Additional Coverage:
- My family changed our Friday night pizza and movie tradition to save money. It took some time for the kids to get on board. (businessinsider.com)
Movie Night Makeover: How One Family Found Fun on a Budget
For years, Friday nights meant one thing for our family: pizza and a movie. It was our sacred, screen-free time together.
We’d hit our favorite pizza place, load up on pies, garlic knots, and drinks, then head to the theater for the latest blockbuster. While this cost less in Pakistan than it would in the US, it still added up to about $100 a week.
We justified it as “making memories.”
But with rising prices everywhere, our budget felt the pinch. We knew something had to give, but we weren’t ready to abandon our Friday night tradition. Instead, we decided to give it a makeover.
Pizza night got a revamp. Initially, we tried skipping pizza altogether, but the kids revolted!
Now, some weeks we make our own pizza with store-bought crusts and toppings – a fun, messy, and surprisingly tasty (and much cheaper!) alternative.
Other weeks, we compromise and order one large pizza instead of two. Popcorn, a budget-friendly movie staple, satisfies any lingering hunger pangs.
The switch to movie nights at home wasn’t an instant hit with the kids. Our 13-year-old daughter initially protested that it “wasn’t the same.”
But she’s since warmed up to the idea, even admitting that homemade pizza is “kind of better,” and she enjoys having control over movie selection without the theater previews. Our 11-year-old son enthusiastically transforms our living room into a cozy home theater complete with blankets, pillows, and dimmed lights.
We still enjoy the occasional outing – we’re not total homebodies! But now we’re more mindful of our spending. We plan ahead, look for deals, and appreciate those special nights out even more.
Changing our Friday night routine was initially daunting. I worried the kids would miss the “real” experience.
But we’ve discovered that it’s not about the venue, it’s about the time we spend together. And now, we have even more quality family time than before.