How I learned I can save money

Yesterday I was with a friend while she was running errands. One of her stops was CAA travel (AAA in the US). While she was busy with one of the agents, I perused the shiny books showing destinations of fun and excitement. I could only look for so long before pangs of "man I wish I could take my kids and go to X" surfaced so I frantically searched for other things to occupy my mind.

My eyes fell upon a large poster with CAA and Cineplex Odeon on it. Interesting, I thought. Now we do have a single theater here in my town. It's not in the best shape and personally I think the owners need to be smacked for letting it go to ruin. It used to be quite lovely and just degraded over owner change after owner change. I don't go there often as it's often full of students I teach/have taught. It's hard to resist the urge to  playfully shush them, given that we know one another. We don't go to the movies often (maybe three times a year) and I would rather kick back where I don't know a soul.

Now in the city about an hour or so away, they have several theaters, but they cost the earth to go to.

For a family of four it costs us $40.96 plus tax to get in the door. After DS2 has his next birthday it will be $43.96. IF we choose to get snacks it can be up to $40 if I have saved up enough money. $100 for a movie seems a bit ridiculous.

So back to CAA. The sign proclaims the following:
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Save up to 20% on movie ticket products. Tickets are valid at any Cineplex Entertainment theatre in Canada including Famous Players, Cineplex Odeon and Galaxy Cinemas.

CINEPLEX ADMIT ONE One Adult Admission - $8.00 (incl. GST)

CINEPLEX NIGHT OUT Two Adult Admissions  - $24.30
One Regular Popcorn
Two Regular Soft Drinks

CINEPLEX CHILD NIGHT OUT One Child Admission (13 years and younger)  - $10.16 (inc GST)
One Kid's Popcorn Tray Combo (includes kid's popcorn, kid's drink and treat)
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Ok now that is a great deal. Instead of $11.99 x 3 PLUS tax for adults I can pay $8 x 3 including tax. Ok right there I have saved $9+

The movie webpage doesn't show the food prices but Adult admission plus tax would equal the $24.30 for the NIGHT OUT option. Those two drinks and the popcorn would be at least $10 so that would be $10 saved.

Now we would have to purchase these before we left, knowing we were going to hit a movie, or else find a CAA in the city if we made an impromptu decision. Still. it's quite do-able for the few times a year we hit the movies.

I pay $105 a year for my CAA membership. I have used my CAA membership for towing and for booking a few trips a long while ago but beyond that, it's really just that conditional 'if something happens they are there' insurance policy.

I need to start exploring some of the other perks that come with this membership to take better advantage of it.

PS - I just realized that DS1 will be getting his licence. If he ends up playing hockey out of town then I will need to get him a membership as well. Saskatchewan highways and winters are not that forgiving. Kids getting old is scary LOL

So what else can I save on???

• Purchasing Provincial Park passes - drat I just did this last weekend
• Purchasing a National Park pass
• Fancy things like Six Flags or Orlando Theme parks
• Saskatchewan Science Center
• Hotel Accomodations (K I have used this too, or my SK Gov't Card)
• Car Rentals

Very interesting. Are you maximizing your benefits when you belong to something like CAA/AAA ?