RSS Feed

Related Articles

Related Categories

Students top of the class for going to cinema on a shoestring

2nd March 2015 Print

Students are the most likely group to duck the costs associated with going to the cinema, with nearly nine in ten (85 per cent) taking their own food and drink into films and four in ten (40 per cent) bringing their own 3D glasses, a new poll of UK adults reveals.

Cinema remains a much-loved pastime in the UK, with over half (52 per cent) of people attending every six months or more according to the Nationwide Building Society survey. However, this rises to around seven in ten (69 per cent) for students.

The research highlights how younger people are among the most frugal when it comes to managing their money and follows the launch of Nationwide’s first youth current account, FlexOne, which offers a range of benefits including 25 per cent off Vue cinemas for a year for members and a friend.

With costs associated with going to the movies higher than ever – a ticket, food, drink costing upwards of £20 per person in many cases – students can give everyone a lesson on how to save. 

Top five ways students have saved money at the cinema (compared to cinemagoers in the UK):

85 per cent of students take their own food and drink into the cinema, compared to 65 per cent of cinemagoers in the UK

59 per cent seek out money off promotions, compared to 46 per cent of cinemagoers in the UK

54 per cent eat before going to the cinema, compared to 43 per cent of cinemagoers in the UK

44 per cent watch a film in 2D rather than 3D to save money, compared to 22 per cent of cinemagoers in the UK

40 per cent take their own 3D glasses to avoid paying for them, compared to 23 per cent of cinemagoers in the UK

The research also shows that women are more likely to use money saving tactics than men. For example women cinemagoers surveyed are more likely to take snacks in (71 per cent, compared to 57 per cent of men), seek out money-off promotions (49 per cent, compared to 43 per cent of men) and eat before going to the cinema (46 per cent, compared to 39 per cent of men).

Paul Wootton, who heads up Nationwide’s FlexOne youth current account, said: “It’s great that the younger generation are the ones that make their cash go the furthest and are the most frugal when it comes to spending their money at the cinema. It’s reassuring they are doing this so effectively. Financial education is a vital life skill and that’s why we launched FlexOne, our current account for 11 to 17 year olds, providing a stepping stone into the world of finance and helping educate younger customers about money. The account also helps make customers’ money go a little further, with 25 per cent off at Vue cinemas for them and a friend for a year – helping them save cash on the things they love doing most.”

For budding young filmmakers, Nationwide Building Society is also bringing financial education to life by inviting schools to take part in The Big Money Movie Pitch, a free film competitiongiving students aged 11 to 14 the chance to pitch a short film idea about managing money. Educating youngsters about money is at the heart of the competition, whether that be a lesson in budgeting, saving or keeping money safe. The winning pitch will be made into a real film by industry professionals and premiered at Vue Westfield on 8 July at an exclusive red-carpet event – in addition to a whole host of benefits from Nationwide’s Talking Numbers programme.