to think we aren't stingy?

[pencilpotted]

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?

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!

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.

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

Sensible of you, op.

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

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

I love having a picnic! (And I count sitting on a bench with a sandwich from my bag as a picnic. I have a really nice hot drink cup thing, so I can make my tea exactly as I like it too.) The food I take with me is much nicer than food I can buy when out and about, and one of my daughters has a newly diagnosed food intolerance which makes taking our own food even more important now as avoiding wheat and numerous other things is so hard. I certainly wouldn't eat cinema food - to me, it is really unappetising.
That isn't to say I don't eat out. I do, from time to time. But as I said, I love a picnic! No shame in that.

Is your sil always such a critical pita? Next time dodge her questions and change the subject back to her. 'Oh we had a lovely time thanks for asking, what have you been up to?'

@pencilpotted YANBU and your SIL's remarks were cretinous. I've been going to the cinema every week for years with a group of friends. The tickets used to be £4.60 each until very recently (they've now increased to £5.05 each) and these aren't discounted prices - they're what all the films cost all the time. We never buy any food or drink - it looks and smells disgusting and just isn't the sort of food we'd ever eat (and we don't like fizzy drinks).
Your SIL also needs to wind her neck in about your financial position - it's none of her business and she just sounds jealous.

Your Sil sounds like a person who complains water is wet. My guess is she has to complain about something to feel good about herself at all times.

I’ve no sympathy for big chains like Cineworld, I’m not going to spend money on the crap they call food just because I got a cheap ticket. Spending £50 on lunch in an independent restaurant is not stingy at all, and arguably better for the local economy than spending £100 at a chain. Doesn’t sound as if your SiL is really up on the economics but just wanted to have a dig at you for something.

Chain Cinemas charge absolutely extortionate amounts for water, and everything else. At best I might go to the shop round the corner and get them there for 75p or just take some. I try and use my local independent cinema that only charges £5 a ticket and a popcorn drink combo is another £5...I'll happily do that.

I never buy drinks or snacks at the cinema I always take my own. I usually drink tap water eating out unless it’s a special occasion or a really nice restaurant that does cocktails And I rarely have desserts unless it’s something a bit different that I can’t just buy from a supermarket or Costco. But then I’ve been a single parent for years so it’s what I’ve had to do to make my money last.

Had she been out that day to supporr a local cinema and restaurant?

Well you supported the place you had lunch at, which you wouldn't have done if you'd eaten the awful stuff available at the cinema.

I hardly ever go to the cinema now, mainly because I find people eating that food around me off-putting.

A cinema visit lasts about 2 hours. Nobody needs food in that time. We sometimes take our water bottles, but to be fair I don't go anywhere without a water bottle in my bag. I might but a drink if I really fancy it but it's 2 hours, not an entire evening.

She’s just cross because she spanks her money away and you don’t.

I think most of us are aware of not being cheeky when we go out. Don’t sit for an hour with a coffee in a busy place etc.

I have judged before though. Used to go to a pub quiz that was £2 a head with free snacks and two of the women sat with free tap water all night. That’s not on. Obviously the pub is trying to drum up some custom on a quiet weeknight.

I take my water bottle to the cinema because i rarely drink fizzy drinks, rarely buy food either because it’s gritty and ridiculously overpriced.

Your monthly spending plan is your business, not hers. She doesn’t get a vote in how you prioritise your spending. She gets to choose her own spending plan, which sounds like it includes lots of debts. Good for her.

Stop over sharing with her.

I wouldn’t buy crappy fizzy drinks or snacks from a chain cinema either.

We go to a fancy pants cinema where you sit at tables and there is a bar and well behaved patrons. We buy a cheese board and wine. It’s expensive and ruins you as we can’t even contemplate going to a regular place now.

You can take your own drinks and food (but not alcoholic or hot food) to all our local cinemas such as Vue and Cineworld. Everyman theoretically doesn’t let you but we have always taken water bottles and sweets/chocolate and never had an issue. I can’t think any Cinema could reasonably stop you taking in your own water.

Don’t worry Op. We always take a water bottle with us to the cinema. If we want a drink it’s going to be water rather than the sugar laden fizzy pop they sell at the concession stand.
My DD worked on the concession stand of a local cinema until a couple of months ago when she went to University. She said it was fine to bring a water bottle and certainly not against any rules of the cinema she worked in.
You’re doing fine.

House rules, you say?

She’s batshit

You can spend what you like.
And eating food in the cinema is a revolting habit.

Home filled water bottles will at least avoid adding to the mega-tons of plastic waste.