How 5 people can see a movie for $19 with snack

And no I didn't bring my own food.

Step 1: Locate your cheapie theatre.  Find out what day they run the discount admission.  In our case it is Tuesday and it is $2 a head.  The total was $10 because they charged me for my one year old.  Yeah I know.... but I'll give them a pass because this is the discount theatre and they operate on razor thin margins.

Step 2: Pack plastic cups and ziplock bags for the number of children with you.

Step 3: Go to the theatre, purchase tickets, then purchase the largest size popcorn and the largest size drink.  Get everyone to agree on the beverage before you get there.  This is essential or there will be a war.

Step 4: Once in the theatre, divide the popcorn into baggies, and pour sodas into the cups.  Remind them to make it last.

No, I don't give the toddler soda, but I give her small amounts of popcorn broken up.  The large popcorn and soda is enough to supply my three older children with their own individual snacks with a little leftover for me.  On discount day there is a dollar discount for getting the large popcorn and soda, making them $9 together.  If I get my kids their own kid's packs, with roughly the same amount of snack, it costs about $18 and there is  none left for me and no popcorn for the toddler, so this saves a ton of money.

In addition, the discount day turns out lots of kids, and there is always some child who behaves worse than my kids would ever dare behave, which allows me to truly relax and enjoy the movie without having to scrutinize every peep they make.

Petty Vent

I want chickens.  My HOA forbids them, therefore I am sadly deprived.

Why bother with chickens?

Because having my own chickens would mean I could have organic eggs for under the cost of regular ones.  My family eats 2 to 3 dozen eggs a week, so we just can't do organic, save for a sale, which is rare.

The quality of fresh eggs compared to commercial is huge.  If you doubt it, buy a dozen organic eggs and make a cake.

If you are allowed to have chickens look into it, you have a big opportunity that many do not.

When bread goes stale.

Recently I posted on how we buy bread from the day old outlet and freeze what we won't use immediately.  Normally this works fine, but occasionally we mess up and do not rotate the bread quickly enough.  What to do?

Well, don't throw it out.  As long as it is not molded it can be used, and I don't just mean for the ducks.  If you break it up and place it on a tray to go fully stale, it makes good stuffing.  Another option is to break it into chunks, season and toast into homemade crutons with your oven.

If you have stale bagels, definitely do the crutons.  Bagels come out very tasty as crutons.

Think before you throw out.  If it is truly spoiled and is not tainted with meat or dairy, consider composting it.  Make the most out of "waste".