Frugal Friday: Saving on movie rentals

It's awful that there is so little on TV that's fit to watch these days, isn't it? Especially if you don't splurge on cable/satellite TV - the networks are just filled with filth. We had that problem solved for us when we moved last fall; our new home is between major cities, so it doesn't get decent reception on ANY channel! So we only watch movies now. I don't want to spend consistent money on NetFlix or Blockbuster, so we do old-fashioned renting - then, if we go a while without a rental, we haven't wasted that month's money. Here are the things I do to save money at the rental store:

1. Sign up for their online newsletter, if they have one. Movie Gallery puts out a new "rent one, get one" coupon every week or two, and occasionally puts out a free one. This also allows you to hear about specials going on, like free rental weekends and reduced price rentals. Even if you only go to one store for your movies, if there are competing stores in your area, check if your favorite store accepts competitor coupons. If they do, sign up for the newsletters from those stores.

2. Look for special coupon booklets or calendars. Movie Gallery puts out a calendar at the end of every year that has 15 "rent one, get one" coupons on it. They are dated by month, so if you miss one, you've missed it, but the calendars are super cheap (I think only about $2 or $3.) so even one coupon makes you break even.

Now, those are ideas for rental places. Of course, there are ways to see movies for free, as well!

1. Check your library. Some have a decent selection, some don't. And it's a pretty sure bet that you will not have to wade though a ton of horror flicks and skin shows just to find one movie that's fit to watch.

2. Go online! There are more and more places these days that are offering quality TV and movies online, absolutely free, with limited commercials. My very favorite is Hulu.com, but Fancast.com is also pretty good. AOL Television has a lot of old shows, but their servers don't always work well, leading to lots of skipping and sticking. Hulu has a lot of movies in a wide range, old and new, family and non-family-friendly alike. But even there, at least you don't have to trudge through the boxes on the shelf, praying your kids won't look at them too closely!

Be sure to visit Crystal's Blog for more frugal goodness. Then come back and stay a spell - maybe you'll see something you like!