Movies from the Library

[Gillennj]

I know it has been menioned here before, but I was reminded this morning why I get all my movies for free from the library.

I wanted to get Voyage of the Dawn Treader, since DW and I love Narnia so much--we actually buy very FEW movies any more Anyway, normally I check my library's website EVERY day when I am waiting for a movie to come out on DVD to get on the reserved list. They didn't add the DT until very recently, I forgot and I missed it, so I was 100+ in line. I didn't want to wait, and had a ROGO coupon for Family Video, so why not?

My mistake was taking my kids. Sure kids movies are free, which is great, but DS talked me into a Wii game, so I ended up spending $6.00 after they also talked me into Yogi Bear, which looks really dumb.

Yes, I am a pushover, so I never should have taken them. I normally don't get worked up about $6, but I SHOULD NOT HAVE SPENT THAT at all

My public service budget message is this: Don't buy movies, don't rent movies, get them for free from your local library. With almost all things budget, a little time and dilligence will save you money, and will often get you movies on DVD the day or week they come out, and you get to keep them for a week--at least at my library.

 

[CinRell]

The library is the ONLY place I get my movies now! And being 100 in line isn't too bad.... since they get so many in at a number of branches just hold tight and you'll probably get yours sooner than you think

PLUS you have 3 weeks to keep it!

 

[JennSaint]

I know it has been menioned here before, but I was reminded this morning why I get all my movies for free from the library.

I wanted to get Voyage of the Dawn Treader, since DW and I love Narnia so much--we actually buy very FEW movies any more Anyway, normally I check my library's website EVERY day when I am waiting for a movie to come out on DVD to get on the reserved list. They didn't add the DT until very recently, I forgot and I missed it, so I was 100+ in line. I didn't want to wait, and had a ROGO coupon for Family Video, so why not?

My mistake was taking my kids. Sure kids movies are free, which is great, but DS talked me into a Wii game, so I ended up spending $6.00 after they also talked me into Yogi Bear, which looks really dumb.

Yes, I am a pushover, so I never should have taken them. I normally don't get worked up about $6, but I SHOULD NOT HAVE SPENT THAT at all

My public service budget message is this: Don't buy movies, don't rent movies, get them for free from your local library. With almost all things budget, a little time and dilligence will save you money, and will often get you movies on DVD the day or week they come out, and you get to keep them for a week--at least at my library.

My library doesn't get the new releases. They only get what is donated. Redbox is a great option at only $1

 

[QVCshopper]

My library charges $2 for movies, so it's actually cheaper for me to get new ones from Redbox. We watch a lot of Disney movies on VHS over here; I can buy those for 50 cents usually.

 

[shortbun]

Two pretty current movies and a video game for $6 is darned cheap weekend entertainment and I think I can safely assume that you don't do this every weekend. Relax, enjoy your movie. Your kids will be busy so you and your hubby can get some adult time this weekend with no worries, eh? Again- all for six bucks!!!!! Smile!

 

[MEM]

My library charges $1 a week and even the new DVDs are usually scratched and/or covered with some sort of crud. I will never understand why people cannot or will not take care of something they borrow from the library.

The fine is $1 per day if the movie is late. I may have to look into Redbox or Netflix.

 

[Pixiedust34]

Movies at our library are $2.50. It's cheaper for us to do Redbox.

 

[ICF]

My library doesn't get the new releases. They only get what is donated. Redbox is a great option at only $1

same here.....

 

[MAH4546]

Seriously? You treat your kids to six bucks of entertainment and you complain about it?

 

[ChisJo]

A library charges to rent movies???? My library sure doesn't....we get to keep them for a week, and they get ALL the current movies, including foreign, hollywood, indie, and documentaries. I get ALL of my movies from the library, and we only go to the movie theatre with free passes.

On a side note, I wish I could only spend $6 to entertain my 15 year old step son...are you kidding??? He costs way more then that to entertain....

 

[Pixiedust34]

A library charges to rent movies???? My library sure doesn't....we get to keep them for a week, and they get ALL the current movies, including foreign, hollywood, indie, and documentaries. I get ALL of my movies from the library, and we only go to the movie theatre with free passes.

On a side note, I wish I could only spend $6 to entertain my 15 year old step son...are you kidding??? He costs way more then that to entertain....

Not only are the movies $2.50 to rent, but also that is for a 2 night rental. I think the fine is $2.50 for each day it's late. They do have 'rent one, get one free' days, but we rarely get movies at the library.

There are a few classic movies and TV series that are free. Most documentaries have the $2.50 fee.

We use Redbox or Netflix. I wish Netflix would add more movies to streaming.

 

[Gillennj]

Seriously? You treat your kids to six bucks of entertainment and you complain about it?

Well, maybe I went a little overboard, but when you are spoiled by having a library with a great selection, including new releases and almost every television show on DVD that you could want for FREE, I am upset with myself for spending money on something I didn't need to.

We have really been trying hard to eliminate these smaller extra expenses that add up fast. We used to not care about the little things, and it has been killing us.

And we only get to have these for one night...

 

[bumbershoot]

My library doesn't get the new releases. They only get what is donated. Redbox is a great option at only $1

I'm shocked that that is allowed. Feels like there could be royalty problems with that system.

 

[MrsJackSparrow4Life]

My library doesn't get new releases and has very few DVDs. Plus you only get to keep them for 2 days. We have a redbox a block from our house so it is worth the $1 not to deal with driving to the library.

 

[stacy347]

OP, I totally understand what you're saying! I always give myself a mental "kick" when I spend more somewhere than I had intended. I didn't take it as though you were begrudging your children some weekend entertainment.

On the topic of library movies ~ I am so sad because our library has been voted down and we no longer have a "home" library for borrowing. My youngest DD loved to get the animal documentaries there, and they had many great family movies as well.

I will definitely miss the free reading and entertainment ~ just another casualty here in MI though. Our only option is to pay $150/year to join a neighboring town's library.

 

[Planogirl]

Most of that fee was for the game. Family Video barely costs more than Red Box and you get to deal with a real human rather than a vending machine.

We spend a lot more than $6 a month on rentals but then we check out the games before we buy them which to me is a great deal.

 

[charming23]

Our library is fantastic for movies. It takes a littlw while to get new releases but well worth it. The new releases are one week for about three months and then the rest are three weeks. I get movies there all the time. It also helps that it is a small independent library, not a county or city one.

 

[ChisJo]

On the topic of library movies ~ I am so sad because our library has been voted down and we no longer have a "home" library for borrowing. My youngest DD loved to get the animal documentaries there, and they had many great family movies as well.

I will definitely miss the free reading and entertainment ~ just another casualty here in MI though. Our only option is to pay $150/year to join a neighboring town's library.

That is awful!!! I cannot believe that a library cannot get the support of the government to stay open. Reading is so important for a childs development. Not all families have the ability to put money into paying for a library memberhsip...many families where I live are dependent on the library for recreational activities for their children right now due to the economy. If they are unable to pay for their $15/year card, the government will provide it for free.

 

[allison443]

I know it has been menioned here before, but I was reminded this morning why I get all my movies for free from the library.

I wanted to get Voyage of the Dawn Treader, since DW and I love Narnia so much--we actually buy very FEW movies any more Anyway, normally I check my library's website EVERY day when I am waiting for a movie to come out on DVD to get on the reserved list. They didn't add the DT until very recently, I forgot and I missed it, so I was 100+ in line. I didn't want to wait, and had a ROGO coupon for Family Video, so why not?

My mistake was taking my kids. Sure kids movies are free, which is great, but DS talked me into a Wii game, so I ended up spending $6.00 after they also talked me into Yogi Bear, which looks really dumb.

Yes, I am a pushover, so I never should have taken them. I normally don't get worked up about $6, but I SHOULD NOT HAVE SPENT THAT at all

My public service budget message is this: Don't buy movies, don't rent movies, get them for free from your local library. With almost all things budget, a little time and dilligence will save you money, and will often get you movies on DVD the day or week they come out, and you get to keep them for a week--at least at my library.

You spent $6 all together? That doesn't seem like much, considering you were willing to pay to get the movie YOU wanted. You would have paid for that one anyway, right?
Personally I would have felt bad if I paid for the movie I wanted to see but refused to pay for the movie my kids wanted.

Sounds like your library is a great resource. The movies at our library aren't free. They are $2 I think for a two night rental. I am a loyal redbox person and my dd gets netflix.

 

[alyssa810]

Our library does free movies as well. My DH is big on movie lists, like the AFI top 100, and he's currently working on the list from the book 501 must see Movies. Anyway, there are a lot of old, obscure or foreign movies on the list that only seem to be available at the library and he's able to get them there. We put whatever movies he wants on hold, and then as they come in from our library network he picks them up.
I will say that new releases can be tough; I remember putting the movie "In Her Shoes" on hold, and it came on HBO before I got it from the library, and I literally had it on hold for about 6 months.