 4 year old son to a movie. We went to the store to pick up our goodies. As we got out of the car in front of the theater, I asked my son, who was happily holding his candy, to give it to me to put into my purse. Of course he insisted on holding it himself. When I told him I needed to put it in my purse to hide it, he asked “Why?” I told him because we aren’t allowed to bring in our own candy…
Yes, at that moment I was convicted by my son…he said to me, “If we’re not allowed to mommy, then why are we bringing it?” I smiled at him, told him he was right, and took the candy and pop we had just purchased and put it back in our car. I told him we’d save those goodies for movie night at home and that we’d pick out new candy in the theater.
It’s been that way ever since. Going to the movies is a big splurge for our family. But we always include paying for popcorn, candy and drinks…inside the theater.
Mavis says
You bring up a very good point. 🙂 Well said.
Kerrie says
Here’s a tip from my husband who works part time at a small local theater, and also sneaks in snacks whenever we go: Don’t pull out your snacks until the lights go out and the previews get going. The smaller theaters still have projectionists who look down into the theaters and tip off the ushers if anyone is sneaking in food.
Sara is absolutely right about how theaters make money: they don’t make anything on the tickets, maybe .25 a ticket, if that. All the money from consessions goes to the theater and that’s how the small independent theaters stay afloat. So whenever I go to our local theater, I’ll sneak in candy, but I’ll still buy their popcorn. It’s about the experience of having their popcorn and sitting in the big theater that I enjoy. 🙂
Jean says
My sister-in-law’s comment was pretty good:
Well, the candy down the pants is pretty innovative, I have to admit. That and buying enough candy that you totally fill up your purse and HAVE to shove the rest down your pants. I imagine sneaking pieces of candy out of your pants during the movie could be mistaken for a lewd act and get you arrested though. On the up side, that would be two adventures in one evening for the price of one. Ha!
Mavis says
Ha Ha Ha. We bought pretzels… Bad move. They take up to much room. 🙂
Nancy from Mass says
I buy the popcorn, but bring in licorice or something for my son. Once, he went to the movies with his friends, he had licorice, but his friends’ mom gave her son nerds in a movie theater box. My son said the box was so loud that the boys kept laughing everytime the kid would take some.
Mary Ann says
I can’t go to the movies without having movie theater popcorn with butter (hydrogenated oil – ick, but it tastes so good!), so I always buy popcorn and we split a large drink. Sometimes the husband will buy one of those ridiculously priced bottles of water and a candy, too.
If I was prepared ahead of time I would have NO qualms about bringing in what I could, though. We just don’t go often and it’s usually a spur-of-the-moment thing.
P.S. I’m with the “if-you-don’t-have-anything-nice-to-say-don’t-say-anything-at-all” crowd. 🙂
Appreciate your blog, Mavis!
Mavis says
Thanks Mary Ann
tia says
movies are expensive and an extravagance for us! it is outrageous how much theaters charge for candy and disappointing that you are forced to purchase a giant-@$$ box/bag of candy instead of “normal” sized helpings! so yes, we usually sneak in our candy….sometimes we bring drinks and buy popcorn; sometimes we bring popcorn and buy drinks. also, i have brought in paper/plastic cups and purchased the giant soda and split that up.
a bit off-topic….now, let’s talk about how expensive the movies are….because the theater is charged so much to show them….because actors are paid such high salaries. wouldn’t it be nice if “celebrities”/pro athletes made less, and public servants like policemen, firemen, and teachers made more, and it cost less to go to the movies and sporting events?!
Jamie says
I do not sneak in any snacks. Sometimes we buy stuff, and sometimes we eat nothing. I’m trying to establish better eating habits with my children and binging on junk food at the theatre everytime isn’t necessary. I’ve also heard the snacks are where the theatre makes their money and I would feel like I’m stealing from them. I do admit that I would take in fish crackers and their sippy cups when my childnren were little, and the stuff they sell wasn’t age appropriate.
As for those who are saying if you can’t say something nice….. I generally agree with you, but Mavis asked for everyone’s opinion and I’m glad they’re speaking up. Thanks to everyone for sharing your thoughts!
Desi says
I’m totally with you Mavis! I buy the ticket for the movie not the overpriced optional food. I always bring candy in my purse. Although I do buy a SMALL popcorn for the kids. That would be to smelly in my purse and not fit.
Amanda S. says
I wasn’t saying anything “not nice”…she asked for opinions, and that was mine. If it weren’t dishonest to bring your own food into a theater, then you wouldn’t have to hide it. How about “How to save money at theme park…lie about your kids ages.”. Theme parks are overpriced, right? Sure, lots of people do it, but that doesn’t make it okay.
LisaB says
I think it was the tone in which you said it, as if your morals and standards were perhaps better than hers or anyone else’s on here when in fact they are just different. If we were all the same, it would be a boring world 🙂
Perhaps, with all of your suggestions on how a blog/person should think or write about, perhaps YOU should write a blog. Maybe you’ll be able to influence more people to be more upstanding in your eyes.
What matters is at the end of the day, are you happy with yourself? Not “is everyone else happy with the decisions I’ve made today?”
CathyB says
Not to take a side, but since movie theaters make most of their money from concessions, wouldn’t it make sense to just charge normal prices for the snacks and sell a higher volume? I know for our family that I can’t see spending $5+ per person for a drink or snack and there is no way that my kids are going to share – so we just choose to go without and get a treat either before or after the movie somewhere else. But if the prices were normal and I could afford to get stuff for everyone then I would totally buy the snacks at the movie and save myself another side trip. We used to love the “cheap” theater in Boise because their movie ticket included a drink and a popcorn. In fact, my kids would choose to pass up seeing a newly released movie at the regular theater (knowing that they would get no snacks) and wait a month for it to be showing at the discount theater where they would get snacks with the movie. Now that we have moved, I have found a discount theater locally, but sadly they do not have any discount prices on their snacks. So we definitely have not visited this theater as much as we did the one in Boise. Personally, I would just as soon wait for the movie to come out on video where I can watch it in the comfort of my own home with my own snacks and I can “pause” it when I need to use the restroom!
Sarah says
Did you go see Batman? 🙂
Mavis says
Yessssss. 🙂
Paul says
My Wife and I usually buy the popcorn that the movie theatre sells because we get it cheaply ($25 gets you a free medium popcorn for the entire year at each show you go to), but I always sneak in a diet mountain dew for myself. I do this only because the theatre does not sell diet dew and I don’t want all the calories in a 32 ounce soda going into my body. We also get sodas at the theatre for $1 every time we go, but they just don’t have what I want so I bring it with me.
Preppy Pink Crocodile says
I bring it with me. But as someone else said, I wait until the lights go down to take it out. I’ve even brought a turkey sandwich in a regular ole baggie before. I feel no shame in the matter- those concession prices are insane on top of the already crazy high movie prices. Plus, I like to bring my own gluten free options.
You should look for free movies though. I go a lot with a few different groups I found online. Always to a preview of a big budget movie like The Help or Moneyball. Free is my favorite price!
E. says
I rarely go to the movies at least until recently because we didn’t have a theater in my town so cause of Gas prices movies were rare but anyway I’ll buy a popcorn and a soda but I will not spend ten bucks on a pidly bag of candy when I can get more for the same price at dollar tree and in variety too