How to Get Free Movies And Recycle Too

The " silver screen" has been a part of my life since I was a little girl. My fondest memories of a then, difficult childhood, were buffered by escaping through the films I sat through each week. Times were pretty rough back then, and jobs impossible to find. We couldn't afford much. But my parents somehow managed to scrape up 10 cents (the price of 1 ticket), and send each of us to a saturday matinee. We felt rich when an addtional dime was included. We could then treat ourselves to a bag of popcorn and some candy.

When the theater cleared out after the matinee was over, I would always look for exsisting change on the theater floor in between rows of seats. I once found a sticky sum of 2 dollars and 12 cents. I was rich.

I still love movies and treat myself to my favorites 2 or 3 times a week. Only now, my movies are free and the only time I spend 10 to 25 cents is when I drive to the near-by library. ( With the high cost of gas, I spend a little more these days ).

My local library, which is stocked with a big selection of quality movies, saves me enough money to keep me in chocolate ( dark of course. ) All movies are 100% free and I can check out as many as 8 at a time.

And because I watch my movies at home, instead of going to the local theater, I save about 15-20 dollars. The ticket is 6 dollars if I go before 5:00 PM. Then I save another 12 dollars for the popcorn and drink.

It's also more sanitary sitting in my your own chair or sofa than sharing germs with a movie audience. ( The only germs I need to worry about in the bathroom, are my own.) And I avoid "flying bacteria", another huge plus.

My popcorn is freshly made with no chemicals and no salt. As for my drink, it's either filtered water with a slice of cucumber, a cold glass of gatorade or a cup of hot herbal tea. Cost? A mear .82 cents.

• Apply for a library card - It's free.
• Search the DVD section for your favorite movies.
• Take them to the "check out" desk. Each video will be scanned, then handed to you along with a receipt showing the return date. (If you are late, you pay a small fine.)
• Always wash your hands after handling the cases.
• If while you're playing the DVD, it should skip, apply a little window cleaner.

I make a habit of donating DVD's that I'm not crazy about, or just want to weed out, to my library. This is a good way to help protect the environment and bring a smile to someone's face. All genres are welcome at the library, including VHS. ( And remember to donate a few books as well. )

Another way to find free movies is through Freecycle. I really enjoy donating to this organization as well as finding movies and other items. When I find myself running out of candles, I post a "wanted" on freecycle. I haven't bought a candle in months. Again, I am getting free stuff and recycling at the same time.

Here is another resource for finding free movies. Even for beginners, new to using the internet, it's a no-brainer. I haven't tried all of the links that are available, but Hula is easy and requires no registration. This site is one of my top favorites. Here are 3 more links:

• Joost.com
• OVguide.com
• IMDB.com

Be careful of websites that ask for your credit card or personal information. I have found that giving my email address has been ok, but that is up to you.

Not too many things are free and to find movies that cost nothing is a pretty great thing. In addition, whatever we can do, however we can contribute to a healthier planet, we must do. Recycle everything we can. It makes a difference. We wouldn't put poison in our bodies. Why then would we want to poison our earth?

Each one of us should have an honest desire to make our planet better - not just for ourselves, but for all of mankind, animals and children.

Remember to:

• Reduce
• Reuse
• Recycle

In conclusion:

Beginning a program for visiting the library to see a favorite movie isn't just about saving money. It's also a way to a healthier planet.