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?

no you not op i take my water bottle everyqwhere and i dont buy snacks at the ciniema either theyre a rip off

A few people have said this so I guess the chains don't have this house rule any more (they certainly used to years ago) but my nearest cinema, and tbh the only one I go to, is an independent one with a bar, and has the house rules I remember all cinemas having years ago - no consuming your own food and drink on the premises. You can get a glass of wine (in a glass, not plastic) or a good cup of coffee in a proper cup/ mug, to take in with you.

I'm sure they wouldn't throw anyone out for discreetly drinking from a water bottle, but house rules are just curtsy/ requests really.

They’re nuts! I just order what I want and I never buy food in the cinema. My local cinema charges £3.95 for a bag of haribos! You can get them for between £1.00-£2.00 in Sainsbury’s (depending on whether they’re on offer)

I never buy extras at the cinema. I don't like anything they offer. I also take a water bottle with me.
I think your trip sounds rather nice. You ate somewhere you prefer and obviously contributed to that business too.
If the cinemas business model isn't working they need to change it. It's not compulsory to buy junk food.

Your SIL is insane. Ignore her. You aren't stingy at all.

So she thinks you should buy overpriced shit food that you don't even want in the cinema to keep them in business? Bollocks to that. Plenty of people either take their own snacks and drinks in or don't have any food in there. I suppose just enough might be willing to pay the crazy prices there but I wouldn't.

Like you, on the rare occasions that we go to the cinema we are often planning to go to a restaurant or café straight afterwards so may not eat anything during the film. If anyone wants to have snacks then they can go to the M&S Food Hall very near to our cinema and still very much cheaper for snacks. You are allowed to take them in too.

Never tell this idiot anything detailed again. If she asks then tell her you either can't remember or give some ridiculous answers, like it was very cheap at only £100k.