Next month, I plan to see a movie at the Grand Cinema theater in my local city. I’ll be able to get in for free using my student ID and a piece of mail for proof of address. My teenager will also get in for free because he’s a student too.
This is just another perk of using your student ID and understanding the benefits that come with it. Oftentimes, you get a free bus pass, which I’ve already received, and discounts at local restaurants around your college.
Though, personally I don’t take advantage of restaurant discounts near campus because my focus is on being frugal and living like a broke college student while building long term financial stablity. This means I rarely eat out, only getting something if I’m too sick or too exhausted to cook.
Visiting the Grand Cinema in My City *Tacoma*
For college students in different cities, it’s important to understand which theaters or parks offer free admission with your student ID. In my city, the Tacoma Grand Cinema is not associated with AMC, Regal, or any major chain.
It often features independent films and is a community theater that provides access to low-income community members on food assistance and all students with ID . This is really beneficial for those of us who try to save money and avoid splurging on outings especially on big chain theaters.
The only downside is that since the grand is not a part of the larger chains, they don’t always show every movie. There have been films I wanted to see that weren’t available even when I was a paying customer and would have had to travel to AMC or Regal which I avoided doing all together.
Still, this will be the first time I don’t have to pay because I’m now a student. I’m not really a big movie goer as I once was but there is this movie coming out called It Ends With Us, featuring actress Blake Lively, and it is a film I’m looking forward to seeing!
I really enjoy watching her on screen; her acting is always fun to watch, similar to how I feel about Rachel McAdams. Both actresses bring a unique quality to their characters that feels personal. Thankfully, I’ll be able to see this film for free because of my local theater’s student offer.
The only cost will be for popcorn and candy, which I don’t mind. I’ll bring my own water since they allow that and you can refill it there as well. Candy costs about $4 or $4.50, which is expensive, but since I only go to the movies occasionally, it’s not a big deal.
Sometimes, I’ll have a sweet treat before leaving and then just buy popcorn, or get a large popcorn for $8 to share with my teenager, and then we’ll each get our own candy. All of this still comes to under $20, which is a great deal given today’s prices.
If you’re from my city and reading this, you might know that the Corina Bakery is right next door. If I don’t get anything sweet at the movie theater, I don’t mind grabbing a cookie for $3 or $4 and sharing it with the teen or better yet one of their 1/2 half cake slices if there are any left once the movie is over.
Perks and Discounts for College Students Are Becoming More Common With Businesses
Being a college student provides many perks, even outside of campus. Make sure to take advantage of whatever perks your student ID card offers. If you get a free bus pass, that can save you money on gas.
Use your local library and campus library instead of frequenting Barnes & Noble—there are many ways to save money as a college student; you just need to know where to look.
As students continue to advocate for inclusivity and understanding of different social demographics, more opportunities become available, such as food pantries on campuses for those struggling to make ends meet, which means student discounts and other helpful sources that weren’t around before are now around.
My college has nothing to do with the student deal at the grand cinema, it’s instead a pilot program funded via Tacoma Creates their own offering, still, without my student ID I wouldn’t get in for free. The movie “It Ends With Us” comes out on August 9th. The only potential issue is the timing; larger studios often require theaters like the Grand Cinema to wait a week before offering free showings and some showings aren’t eligible for free access.
However, it’s easy to check—just call ahead to see if that’s the case. If it’s not, you can see it that week; otherwise, you might have to wait a week or more depending on the movie and if it is eligible.
For example, “Fall Guy” and “Barbie” had longer waits, but since “It Ends With Us” is based on a book and features Blake Lively, produced by Columbia Pictures and distributed by Sony Pictures, it might not be as big. I’m hopeful I can see it right away, but if not, I’m still happy to see it for free and still appreciate the Grand Cinema providing these opportunities for both students and low income earners.
Remember if you’re low-income on food assistance and not a college student, bringing a piece of mail for proof of address and your EBT food card should allow you to watch movies for free at the Grand Cinema as well.
Also what even makes the experience better, well at least at our local grand cinema, is that the staff members are always friendly faces which makes the exprience worthwhile whether paying or not.
The Broke College Student 
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