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Mom saves tons of cash by creating a home movie theater for her kids

"I wanted to share our new tradition with families who are struggling with the inflated living costs."

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Homemade tickets for movie night. (Amy Ward via SWNS)

By Charlotte Penketh-King via SWNS

A mom has shared how she saves £50 ($59) a week by creating home cinema nights, complete with tickets and a snack shop.

Amy Ward, 26, loved taking her three kids to the cinema for family days out but hated having to shell out £50 each time on snacks and tickets.

With the cost of living crisis affecting families all across the country, creative Amy has now started movie night with her children at home every weekend.

Amy issues Archie, seven, River-Louise, five, and Emily, three, with their very own cinema tickets to watch a film of her choice in their living room, snuggled with cuddly toys under blankets and quilts.

Amy Ward's kids Archie, River-Louise and Emily during movie night. (Amy Ward via SWNS)
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They can even buy snacks from her just like in the cinema but without the inflated prices, with sweeties costing 4p (4 cents) a bag, Oreos for 6p (7 cents), and popcorn for just 2p (2 cents) .

Amy's cinema has shown numerous films since opening earlier this year, including "Monsters, Inc,' "Space Jam," "Turning Red," "Luca," "Up," "Matilda" and "Annie."

Children's nursing student Amy, from Knebworth, England, said: "I wanted to share our new tradition with families who are struggling with the inflated living costs.

"Saturday night is now movie night at home. I choose a film, make tickets and organize snacks for them to buy from a little bag of coppers I give them.

"They hand me their tickets at the door, pay for their snacks and I hand them a blanket and say enjoy the movie! They even made up a staff name for me!

"All the quilts get chucked on the floor with cuddly toys and pillows and we snuggle and enjoy family time.

"My children absolutely love this, they're always so grateful, and it costs me less than a fiver, whereas the cinema was costing about £50 for all of us with tickets and snacks.

"My youngest is still a bit little to sit still at the cinema too, so by doing it at home, everyone is comfortable and in their own space and can move around when needed!

"We did movie nights anyway and I just thought let’s make it more fun and more like a cinema experience!

"I thought this will make it a more special experience that they’ll remember and maybe a tradition we can keep for future generations.

"They find the home cinema more exciting, which is a win win. I wanted to give them a special experience, and this is also saving money for memories they prefer.

"It’s always about the time and effort, not the money we spend on our babies."

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