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Original poster

to think we aren't stingy?

105 replies

pencilpotted · 02/11/2025 19:10

DH and I went to the cinema today, we went online to book and the tickets at all showing today were £5, so we buy our tickets and go about 12pm. We've just had breakfast at home and the food at the cinema isn't to our taste so I just fill our water bottles and we see the film and don't buy any snacks etc.

Then after the film we left the cinema and drove to a local place we like for lunch. We each order a main, a soft drink and a platter of sushi to share. All this cost about £50 with the cinema being another £10.

On the way home we dropped in on DH's parents and his sister was there with her family. We tell her what we had been up to and she enquires about what we had and how much it costs and then tells us that it's because of people like us being stingy that places are struggling and closing down and that these days it's expected that you order a bit more, buy food from the concession stands at the cinema.

All we wanted was to see the film, I don't want to drink a large fizzy drink or eat a hotdog or ice cream right after breakfast. It wasn't my fault the cinema tickets were discounted. The cinema was empty only about 8 people in the screening but it was early.

If I go for food we order what we want but I'm not ordering extra drinks and sides I don't want just to please the restaurant? Does anyone actually do this?

We do try to be intentional with our spending but that doesn't make us tight fisted?

OP posts:
PollyBell · 03/11/2025 06:18

We rarely buy anything, but they think your stingy so what? Why would it matter if they did

SugarPlumpFairyCakes · 03/11/2025 06:18

Sensible of you, op.

Don’t tell anyone your spending habits again though. It is none of their business.

TimeForATerf · 03/11/2025 06:17

I thought everyone smuggled a bag of Revels into the cinema. 😀

Sparklesandspandexgallore · 03/11/2025 06:16

The only time I bought a coffee from my local cinema, I took it back it was so vile and asked them to do me another one. The replacement was just as bad. It was expensive too. After that I always went next door to subway and bought one from there.
I never bought anything from them again. The film tickets were expensive too at least £8.50.
I do however buy drinks from the theatre as I feel they need supporting. We paid £3 each for a small tub of ice cream, which I have to say was delicious and we always buy a drink from the bar before the performance and during the interval.
I feel very differently about theatres compared to cinemas though.

daisychain01 · 03/11/2025 06:16

What business is it of hers to comment on your purchasing choices.

does she always neg you when you talk about something enjoyable you've done. Talk about joy vampire!

Weirdest · 03/11/2025 06:08

You’re fine, ignore her.

Yes, cinemas would ideally love for you to buy as much as they sell, but you don’t have to.

I have loads of cinemas near me and they all have their own policies - for example some allow you to bring your own food in, whatever it is. One of the franchises near me is in a shopping centre, that cinema literally always has some issue with their on-site food, so they tell you it’s fine to go and get food from
anywhere in the shopping centre & come back in time for the film start. That food could literally be anything from a chippy, to pizza to supermarket food or any of the chain restaurants…

Tryingatleast · 03/11/2025 06:05

You’re not stingy if you didn’t want the food but you are definitely frugal. That’s not a bad thing. The sharing of a plate is thrifty- again not bad but I’d see how some people might wonder - if she spends a lot she’s probably bemused by the concept

eta just realised you had food each, thought you shared a plate!!

Barney16 · 03/11/2025 06:01

But cinema prices for drinks and snacks are outrageous. At our local you could see two films for the cost of two drinks and a popcorn.

PersephonePomegranate · 03/11/2025 05:58

That's just bizarre. You're not understand any obligation to buy anything other than your film ticket at the cinema.

If you'd bought rubber hotdogs and some plastic cheese nachos at the cinema, you would not then have gone for lunch after, so the restaurant you went to would have lost your custom!

Roselily123 · 03/11/2025 05:52

Bobiverse · 02/11/2025 23:57

I’ve got 3 different cinemas near me, all different brands. They all allow you to bring outside food in. Their only rule is no hot food, so you can’t turn up with a McDonald’s or something. Snacks and drinks are allowed.

Show quote history

Ours is exactly the same.

Lilyowl · 03/11/2025 05:44

It's a business, not a charity.

JustMyView13 · 03/11/2025 05:36

You should’ve just clapped back with: we were running a little tight on time so weren’t able to remortgage for the cinema prices of snacks.

Bless her. She’d have a heart attack if she knew I always used to smuggle in snacks from Tesco 😂

Bringemout · 03/11/2025 05:30

I think it’s very odd to of someone to suggest I buy stuff I don’t want to eat. I buy DD a haul at the cinema as we don’t go often but if it were just DH and I it would be two coffees and thats it.

Empress13 · 03/11/2025 05:26

you need a mortgage to go to the cinema these days the cost of food and drink there is ridiculous! No-one I know buys food there they take their own snacks in! Ignore them OP let them continue to get ripped off

Shoxfordian · 03/11/2025 05:06

She's being weird, you have no obligation to buy snacks or drinks at the cinema

hazelnutvanillalatte · 03/11/2025 04:55

With prices going up and salaries staying the same, most people can't afford to get ripped off just for the sake of it

Moochuck · 03/11/2025 04:51

We always take snacks if me and the children. Theres always loads of people buying stuff at the cinema. I just cant justify paying double for say malteasers!

unleashthebook · 03/11/2025 04:06

Maybe if the prices for food and drink in cinemas were halfway reasonable people would buy more snacks. I love popcorn but no way am I paying a fiver upwards for a little tub of it. We buy a bag of maltesers and take it with us!

pushthebuttonnn · 03/11/2025 04:05

It is a bit stingy imo. I always feel I should buy something, even if it's just water. I also find it difficult to resist the snacks. Although you are helping the environment by not purchasing which is amazing 🤷

ThisDearGoose · 03/11/2025 03:46

She's weird. I know people like this, who are strident and judgemental, and they are very good at making you feel bad. But they are usually just weird, weird views and poor social skills. I try not to worry about what they think - if I think they are strange or silly, why should I care what they think of me?

Ohwhatfuckeryitistoride · 03/11/2025 03:40

pencilpotted · 02/11/2025 19:18

@shellyleppard @GiantTeddyIsTired I worked at a cinema as a student so I know how grim the food there is, slopping out the plastic nacho cheese or warming up the bin bags of popcorn.

Ds worked at a big city one and I'd not eat anything that's not sealed after some of his tales.

chocolateychurros · 03/11/2025 03:29

Omg, you really don’t need to explain. It’s your money and you get to decide what you spend it on.
She is the one with the problem? How nosy and intrusive of her to ask where and how you spent your money, it has nothing to do with her whatsoever. And then to tell you off afterwards? Wow.

thankgoditssaturday · 03/11/2025 03:24

She sounds like an oddball and heaven knows why you got embroiled in such a boring conversation. I’ve come to realise that any conversation involving money is a hiding to nothing. It sparks jealousy, resentment and competition. Especially where family is concerned.

Group7Elite · 03/11/2025 00:48

NotTheSameTwentyFourHours · 02/11/2025 21:44

I think the only stingy thing was filling up water bottles for the cinema, which is against the house rules of most cinemas (not to consume anything brought from outside on the premises). If you are concerned about looking stingy, buy a mineral water...

Otherwise the only way the restaurant or cinema could possibly have resented you would be if they were fully booked and you took away space from customers likely to spend a lot more. If both were half empty then a customer spending some money is better than an empty chair.

Which cinemas have you used where this as a house rule? Most have a no alcohol or hot food policy. Some dont allow anything in glass bottles. But all the cinemas I’ve used like odeon, vue, cineworld, showcase etc actually have policy that state you can take your own cold snacks and drinks in.

Friendlygingercat · 03/11/2025 00:42

Ive seen threads on Mumsnet where posters declare that they no longer eat out or visit pubs as much because of poor sperceived ervice and value. People have no duty to keep local businesses viable by purchasing items they do not need. Its up to everyone to manage their finances as they see fit. Consumers do not exist simply to keep unviable pubs, restaurants and concessions in business. I say this as a business person.