Sneak candy in the theater: Frugal or cheap?

Is it like taking your own food to a restaurant?

By Karen Datko Sep 11, 2009 5:56PM

It's once again time to take a break from the heavier issues of the day, and "Frugal Dad" gave us the respite we were looking for. Ponder this one: Is sneaking your own candy into the movie theater frugal or cheap?

This is an academic exercise for us because we don't really care for movie theater candy. (We've got our eye on the popcorn with extra butter.) But it's a real-life decision for Frugal Dad, and you might be surprised at the decision he reached.

Frugal Dad originally floated this question in a forum at our partner blog Wise Bread. He described how he'd gone to the $1-a-box aisle at a discount store to stock up before going to see the film. His wife called him cheap.

"Normally, I would thank her for the compliment, but this time her comment had me thinking," Frugal Dad said.

Readers had varying opinions, both at Wise Bread and at Frugal Dad's site, and some are very entertaining. Of course, frugalists suggested he rent the DVD and watch the movie at home.

We tend to agree with Elliott of 21st Century Dad, who said, "It's a cheapskate move for sure. It's like bringing your own food to a restaurant."

Frugal Dad decided that it's not only cheap but possibly illegal to sneak your own candy inside. We are capitalists, after all, he said, and the theater owner has the right to make money from candy sales.

If you want to save money, don't eat the candy. If you can afford it, go ahead and live large. "In the grand scheme of things, a box or two of movie candy or a large tub of popcorn is really not going to make or break us," he said.

Published June 18, 2008

Tags:

cheapfood pricesfrugalKaren Datkosave moneysavings

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