Finding Joy in Movie Marathons Without the Price Tag
Meet Jean from Mesa, AZ who proves that saving money doesn’t mean giving up the things you love!
Meet one of our inspiring savers who proves that saving money doesn’t have to mean giving up the things you love.
Living with mobility challenges, Jean describes herself as a fairly sedentary person, with activities shaped by her circumstances and her budget. Reading is her go-to pastime, but movies are her favorite alternative. With a limited income, she has learned to be intentional about her entertainment spending by finding joy in ways that don’t stretch her wallet.
Instead of paying for pricey movie channels or heading to the theater, Jean says she relies on basic cable options like TCM and AMC. These stations often run themed marathons (romances, comedies, musicals) or films featuring a favorite actor. With schedules advertised in advance, she can plan her own movie marathon at home, complete with homemade popcorn and snacks. (She assures us that her popcorn is much better than what is sold at the theater, and much cheaper!)
She adds another layer of fun by exploring history and geography in the films, even playing a game of identifying whether the movie’s setting matches real-life locations. (She recalls that Fargo, set near her hometown in North Dakota, “didn’t look anything like Fargo at all! Somebody didn’t do their homework!”)
This saver says her homegrown marathons are more than just fun, they save her money while giving her meaningful, enjoyable experiences. She shared that it makes her feel good about life when she can find entertainment that she can afford and enjoy. “If I can save money on one movie marathon, it might open up other opportunities with the money I have saved. It’s a win/win situation.”
Her advice to anyone hesitant about trying a no-spend challenge?
“What do you have to lose? Experiment a little. Try different projects until you find one or more which suits you and which you find entertaining and amusing. You don’t have to do the same thing over and over. You can do different things, as long as you keep your eye on the expense involved.”
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